Printable View
My daughter and her boy friend have bought their first house, the outside is stucco however they want to have siding. Do you have to remove the stucco or can you just strap over the stucco and put on new siding? Should they also still put new insulation and wrap?
This isn't something I have any experience in so I told her I would help her look.
Has anyone on here done this?
Think I’d wrap house with thin blue foam just to make sure stucco is held in place and siding would have slippery surface to expand and shrink on shrugs
I believe-no offence to anyone here ,it would be best to ask someone really expert in stucco.
The stucco-if it was done improperly, can create many nasty things. Especially in cold climate on framed houses.
Insulating and covering it with siding may cover up issues.
Pay someone reputable professional few hundred dollars ,and sleep well.
In the big scheme of the house purchase-few 100 $ are peanuts.
My 2 cents.
I can’t see why you couldn’t put furring strips over the stucco and attach the siding that way. The stucco itself is usually set on foam which has a small R value. As long as you can screw the furring strips into the studs behind the foam you should be ok.
The way I have seen it done is that the exterior of the walls is covered in a product that looks like drywall but has a fibreglass sheet exposed. One of the brands we use is denseglass. The stucco guy applies a thin set to adhere a 2” styrofoam board to the denseglass. Then he shapes and sands the foam so it’s straight/flat and seemless. After that the actual stucco is applied.
If applying furring strips (1x4, etc.) you will need 4” screws probably.
Hope this helps.
Geez, I always thought stucco was attached to a wire mesh.
Depends on the age of the stucco. The old stucco was a thin cement like coat over wire mesh and then a finish on top. Newer stucco is a very thin base coat and then a finish put on over a styrofoam base.Quote:
Originally Posted by sawbill
She asked to companies and got two answers, that's why she asked me to find out.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbk
Yes they would strap it, I can't see the house because she lives in Saskatchewan but from the pics she sent the stucco does not appear to have cracked. The house was probably made in the 1970's.
I agree, I wouldn't mess around ... and I'm not getting overly excited here. I've GC'd 3.5 home builds, so I know this stuff. So many flags come up, for instance the foam is pretty thick behind the stucco, so I'm not sure how that siding will be properly anchored ... a bit of wind, and you could lose half a wall. Also as you mention, who knows what starts happening when you cover it up, and you go through various seasons (expansion, contraction, condensation).Quote:
Originally Posted by gbk
Was the stucco applied back then? The systems they used then are different to now. I think my stucco (done 4 years ago) has a 1.5" to 2" thick foam behind it. It's pretty thick. I had to drill through it around my air conditioner, to get a new low voltage line back to the furnace ... it was crazy thick ... so I don't know how they secure the siding if it was that thick. Perhaps the older systems weren't as thick, but have them tread with care ... this could be one of those situations where they spend a lot of money and regret it in a year from now ... then they're stuck with a mess. Rather speak to the pro's.Quote:
Originally Posted by greatwhite
Another option by the way is to apply a veneer on top of that stucco. Not sure if they thought of that ... or want that. But that would probably be a better option, as you are gluing onto the stucco. There's all kinds of veneer options now ... I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't a faux wood plank option too ... which will give them a similar (and probably nicer) look than siding.
I am a plasterer by trade, family business. If the stucco was applied in the 70s it's probably plywood, maybe tar paper (been a long time) then wire mesh similar to expanded metal then a cement coat, then the finish coat. If it was more than about an inch thick on top of the plywood I would be surprised. If that is what she is dealing with it should be no problem strapping it.Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkB
If it's the new stucco like MarkB is talking about. Tell her to leave it, the foam is thick and it would be hard to get the siding fastened properly. I have worked with it and I don't like it, if anything happens to it, cracks or damage, you can't match the finish. It's good for commercial buildings but I don't like it for residential housing.
Thanks I have forwarded this to her
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jakezilla
If she does have to remove it, how do you go about it? Does she just start chipping away at it?
I would try a tile spade, similar to what roofers use to remove shingles...or something like this....Quote:
Originally Posted by greatwhite
https://cf-t.com/garant-grs7d-roofer...-7-steel-blade
Thanks all
I guess my daughter did learn something from me after all, she has learn to do own work and find others who can also help for somethings.
She told me , that she remembered when I did the wiring in the garage at the old house and when I built the deck and when I use to repair my cars.
She's 29 now
Why doesn't she just leave it the way it is - as long as it is functional - the old saying - don't fix it if it isn't broken - of all the options she has this might be the best -
or put a sign on her yard saying "All Lives Matter' and wait till they come and destroy her home with nasty Graffiti, then let the insurance company fix it. HaHa..Quote:
Originally Posted by JoePa
Because she's a girl. ;), I told her first to leave it and she said she doesn't like the look of it.
That's what I would do. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by JoePa
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikePal
So I spoke to a few of my friends as well who are in construction and all feel she should remove it and do it the "Right Way" the first time.
I am going to suggest if they cannot afford to remove it then they should wait and do it a few years down the road. My daughter is like her mom and whats everything now although she is learning.
Well, you and I both know ... this one is a BIG gamble ... she could very well be throwing away thousands and thousands of dollars, if she doesn't do it right. I would never take that risk ... she should wait until she can do it right.Quote:
Originally Posted by greatwhite
By the way, did you tell her about the veneer option (cement stone, barn board, etc)? That could possibly work over the stucco if it is a thinner veneer.
I will mention that to her as well, but I think they should wait regardless. They don't make a lot of money and this not what I would consider a must have it's a nice to have.
They are having windows cut into the basement and refinishing the basement as my daughter will be running a daycare from there. They budgeted for 30 grand in repairs and upgrades and they did get the house very cheap as her husbands mother sold it to them for what was owing on the mortgage, personally I don't think she should have but that is not my choice.
I am going to give the a gift and if my contract gets renewed I will start them each off with a $1,000.00 TFSA and they must promise to make a minimum 25.00 contribution to them each month.
They are both learning and just need guidance now, just like I got from my father (Well I didn't get a thousand bucks but whatever)
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkB