65
Stucco
Stucco is a type of home exterior that protects
your home. You likely will notice that hairline
cracks develop in stucco.
Care and maintenance
The following are tips for maintaining your
home’s stucco siding:
Don’t allow sprinklers or other items that propel
water to shoot at your stucco siding.
Ensure your downspouts and gutters direct
water away from the stucco and your home.
Measure to ensure there’s six inches between
where your stucco stops and the ground begins.
Stucco that’s too close to the ground may absorb
water.
Leave at least two feet of space between plants
and stucco.
When using lawn and landscaping equipment,
take care to avoid propelling objects and hitting
the stucco. Doing so may chip or otherwise
damage it.
Inspect your stucco every year. If you locate
cracks wider than 1/16-inch, repair them.
Cleaning stucco
1. Mix a solution of laundry soap and water.
2. Gently scrub the stucco using the solution
and a deck brush.
3. Rinse with clean water.
HOME TIP: By washing your window
screens when dirt begins to accumulate,
you can avoid that dirt running onto the
stucco and leaving streaks.
CAUTION: Avoid pressure washing
stucco.
Removing mildew spots
1. Mix a 50/50 solution of bleach and water.
2. Spray it onto the mildewed area.
3. Rinse the area with water.
4. Repeat until the mildew is gone.
CAUTION: Avoid spraying herbicides
or pesticides onto stucco as the
chemicals can discolor the stucco
and damage its surface.
