:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/RepairStucco-a7188d78aa904a57a0c537d9ef9b89f3.jpg?w=1920&resize=1920,1440&ssl=1 "Does Your Stucco Need a Repair? This Is How Much You Can Expect It to Cost")
| Repair Size (Sq. Ft.) | Cost |
| 10 | $400 |
| 15 | $600 |
| 20 | $800 |
| 25 | $1,000 |
| 30 | $1,200 |
| 35 | $1,400 |
| 40 | $1,600 |
| 45 | $1,800 |
| 50 | $2,000 |
| 55 | $2,200 |
| 60 | $2,400 |
| 65 | $2,600 |
| 70 | $2,800 |
Cost Factors
Stucco siding repair can cost from $60 to $120 per square foot if complicating factors like height, access, or stucco removal are involved. Geographic location also plays into the cost of stucco repair.
Height
Height is a major driver of stucco repair costs, Filipuk says
“The common problem with areas on the second and third floors is that you need to build up scaffolding or set up pump jacks to do that,” he says. “The time required to set up access to the area that needs to be repaired is significantly longer than the repair itself.”
Bar Zakheim agrees: “You can expect the cost to be higher if the repair work is in a high spot that requires scaffolding to reach.”
You need to factor in the cost of renting scaffolding and the time required to set up and take down the scaffolding. Scaffolding rental costs range from $250 to $350 per week.
Stucco Removal
The cost of repairing stucco will be higher when old stucco needs to be removed, says Bar Zakheim. Generally, it will cost about $8 per square foot to remove old stucco.
House Section
“Repair often happens on most exposed areas, like a chimney or corners,” Filipuk says.
That’s because stucco is relatively brittle, so it’s prone to damage along sharp edges and corners.
This is also where per-square-foot pricing becomes more challenging to calculate, adds Filipuk. Much of the repair work is linear and cannot be priced out in terms of area (or square footage).
Location
The house location significantly affects the cost of stucco siding repair. Depending on where you live, stucco repair can vary by as much as 45-percent. So, a stucco repair in Los Angeles that costs $2,000 might cost close to $3,000 in New York or Illinois—for the same repair.
Fewer homes with stucco siding are found in cooler, wetter areas. States like New York, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Hawaii, and Illinois have fewer experienced stucco repair technicians, driving up labor costs.
Warmer areas like California, Florida, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada have more stucco-sided homes, so there are more stucco repair technicians. This means that repairs generally cost less in those areas.
Labor
The labor cost for stucco siding repair ranges from $26 to $41 per hour.
The cost is lowest in California, Florida, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada, and highest in New York, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Hawaii, and Illinois.
Cost by Repair Type
Stucco repairs range from simple caulking and cleaning to complicated fixes like wall base deterioration repair.
Caulking
For most homes, budget about $30 to $50 to caulk stucco. Caulking small gaps, cracks, or holes in walls or eaves is relatively simple, and the homeowner can even do it after the stucco repair project has been completed.
Cleaning
Cleaning stucco costs from $25 to $150. It may be necessary to clean the stucco after the repairs, in preparation for painting.
Minor Patches
It costs from $8 to $20 per square foot to patch stucco siding. With these types of siding repairs, the underlying cement board doesn’t need to be replaced—only the stucco itself.
Painting
Exterior house painting costs about $3,000 on average, but can range from $1,900 to $6,900.
When stucco is repaired, it will not match the color of the stucco, Filipuk says.
“You can paint over it, but it will still look different from the rest of the wall,” he says. “Best practices are to spot-repair stucco and then paint the entire side or even the whole house.”
Wall Base Deterioration
Water damage is a common reason for repairing stucco. Repairing water-damaged stucco costs from $30 to $50 per square foot.
Stucco wall base deterioration (also called weep screed) happens when moisture-laden soil or grass comes into contact with the base of a stucco wall. Minerals in the water wick upward, damaging the stucco. The water-damaged stucco is usually removed and replaced along the entire wall base.
Traditional vs. Synthetic Stucco Repair
Traditional (cement) stucco costs $8 to $20 per square foot to repair. Synthetic stucco costs three to four times more, around $30 to $50 per square foot.
Cement stucco is the most common type of stucco, and it’s the type that will be found on older homes. It is frequently installed in multiple coats. So, it can take several days to install this type of stucco.
Synthetic stucco has polymer additives and is generally more durable than cement stucco. It is usually installed with foam insulation as a backer board.
| Repair Size (Sq. Ft.) | Cement Stucco ($14 sq. ft) | Synthetic Stucco ($40 sq. ft.) |
| 10 | $140 | $400 |
| 15 | $210 | $600 |
| 20 | $280 | $800 |
| 25 | $350 | $1,000 |
| 30 | $420 | $1,200 |
| 35 | $490 | $1,400 |
| 40 | $560 | $1,600 |
| 45 | $630 | $1,800 |
| 50 | $700 | $2,000 |
| 55 | $770 | $2,200 |
| 60 | $840 | $2,400 |
| 65 | $910 | $2,600 |
| 70 | $980 | $2,800 |
Stucco Repair vs. Replacement
“Any repair larger than about one square foot will do better with full replacement of the section,” Zakheim says.
Stucco’s lifespan is close to 30 years, depending on the walls’ exposure. So, if your stucco is over 30 years old, minor cracks might be only part of the problem. In cases like this, you might want to consider replacing all of the stucco.
“Installation of new stucco generally is $12 to $15 per square foot, depending on the type of stucco and the size of the project,” Filipuk says. He recommends getting a quote for painting the stucco after the repair, and planning accordingly based on combined costs.
Cost for DIY Repair
“The larger the damaged area and the wetter your local climate, the more important it is to get professional repairs,” Zakheim says. “If there is a chance for water intrusion because of the crack in the stucco, I suggest talking to a pro. Most companies don’t charge for the consultation.”
Zakheim adds that if the damaged area is small and it is accessible from the ground, it could be a DIY project.
The downside of small DIY patches, according to Zakheim, is that your patches usually stand out. It’s hard to get a good color match with a stucco patch.
Generally speaking, you can repair the problem yourself unless there are major cracks in your stucco or large sections are falling off the wall.
Best Time of Year to Repair Stucco
Spring, early summer, and early fall are the best times of the year to repair stucco.
Stucco should be repaired only when temperatures are predicted to be between 40°F and 100°F. Since stucco is water-based, stucco work cannot be done during freezing temperatures. Hot weather will evaporate the water, so avoid mid-summer. Avoid repairing stucco in wet conditions.
FAQ
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For minor problems, it’s usually better to repair the stucco and then paint the entire side of the house. For significant problems that involve the underlying structure, you should replace the stucco.
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Stucco can last for decades, with 30 years being an average lifespan. Stucco is vulnerable to physical damage and the elements, so it should be painted every five to seven years.
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A common exterior stucco issue is stucco wall base deterioration at the soil due to weep screed: stucco crumbling and falling because it has come into contact with moist soil. Either the stucco was installed too low or the soil has mounded up. The area should be deprived of moisture sources such as sprinklers, and concrete should be installed at least 2 inches below the weep screed.