Stucco Services in Chicago & the North Shore
Installation, repair, restoration, waterproofing and finishes. Stucco is a system rather than a coating, and the right fix depends on what is actually failing. Licensed and insured.
Most stucco problems are water problems
A hairline crack is not a cosmetic issue in this climate. Water gets in, freezes, expands and opens the crack a little wider every winter, and eventually it reaches the substrate behind. That is why the same-looking wall can need anything from a crack repair to a full facade restoration. The first job is working out which one you actually have — we will tell you that before we quote it.
Our stucco services
- Stucco Installation / Application — new stucco over prepared substrate
- Stucco Repair — localised patching where the system is otherwise sound
- Stucco Crack & Damaged Area Repair — cracks cut out and rebuilt, not filled over
- Facade Restoration — whole-elevation work on larger or commercial buildings
- Stucco Restoration — bringing a tired but sound facade back to condition
- Damaged Stucco Renewal / Resurfacing — a new surface over a repaired base
- Stucco Painting & Maintenance — breathable coatings and upkeep
- Exterior Waterproofing / Moisture Protection — keeping water out of the wall
- Stucco Finishes & Textures — matching or changing the texture of a wall
How the work runs
1. Assessment
We look at the cracking pattern, sound the wall for hollow areas and check where water is getting in, then tell you whether this is a repair or a restoration.
2. Repair and rebuild
Failed material comes out before new goes on. Cracks are opened and rebuilt, damaged areas cut back to something sound, and the texture matched to the surrounding wall.
3. Protect and finish
Coating and moisture protection appropriate to the system, so the wall can dry outward instead of trapping water behind the finish.
Recent stucco work
Stucco questions we get asked
How do I know whether I need a repair or a full restoration?
It comes down to how much of the wall is still sound. Isolated cracks in an otherwise solid facade are a repair. Widespread cracking, hollow-sounding areas or staining that keeps coming back usually means the problem is behind the surface, and patching it will only buy a season. We will tell you which one you are looking at rather than quoting the bigger job by default.
What causes stucco to crack in the first place?
Normal building movement, settlement, and the freeze and thaw cycle we get every winter. Fine hairline cracking is common and often cosmetic. Cracks that are widening, running diagonally from window corners, or letting water through are the ones worth acting on.
Can stucco be painted?
Yes, but the coating has to let the wall breathe. Sealing stucco with the wrong product traps moisture inside the system and causes more damage than it prevents. See Stucco Painting & Maintenance.
Can you match my existing texture?
In most cases, yes. Texture matching is a large part of what makes a repair invisible, and we will do a sample area first on anything visible from the street so you can approve it before we carry on.
Do you work on traditional stucco or synthetic systems?
Tell us which system you have, or send a photo, and we will confirm what we can take on before anything is scheduled. The two behave very differently and need different repair methods, so it is worth establishing early.
Do you handle commercial buildings as well as houses?
Yes. Recent work includes commercial stucco restoration and townhome exterior restoration with waterproofing. See Commercial Painting and Facade Restoration.
Not sure which stucco service you need?
Send us a photo of the wall. We will tell you what we are looking at and what it would take to put right — no charge and no obligation.