If you take a drive through just about any part of Florida, you're bound to see many stucco homes. And if you come from outside of the Southernmost parts of the United States, you'll probably be surprised by just how much stucco you see. Houses in Florida are made of stucco because stucco is fairly inexpensive, creates a great finished look, and is easy to apply to homes constructed with concrete blocks. It is less popular in some regions because it can be damaged as a house shifts and settles over time. If you're looking to buy property in Florida, most experts will tell you to proceed with caution on homes made with stucco siding. My wife and I considered purchasing a condo in Florida as a rental property at one point which had a stucco exterior. It turns out that stucco can be a big problem for a home if it isn't properly installed. In this article, we'll discuss the advantages and disadvantages of stucco siding and what to do if you have a home with stucco siding in Florida. Why Are Houses In Florida Made Of Stucco?
If you're planning to use stonework as a supplemental siding material, all of the previous options can match well with it. New Stucco…Done Right While your existing stucco may be creating huge problems, stucco remains a viable exterior option. The right product, expertly installed and properly flashed, can be just as reliable and water-resistant as any of these alternatives. For some houses, the look of stucco is the perfect choice, and you don't need to give it up. At Eby Exteriors, our crews are highly experienced at installing stucco that will provide decades of leak-free performance. Just because you had a bad experience doesn't mean you need to give up on stucco — you just need the right help! Discover the most common signs of stucco leaks. Local Luxury Siding Contractors For stucco or any other siding material, the team that installs it makes an enormous difference. When a crew understands how to correctly install and flash a siding material, they make it infinitely more water-resistant and long-lasting.
Installing plaster stop around every vent is WAY more time consuming and can cost just as much as buying new vents. If you choose to go this route, all of your vents that are flush mounted will appear recessed, which some people like. What About Windows? How Windows Are Typically Installed On T1-11 Siding: On a typical T1-11 siding installation a water barrier is placed directly over the studs, the window area is cut out, flashing is installed, the window is installed and the T1-11 siding is installed over the window flanges. This is a good method and works well so you could just run your stucco paper right up to the window and it would be fine, assuming that your windows have never leaked before. An Alternative Method: The better alternative would be to remove the window, apply new flashing and reset the window so the flanges rest on top of the T1-11 siding and then your stucco paper can then be counter flashed with the window flashing, just like a new stucco installation would be done.
Whether you're in the market to purchase a home, or you're ready to renovate your existing one, keep in mind that stucco homes have many advantages. Examine the following pros and cons of installing stucco siding to see if it is the right exterior for you. Advantages of Stucco Homes Stucco consists of cement, lime, and silica applied in several layers over wood or metal lath. Since these layers basically form a concrete shell around a house, a stucco home requires less energy to keep it cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Stucco can also help to reduce sound transmission. This is a great benefit to anyone living in a crowded neighborhood or close to a freeway interchange. It resists rot, mildew, and molds, and is also fire retardant In some instances stucco has saved homes from being consumed by grass and forest fires. Despite the large investment required to install stucco on the exterior of your home, it will eventually pay for itself because of its easy maintenance requirement, and longevity.