Over the last twenty years, many stucco homes have been built
in the Philadelphia suburbs. Some have stucco on all sides, others have stone or
brick on the front and stucco on the sides and back, and some have stucco on just
a small section.
The Problem with Stucco
Though the stucco look has been popular, many buyers who
purchased stucco homes have had problems with moisture penetrating behind the
stucco. In some cases, the water has resulted in mold and rotted wood, which can
be extensive and very expensive to address. Some homes may need only part of the stucco
replaced, but others may need the entire exterior replaced.
Stucco Inspections
Because of the prevalence of these problems, stucco inspections
have become a common part of purchasing a home. In most cases, the stucco
inspection is separate from the home inspection. Inspection costs can be high, depending on the
size of the home and the percentage that is stucco.
Some buyers won’t consider stucco homes at all, unless they receive
documentation in advance that the stucco has already been inspected and remediated.
This is more likely to be the case if
the buyers terminated a previous sale because a stucco inspection revealed problems
the sellers would not fix to their satisfaction.
What Happens If a Sale Falls Through?
Buyers and sellers often disagree about the extent of
remediation needed to address stucco problems, and those sales usually fall
through. If that happens, sellers will often
have the stucco remediated to some degree before putting the house back onto
the market. Potential new buyers are likely to want a copy of the inspection
report and documentation detailing the remediation work to determine whether the
remediation was thorough enough.
Proactive Testing
Some homeowners have their stucco tested in advance of
listing so they can correct any problems, making their home more attractive to
buyers.
Even homeowners who are not planning to sell may decide to have
their stucco tested to catch problems before they become severe. If an inspector
recommends replacing the stucco, many of these homeowners decide to replace it with
something else, such as fiber cement siding like Hardie board. Those homeowners
will be better positioned when they decide to sell.
Stucco Today
Though some builders no longer use stucco, others may still
offer it, claiming that the superior installation process they use today will
prevent future problems. Buyers would do well to remain skeptical of this claim,
however, given the industry’s track record. Though better standards may be in place
today, there is no guarantee that they are good enough and no guarantee that subcontractor
oversight will be sufficient to ensure that subcontractors adhere to them.
If you’re planning to buy or sell a home, contact Annette
Nelson at (610) 247-7892 or annette@preferredhomes.com.
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Copyright @ 2020 by Annette Nelson. All Rights Reserved.
