Stucco Water Stains and Efflorescence
Properly installed stucco lasts for decades and looks great. The advantages of stucco in Bluffton, SC and beyond are numerous. It’s a versatile, durable siding material that coats homes and buildings across the country. Your home’s or business’s stucco is designed to stand up to the elements and still look great—which is why, when you notice something awry, you might start to panic.
Sometimes people notice the presence of a mysterious white compound on their stucco, which is called “efflorescence.” The powdery white coating can be cause for alarm if you’ve never seen it before. Read on to learn more about it!
What is efflorescence?
Efflorescence is, in short, the mineral deposits left behind when water evaporates. Has your area gone through a long stretch of damp or wet weather? Has your stucco just been installed? Both could be causes of efflorescence, although your approach to mitigating damage will be different.
Obviously, in order for water to evaporate from the stucco, it had to be in the stucco in the first place. If your stucco was just installed, you have far less cause for worry: stucco is mixed with water for application, and has to dry, or cure. If efflorescence appears right after the stucco cures, you’re probably dealing with normal water evaporation from installation.
If, however, you notice efflorescence at any other time, or it continues to recur, you could be dealing with a water intrusion and retention problem, which is significantly more serious. Long stretches of wet, windy weather can force water into stucco even if the installation was flawless. When it dries, it brings salt and mineral deposits to the surface.
How should I deal with efflorescence?
You should avoid trying to clean up secondary efflorescence yourself—aside from preventing further issues, it will all be for naught if you don’t address the root cause of secondary efflorescence. If your stucco is retaining moisture, that could be a sign that it was improperly installed.
When stucco is retaining moisture, it not only threatens the structural integrity of your siding, but the entire building as well. Moisture can get into improperly installed stucco, usually around places where the stucco meets other parts of the building such as flashing, windows and joints. When you notice secondary efflorescence or any other signs of water damage, call a professional at once. They may need to perform a moisture test, which will help determine the extent of the damage as well as the location.
As you can see, choosing a reputable stucco contractor is important to your stucco installation.
Discover stucco benefits in Bluffton, SC
Are you building, remodeling or looking for stucco repair or replacement? Spring Construction is eager to introduce you to the benefits of flawlessly-installed stucco in Bluffton, SC. Our 10-year guarantee will reassure you that we aim to do the job right—and we stand behind our products and workmanship. Whether you’re redoing your home, business or other project, we have the tools and capabilities to handle any size building. Reach out today to learn more.
Categorised in: Stucco