5 Frequently Asked Questions About Stucco Siding Replacements: What You Need To Know

If you’re reading this article, chances are you’ve noticed something off with your stucco siding or are considering repairing or replacing it. 

Maybe you’ve found a few cracks around your home’s exterior, noticed some chunks have fallen off, or just want an upgrade. 

No matter the reason for inspecting your stucco, you have some general questions that must be answered. Questions like…

“Is my stucco in good shape?” 

“Should I repair or replace my stucco?” 

“What’s this going to cost?” 

These are all valid questions most stucco homeowners have when contemplating what they should do with their siding. 

As a San Antonio siding company since 1989, Southwest Exteriors is here to answer all your questions about your home. Although we don’t install or repair stucco, we want to provide you with the right information so you can find the best solution for your home. 

This includes answering your most frequently asked questions so you can take the right next step in your project. 

Top 5 FAQs About Stucco Siding Replacement And Repair

Before contacting a company to work with on your home, you want to know the best solution for your stucco. 

Having your questions answered before meeting with a potential contractor will save you time, energy, and effort. It will also ensure you have the right idea of the best solution, which will help you avoid being taken advantage of by a faulty contractor. 

Let’s answer the top five most common questions we hear as a siding contractor regarding stucco siding replacement and repair. 

1. Is my stucco good?

Whether you’re thinking about repairing or replacing your siding, you want to know if your current stucco is in good shape. 

Was it applied properly? Can it be salvaged even if there are cracks? Is it doomed to be torn off and fully replaced? 

To determine if your stucco is in good shape, you want to look at any damage, how it was installed, and how long it’s been on your home. 

• Damage: Do you notice cracks in your stucco or parts chipping and falling off? Any damage may be caused by foundational movement, rotting behind the stucco, or poor installation with low-quality stucco. Visible damage in your stucco is the first thing to look at. 
• Installation: No matter how old your stucco is, you should be able to tell if it was installed well. Is the stucco evenly smooth all around? Are there any parts where the stucco just doesn’t look right? The quality of installation and the quality of the material will affect how long your stucco will last and how well it protects your home. 
• Age: Factoring in the age of your stucco will help you determine if it is good or not. If you have decades-old stucco with minimal damage, you have great stucco. It is not a good sign if your stucco isn’t very old and you’re already noticing cracks and chipping. Considering the age of your stucco will help you determine whether you should repair or fully replace your siding. 

Inspecting your stucco on the outside will tell you a lot about the quality of your siding. 

If your stucco is old and has severe cracking, chipping, and other damages, it may be time to tear it off and assess what’s going on beneath the surface. 

If you have older stucco or fairly new stucco with minimal cracks or damage, chances are repairing your stucco will be the best option. 

2. Can new stucco be installed on top of my current siding?

So, maybe you’re thinking about replacing your current siding with new stucco. You want to know if new siding can be installed on top of old siding. 

The answer? Sometimes. 

Stucco siding is extremely versatile because it can be installed on almost any siding. But your current siding must be in good condition to do so. 

Consider these three questions to know if you can use your current siding as a substrate for new stucco: 

• What is the condition of your current siding? 

• Do you have the right siding type to be used as substrate? 

• Do you want or need insulation added to your home’s walls? 

The most important thing about using current siding as the substrate is creating an even and flush surface for the new siding to go atop. This ensures your new siding is installed correctly and looks great. 

Performing a visual inspection of your current siding and researching whether your siding can be used as a substrate for stucco is the first step to understanding if stucco can be installed on your current siding. 

3. How much does it cost to repair stucco?

If your stucco is in good health with minimal damage, you may just want to repair any cracks or damaged areas you see. So, how much does that cost? 

The cost to repair stucco is about $8 to $50 per square footage of repair. According to Angi, the average total cost of a stucco repair project is around $1,518. 

Compared to a full stucco replacement, this price is incredibly reasonable. 

However, in any home remodeling project, you must factor in the degree of damage you have and how that will affect the cost of installation and labor. The worse the stucco damage and the more damage you have, the more it will cost. 

Overall, if you want to sell your home soon and spiffy it up or love your current stucco but want to give it some TLC, then stucco repair is a great option. 

4. How much does it cost to replace stucco?

Maybe you’re unsure about whether you should repair or replace your stucco siding. One of the next most frequently asked questions is how much it costs to fully replace stucco siding. 

The cost to remove stucco is a large factor in any stucco replacement project. It costs around $1 per square foot of stucco to remove. However, the labor is extremely intensive. 

Removing your current stucco can take weeks. Installers must carefully chip and remove the stucco exterior, then remove every nail that holds the mesh wire to your home. The more time and effort added to your project, the more it will cost in labor. 

Once your stucco is removed, you must determine what type of siding you want in its place. 

A siding replacement project can cost between $27,000-$45,000 for 1,500 square feet of siding. This depends on the condition of your current siding, the type of siding you choose, the square footage of your project, and any customizations or additions. 

If you want to replace your old stucco with new stucco, it can cost around $8,000 - $20,000 for 1,500 square feet of siding. 

Understanding the cost and process of removing your current stucco is important regardless of the new type of siding you choose for your home. This will give you a better idea of how much your project will cost and how long it will take, which is important to consider with any home remodeling project. 

How To Create The Right Budget For Your Project

5. When should I repair or replace my stucco?

Now that you know how much it costs to repair, remove, and replace stucco siding and how to inspect your siding, you want to know if replacing or repairing your stucco is right for you. 

With any siding type, replacing or repairing your siding depends on your goals for your home. You must consider how much longer you will be in your home, how you want your new siding to perform and look, and what your budget for your project is. 

Because the cost to remove and replace stucco is much more expensive than repairing stucco, it’s important you make the right choice for your home. 

Repairing your stucco may be best for you if…

• You like your stucco but want to make it look better 
• You plan to sell your home in a few years and want to improve curb appeal 
• You want to elevate your exterior without paying thousands of dollars 

Removing and replacing your stucco may be better for you if…

• You want a new look for your home
• You have severe stucco damage and want to inspect behind your siding 
• You are a long-term homeowner that can enjoy your new siding for years in the future 

Choosing the right solution for you is different for every homeowner. Consider how much longer you will be in your home and if it is worth it to invest in either repairing or replacing your stucco. 

Finding The Right Siding Solution For Your Home 

After having your most frequently asked questions about stucco siding answered, you can continue your research and take the next step in your stucco project. 

Stucco siding is an extremely durable and low-maintenance siding type. It can withstand all types of climate, harsh sunlight, and rotting. 

Whether you currently have stucco on your home or want to replace your current siding with stucco, understanding what goes into the cost and installation is important. 

To find the best solution for you, you first want to inspect your stucco or current siding to determine what condition it is in. Once you have done this, you will know whether you need to repair your stucco or completely replace it or if you can use your current siding as the substrate for the new stucco. 

If you have damaged stucco siding but won’t be in your home much longer, repairing your stucco will be less expensive and more practical than replacing the stucco. 

If you’re tired of your stucco siding and are a long-term homeowner, removing and replacing stucco is an expensive project. However, depending on your goals for your home, it may be worth it to completely transform your exterior. 

While Southwest Exteriors only installs James Hardie fiber cement siding, our professional installation crews know how to handle stucco when replacing siding, windows, and doors. 

We’re here to answer any and all questions you have about your siding. We’re not here to convince you to replace your stucco siding if it isn’t the best option for you. 

We want you to have all the information you need to find the right products and company to work with for your siding project. 

Want more information about transforming your stucco home? Check out this video that outlines how stucco and James Hardie siding work together to give your home a completely new look while protecting also protecting it.