advantages of stucco siding

 

If you’re building a home or want to do new construction on an existing home, you have several options for siding. Wood siding is popular, but it has its own advantages and disadvantages. Two such alternatives are brick and stucco. Stucco is much more convenient for home owners who want to do new construction on an existing home, because it does not have the foundation or lintel requirements that brick needs. Here, we explore the benefits of stucco siding, along with some of the disadvantages.

Benefits of Stucco Siding

Stucco is more affordable than brick, so it’s a natural alternative to those on a bit more of a budget. If you’re considering brick, it also requires a concrete footing or a lintel designed. These two options are very difficult and expensive to design after the house is already built.

Stucco, though, does not have these limitations. It can be used any time – both before the house is fully constructed and after. Another advantage is that the color is mixed into the final coat, the top coat or the color coat. With this type of color mixing, it lasts much longer than other sidings. The color stays longer, the finish lasts longer and resists mildew from outside water conditions including sprinklers, and it looks attractive and “new” for several years.

For the most part, if you want an alternative to wood siding and don’t want the expense and hassles of brick, the benefits of stucco siding are attractive.

Disadvantages of Stucco Siding

Stucco is not as prominent in the Colorado market as other markets in the US. However, it’s still a good option for homes throughout the United States. With its advantages, stucco still has some disadvantages.

Some stucco markets use a material called EIFS. EIFS is expanded polystyrene, which is the insulation underneath the beadboard. It’s mainly used for decorations and ledges that protrude from windows. A wire mesh is placed over it and then a smaller, thinner layer of stucco is placed over it.

The disadvantage of this type of construction is that moisture can sometimes build underneath the thinner stucco layer. Birds and other animals can also tear away and break the thinner top layer. When this happens, they are able to break the Styrofoam and even more moisture can build up within and under the Styrofoam covering. This can then lead to mildew and other buildup that can ruin the construction and must be redone. With enough mildew and buildup, the entire side wall must be replaced. It can lead to disaster for your sidings.

The right home improvement contractor can use masonry and other layers to avoid using Styrofoam. Styrofoam is cheap and fast, but layers of concrete can be done to avoid the stucco moisture issues and reduce the chance of mildew buildup.

Overall, stucco is an advantage especially in dryer climates. Wetter climates can still use it provided the stucco is constructed specifically for mildew and moisture resistance. If you’re in the market for home improvement on sidings and don’t want wood, consider stucco as an inexpensive, efficient alternative.