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Buying Stucco Home
In
this section, we will give you some tips on buying a stucco home,
along with pictures and descriptions of stucco homes for sale.
Stucco Fallacies 
Clearing up all the misinformation
and misconceptions about Stucco.
Has the home has a stucco inspection? If so, ask for report. Also, has the home been upgraded? Does the home
have a stucco warranty? How appropriately has this home been priced? Have a professional realtor provide you a CMA or sales comparison study. Have you ever bought or sold a stucco home in Atlanta in the past? If not, be sure to use a real estate agent who is an expert in stucco sales! This may be your biggest investment ever! |
Before Buying A Stucco
Home
There are two types
of stucco, hardcoat and Synthetic (EIFS). "Hardcoat" stucco
has been around for more than a thousand years, is a very strong material,
rarely dented by rocks, baseballs and ladders, but if the home foundation
move, hardcoat stucco can crack. A newer stucco, introduced in 1969,
is synthetic stucco or EIFS (Exterior Insulating Finishing System). This
stucco is is energy efficient, crack resistant and resist dirt, mildew
and mold.
Click here to read
more detail about these two types of stucco.
It is important to know which type of stucco you are thinking of buying
because as an educated consumer, you need to ask the right questions
about the maintenance and upkeep of the house.
A stucco inspection, from an EDI-certified (or equivalent) stucco inspector,
will tell you if there are any significant problems. An inspector can
also tell you if necessary upgrades need
to be done to the house. On EIFS homes, the inspector will use two
different meters to find elevated moisture levels – first, a scanner
to determine any large areas of moisture, and a probe meter to determine
the percent moisture in the wall. The probe meter will create small
holes in your stucco which the inspector will fill afterwards with
matching caulk. Moisture readings less than 20 percent call for
no further action. If reading is 20.1 to 30.9%, the inspector will
locate the source of the moisture intrusion and suggest the remediation
steps needed. If reading is 30.0% or above, or if substrate or framing in
the area probed soft, then a stucco contractor should cut into the
problem area, inspect for damage, and make any repairs as needed.
For Hardcoat stucco home checks, most inspectors do
not use these meters as readings may be inaccurate, but they will do
a visual inspection. The typical stucco inspection will cost
approximately $285-650.
Click here for a
list of qualified stucco inspectors.
If not,
strongly consider asking
for a MoistureFree Warranty at the time of initial
contract. A Stucco Warranty can be the difference between a care-free
home and costly repairs. A stucco warranty ensures that a home is
moisture free. If the home does have a warranty, ask which company was
used. Click here for more information about different types of stucco
warranties.
Click
here for a list of reputable companies who provide stucco warranties.
Since termites can be a significant issue with stucco homes where the
stucco was in contact to the ground, It is essential there is a termite
bond in place. If so, have the seller or the termite company provide
a history of all termite infestation locations and treatments/repairs. Click
here for more information about termite bonds.
Click here for a list of reputable companies who provide termite bonds.