I need advice regarding stucco finish on my house. My home is less than 3 years old and the
stucco is cracking on one side of the house. These are what I consider large cracks. Is this normal for stucco finishes?

First off the cracks are a sympton and a problem. They are a problem because they will allow water to get behind the stucco (some water does penetrate and this is accounted for with drainage and barriers) and saturate the walls defenses, some of this water may find its way into your home causing damage to the interior finishes, structure, or create a mold problem. You would be well advised to seal this cracks while you investigate the root cause.

Cracking may be related to building movement, improper installation of the material, or shrinkage (could be other causes but these are common). To evaluate building movement you will likely need to hire a certified home inspector or engineer. You can find certified inspectors and NACHI.org in your area. Improper installation of the material will require an evaluation by a specialist, that fully understands how and when to apply the material. This person could also tell you if these cracks are due to normal shrinkage.

Best of luck,


Steve Ramos
Envirovue Home Inspection
Santa Rosa, CA

Did you receive any help about your stucco problem? Our house is 1 1/2 years old and the stucco is cracking. At first it was just a couple cracks, but after 3 weeks we now have at least 20 good size cracks. None are very wide, but a couple of them have gotten wider. Our builder came and looked at them and said not to worry that stucco will crack and unless they are wide enough to wedge a penny in not to worry about them. I'm not so sure! I've been trying to research and find out if this really is normal. I think it looks terrible and feel like I spent a lot of money to have cracks in my new house!!! Please help!!