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Stucco is a very attractive finish for houses. One to the problems is that only invasive testing can only truly determine the condition of a wood behind the stucco. There are instances where there is cracking and no deteriorated wood sheathing and structural members, and other times where there is a problem. There are instances where there is no cracking and there are deteriorated wood sheathing and structural members problems.
There are two fundamental several types of stucco: hard coat and synthetic (EIFS).
  Hard coat stucco is the predominant type of stucco used in Utah. There is the original three coat system and a newer one “KOTE”. These stuccos range from 3/8” to 3/4” thickness.
  EIFS is a often referred to as synthetic stucco. This stucco installed prior 1997 was a barrier system. After 1997 EIFS requires a drainage barrier. EIFS is exterior fiberglass boards, then a thin base coat with fiberglass mesh applied. There is a final finish coat.
  Hybrid system is a combination of stryofoam boards and hard coat.   . The styrofoam board applied over sheathing that has overlapped tar paper. The 3/8” hard coat system is applied onto the styrofoam boards.
Major Causes
The major causes of failure is not the stucco, it is the system and the flashings of the roof to wall termination (kick-out/ diverter) flashings, window flashings, improper deck flashings and over-stapling of the chicken wire on hard coat.
Some stucco can look like it and the wood sheathing behind the stucco is in good condition when in fact the sheathing is rotten. Other stucco can look horrible, (cracked and stained) and the wood sheathing behind is sound. The Only way to know is to probe the wood with twin probes that are 1/8” in diameter. These probes will indicate the moisture content and if the wood is solid or rotten.

For your protection, get a stucco inspection from Advocate Home Inspections. 

There is significant staining and cracking, yet the probing and subsequent stucco removal showed the wood was solid and dry.

Our primary service Counties include Salt Lake, Summit, Davis, and Utah. We service the following cities & ski resorts: Salt Lake City, Park City, Alta, Snowbird, Brighton, Solitude, Deer Valley, Sandy, Provo, Alpine, American Fork, Bluffdale, Bountiful, Centerville, Clearfield, Draper, Eagle Mountain, Farmington, Heber, Herriman, Highland, Kaysville, Kearns, Layton, Lehi, Lindon, Midvale, Midway, Murray, Orem, Pleasant Grove, Riverton, South Jordan, Sugarhouse, Taylorsville, Tooele, West Valley City, West Jordan. ADV8B17