Expansion Gaps Smooth Stucco Siding

But on the exterior gaps in stucco siding can lead not only to further degradation of the stucco but also to a host of nasty issues mold growth for example or pest infestations.

Expansion gaps smooth stucco siding.

Quikrete has a stucco repair product that is textured to match the surrounding stucco and can fill gaps up to 1 2 an inch wide. Use sanded caulk any time you use sanded grout and in joints 1 8 inch or wider. It has a grainy texture and appearance. This means that the boards should be touching each other when they are installed.

Wet your finger and gently wipe the caulk in the gap to give it a smooth rounded appearance. A stucco pro will simply apply a new texture over the existing one. Where stucco meets a window door electrical box dryer vent or any other wall penetration you may notice a small expansion gap. Hardie boards should be joined in moderate contact.

This affected most of the fiberboard between the patio and house. Fill any low spots or remaining gaps with additional caulking until the gap. The pro s first step will be to power wash the home. Sanded caulk has particles in it that help it adhere to wet surfaces and expand in larger gaps without cracking.

Caulk can be either sanded or unsanded. Asphalt saturated fiberboard designed for expansion joints. After that the pro will apply a new stucco base coat. Clean out the crack using a scraping tool and a wire brush so that there is no loose material and the caulk has a good surface to bond to.

Unsanded caulk has a smooth appearance and texture. James hardie recommends that a slip sheet joint flashing is installed behind each butt joint in the siding. This includes butt joints and places where the siding terminates vertically against windows doors and other fixtures. There is no need to leave a gap for expansion.

Gaps are normal and should be expected since dissimilar materials expand at different rates. One reason for the porous nature of the gap can be attributed to old asphalt saturated fiberboard that had fallen apart. If there are minor cracks in your stucco this is a project that most san francisco homeowners can tackle if they want to. Such gaps can allow for excessive amounts of water to get past the stucco and therefore should be caulked on an annual basis.

The manufacturer requires a 3 16 gap at the end of each piece of siding.