Stucco & Exterior in Altadena
Altadena stucco repair and re-stucco, with lath, weather barrier and flashing built to county review and fire-hazard exterior details where they apply.
The county reviewer of an Altadena stucco job first asks how much wall is being opened. A patch leaves the wall assembly alone, while a full re-stucco exposes the sheathing and puts lath, weather barrier and flashing in front of the reviewer. If the parcel falls inside the county's fire hazard mapping, ember resistance can enter the review too.
Layers the reviewer expects to see
A stucco wall is a stack, and each layer has a job. A weather-resistive barrier sits over the sheathing, galvanized lath is fastened through it into the framing, and three coats of cement plaster go on over the lath, each allowed to cure before the next. Flashing is lapped over window heads, roof-to-wall joints and penetrations so water runs outward. At the bottom edge, a metal screed gives moisture an exit. An inspector can ask to see the lath and barrier before the plaster covers them.
When the parcel is on the fire map
Cement plaster resists fire well, so the wall surface is rarely the weak point. Openings are. Attic and foundation vents need a type that stops embers, eaves and soffits should be noncombustible, and window assemblies may need tempered glass. Trim, fascia and any wood details that meet the stucco are checked against the same rules. Deciding these at the start keeps the drawing consistent and avoids reopening a finished wall to swap a vent. A lot off the map gets ordinary exterior details.
About our stucco & exterior workEverything we build in Altadena
Stucco & Exterior in Altadena: questions
Many cracks are cosmetic. Hairline cracks come from shrinkage as the finish cures and from the wall flexing with temperature. Diagonal cracks off window corners, cracks that widen, or ones above a stepped foundation crack deserve a closer look. The pattern gets read against the footing and the ground around it, and the repair follows from that reading.
When damage is widespread. Patches work where the base coat is sound and moisture has not gotten behind it. If the wall sounds hollow over large areas, the lath is rusting or the paper behind it is failing, so new stucco would sit over the same problem. At that point the wall comes down to the sheathing and gets rebuilt in layers.
The base is where water collects, so it gets rebuilt carefully. A weep screed goes in at the bottom so moisture can leave, and the finish stops above soil or paving with a clear gap. Flashing meets the foundation edge. Irrigation that wets the wall gets noted during the visit.
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Tell us about the lot and the job. A builder replies by phone or email to set up a visit.