Cracked Brown Coat

Not Sure · 09-17-2006, 06:22 PM

Hi! It's me again, Not Sure...
I ought to change my handle. I bet everyone is getting tired of all my questions.
But, yes, here is another (maybe) problem.

I went to check on the house I'm working on. The inside is coming along nicely. The painters will start tomorrow. It took a long time, but I did come up with a color choice and type.

Here's my newest problem:
The lathe passed inspection. The stucco guy waited until we had a few clear days before he did the brown coat. It was done about a week and a half or so ago. I noticed some cracking. Stucco guy said, no problem, the brown coat always cracks a bit.

Should I complain?

stuccoman · 09-17-2006, 08:50 PM

Do you have any pictures?

It does not look like this does it?

http://www.badstucco.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=580

Or this one!

http://www.badstucco.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=392

Tscarborough · 09-17-2006, 09:22 PM

Yes, you should complain, in writing and with photos, and CC it to the local building department.

Not Sure · 09-17-2006, 09:23 PM

Yes, I took pictures for my own records, but I have no idea how to get them onto this site. I've tried to figure out photobucket and snapfish. I'm just not a computer person. I think I'll give the city inspector a call in the morning. He seems like a pretty nice guy. I know the brown coat usually doesn't get inspected, but I think he'll come out and take a look for me. Doesn't hurt to ask. Worse case scenario, he won't have time. Then, I'll make a new plan.

Thank you for getting back to me. I'll check out the sites you have suggested before the night is over.

Not Sure · 09-17-2006, 09:27 PM

My dad thinks the stucco guy will have to put another brown coat on top of the brown coat we currently have. Does this sound like a solution?

Tscarborough · 09-17-2006, 10:06 PM

No, it is not.

Not Sure · 09-17-2006, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stuccoman

Do you have any pictures?

It does not look like this does it?

http://www.badstucco.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=580

Or this one!

http://www.badstucco.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=392

The color coat has not been put on yet. The pictures are way worse than my house.

Not Sure · 09-18-2006, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tscarborough

No, it is not.

Any ideas on what a solution would be?

I called the stucco guy earlier (on Sunday morning) and left a voice message.

Let me know if you have any ideas!

Tscarborough · 09-18-2006, 08:49 PM

A crack today will still be a crack tommorow, and anything applied over a crack will likely mirror the crack beneath it. A minor amount of shrinkage cracks are acceptable (almost inevitable), but a crack big enough to see from the road or wide enough to see the lathing is not acceptable.

His mix is no good, or his lathing is improper, but something is wrong. Applying more over it will not solve the problem. Take a photo and post it.

Not Sure · 09-22-2006, 10:46 PM

So, I finally called and talked with the local building inspector for stucco.
He came by and looked at the job.
He said the cracks were definitely related to the wet weather we had been having.
Most cracks were fine, but there were a couple of cracks that did cause concern.
The stucco contractor was notified and problem will have to be fixed.

stuccoman · 09-23-2006, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Not Sure

I don't know...
All those cracks in the brown coat kept bothering me.

So, I finally called and talked with the local building inspector for stucco.
He came by and looked at the job.
He said the cracks were definitely related to the wet weather we had been having.
Most cracks were fine, but there were a couple of cracks that did cause concern.
The stucco contractor was notified and problem will have to be fixed.

The inspector is a little off base wet weather does not make stucco crack hot dry weather does.

Wet weather cool and damp makes the stucco take longer to dry out and makes it better not worse.

A few pictures would sure help.