Stucco Repair and Stucco Painting in West Palm Beach and South Florida

Nearly every home in Palm Beach County and Broward is wrapped in stucco, and nearly every one of them has cracks. Some are cosmetic. Some let water in. Envision Paint Company repairs stucco cracks, matches the existing texture, and repaints with breathable, flexible coatings built for South Florida stucco.

Stucco services

Hairline and stress crack repair
Control joint and expansion joint recaulking
Patching spalled, hollow, or damaged stucco
Texture matching: sand float, knockdown, Spanish lace, smooth
Efflorescence treatment
Elastomeric and high-build acrylic coatings
Full exterior stucco repaints

Why stucco cracks in South Florida

Settling and thermal movement

Stucco is rigid and the house under it moves. Concrete block expands and contracts with heat, and new construction settles for years. Cracks show up at window and door corners, along the tile line under the roof, and at control joints. Most are hairline and cosmetic, but they still let water into the wall, and in our climate that means staining, efflorescence, and eventually spalling.

Water intrusion and spalling

When water gets behind stucco and cannot get out, the stucco pops off in sheets or sounds hollow when tapped. This is common below windows with failed caulk, at the base of walls with poor drainage, and around hose bibs and fixtures. We remove loose material, address the water source, and rebuild the patch in layers to match the surrounding thickness.

Efflorescence

The white powdery bloom on stucco is salt migrating out with moisture. Painting over it pushes the new paint off. We remove it, treat the surface, and prime with a masonry product designed to hold it back.

How we repair and paint stucco

Inspect. Tap for hollow spots, map cracks, and check caulk at every opening.
Open and clean. Hairline cracks are widened slightly and cleaned so the filler bonds. Loose stucco is removed.
Patch. Flexible elastomeric patch for hairlines; cement-based stucco patch for larger areas.
Texture match. The patch is textured to blend with the surrounding wall. This is the step most painters skip, and it is why you can see their patches.
Recaulk. Windows, doors, and control joints sealed with an exterior-grade elastomeric sealant.
Prime and paint. Masonry conditioner where needed, then two coats. Elastomeric on walls with active hairline cracking; high-build acrylic elsewhere so the wall can breathe.

Elastomeric or acrylic: which is right for your stucco?

Elastomeric coatings stretch and bridge hairline cracks, which makes them tempting for everything. But they are also very low in permeability, and on older lime-based stucco or walls with any moisture issue they can trap water and blister. We use elastomeric where the wall is sound and cracking is the main issue, and a breathable high-build 100% acrylic on historic stucco and anywhere moisture needs to escape. Your estimate will say which and why.

Recent stucco painting and crack repair work

Close-up of a trowel pressing patch compound into a cracked stucco wall before repainting, Boca Raton, FL

Painter skim coating a stucco wall with a steel trowel to smooth cracks before paint, Delray Beach, FL

Stucco Painting and Crack Repair service areas

We provide stucco painting and crack repair throughout Palm Beach County and northern Broward, including West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Fort Lauderdale, and the surrounding communities. See all service areas.

Stucco Painting and Crack Repair questions

Are hairline stucco cracks a problem?

Cosmetically minor, but they let water into the wall. In South Florida that leads to staining, efflorescence, and eventually spalling. Filling them before repainting is inexpensive and worth it.

Will the stucco patches be visible after painting?

Not if the texture is matched. We texture every patch to blend with the surrounding wall before priming and painting.

Should I use elastomeric paint on my stucco?

Only if the wall is sound and dry and hairline cracking is the main issue. On older or damp stucco, a breathable acrylic is safer. We will recommend the right product for your house.

How long does stucco repair take before painting?

Patches need to cure before paint, typically one to three days depending on depth and weather. This is built into the exterior painting schedule.

Can you fix stucco that sounds hollow?

Yes. Hollow stucco has separated from the wall and must be removed and rebuilt. We remove it to sound material, address the moisture source, and repatch in layers.