I finally figured out why my stucco patch kept cracking every winter

For three years, I kept patching the same spot on my west-facing wall near Central, and it would always split open again by January. A guy at Builders Supply told me I was using the regular mix, not the acrylic-modified one that flexes with our freeze-thaw cycles (which makes total sense now). I tried the right stuff last fall, and the patch made it through this whole winter without a single crack. Has anyone else found a specific product that solved a repeating problem like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

wren_walker622mo ago

Glad you found the fix. I had the same issue on my north wall. The key is to chip out the old patch way bigger than the crack itself, like a few inches back, so the new stuff has solid edges to grab onto. A wire brush to clean out all the dust makes a big difference too. Wetting the area right before you apply the acrylic mix helps it bond way better.

sethtorres5d ago

Check your flashing above that spot too. Water sneaks in behind and busts patches from the back.

wyatt_fisher412mo ago

Nice! Did you have to prep the area any differently with the new mix, or just swap the product?