Our Process
Repairing chimney stucco in Whites Landing, step by step
When a whole chimney face should be redone
Smooth stucco is hard to patch invisibly, while a well-executed textured finish tends to conceal patches, Preservation Brief 22 explains. It recommends keeping repairs in a contained or well-defined area, and in a highly visible location it may be better to restucco an entire wall section so the difference does not show.
A chimney face that can be seen from the street is exactly that kind of location. If your Whites Landing chimney has a smooth finish and scattered damage on one side, our pros may suggest redoing that whole face. The estimate shows both choices, patches or a full face, with the price of each.
Why sound masonry does not get new lath
It can seem like extra metal lath would make a stucco patch stronger. Preservation Brief 22 says that for the most part it is not advisable to insert metal lath when restuccoing masonry in sound condition. Fixing the lath damages the masonry, and the slightest moisture can rust the metal, which expands and spalls the stucco and possibly the masonry too.
Where the stucco on your Whites Landing chimney sits directly on sound block or brick, we bond the new coats straight to that surface. Lath goes back only where the chimney was built with it, such as a framed chase, and there it is corrosion-resistant as the code requires.
A repair mix that suits the old stucco
A stucco repair mix should come close to the existing stucco in strength, density, porosity and water absorption, according to the International Masonry Institute. Preservation Brief 22 adds a warning. Rigid portland cement repairs placed on soft, lime-based stucco move differently and tend to crack.
Chimney stucco can be modern cement plaster, an older lime mix or a patchwork of past repairs. Our pros look at the existing finish on your Whites Landing chimney before mixing, and they avoid a repair much harder than what surrounds it, since a patch that outlives the stucco beside it has simply moved the crack.
What your stucco estimate lists
A stucco chimney repair can involve several trades in one job. The written estimate for your Whites Landing chimney separates the stucco area and the number of coats, any lath or barrier work, crown, cap or flashing repairs, cleaning, and painting or coating, each as its own line.
That layout lets you approve the repairs that stop water first and schedule the cosmetic finish later if you prefer. Our family-owned team keeps upfront pricing with no hidden fees, and when you book within 72 hours of your free inspection, 10% comes off the work.
