The Benefits of Knowing the Condition of Your Stucco
By Earl Damon, President of Certified Stucco Inspections
In light of the recent economic downturn and resulting housing bubble bust, homeowners have to keep a close eye on their most valuable asset. One of the most important and valuable components of your home is the exterior cladding e - including stucco, which not only provides the barrier between your family and the elements, but greatly influences the value of your home for good or bad depending on its soundness and visual appeal.
Making sure your stucco home is weather tight and visually appealing should be a major priority to any buyer, seller, or homeowner. Your peace of mind and your homes’ value is at stake.
Unfortunately, clear standards of stucco installation have not always been followed as rigidly as they should be. Visit KSAT News to read one of many local stories about the horrors of an improperly installed stucco job.
Whenever buying, selling or constructing a stucco home, you should have an experienced, honest and professional Stucco Inspector evaluate the condition of your cladding. During new construction, progress inspections should be included to ensure the best quality stucco application.
The initial investment to contract a stucco inspector is minor compared to the cost of missing g a deficiency that could cost thousands to fix. Experienced real estate investors will tell you that mold, mildew, and rot inside your wall assembly can go unnoticed for quite a while before being exposed.
TREC (Texas Real Estate Commissin) Home Inspectors will sometimes note obvious deficiencies of the stucco during the course of a generic home inspection. A home inspectors’ limited inexperience in detecting problems with the many different types of stucco could jeopardize the valuation of your home. An experienced Stucco Inspector can pinpoint deficiencies and recommend an appropriate course of action.
Bottom Line: When you know the true condition of your exterior cladding you have powerful information about the quality and value of your home.