I am adding some decorative masonry block to my stucco home. This is the
heavy troweled type stucco finish. I notice today that some of the work
done yesterday has a number of hairline cracks. iI this because of too much
water in the mix...or too little...or maybe something else. I had done this
a number of years ago and had no cracking as the heavier stucco dried ?

Thanks, Tim

On Jan 19, 8:14*am, "Tim" wrote:
I am adding some decorative masonry block to my stucco home. *This is the
heavy troweled type stucco finish. *I notice today that some of the work
done yesterday has a number of hairline cracks. *iI this because of too much
water in the mix...or too little...or maybe something else. *I had done this
a number of years ago and had no cracking as the heavier stucco dried ?

Thanks, Tim

you may be able to scratch out the cracked part and redo it. Or, just
leave the non structural defect alone and think of it as decorative.

On Jan 19, 9:14 am, "Tim" wrote:
I am adding some decorative masonry block to my stucco home. This is the
heavy troweled type stucco finish. I notice today that some of the work
done yesterday has a number of hairline cracks. iI this because of too much
water in the mix...or too little...or maybe something else.

I'm no stucco expert but the first thing I'd suspect is too heavy of a
coat which could cause uneven drying.

The same might be caused by the substrate sucking the moisture from
the mud too quickly.
-----

- gpsman

"Tim" wrote in message
...
I am adding some decorative masonry block to my stucco home. This is the
heavy troweled type stucco finish. I notice today that some of the work
done yesterday has a number of hairline cracks. iI this because of too
much water in the mix...or too little...or maybe something else. I had
done this a number of years ago and had no cracking as the heavier stucco
dried ?

Thanks, Tim

Stucco expands and contracts. Earth moves. Houses settle. There is
imperceptible seismic activity. Hairline cracks are a fact of life with
stucco. You will not see any stucco without cracks. Big cracks are a
problem, but hairline are nothing to indicate poor work or inferior
materials.

This is why elastomeric paint is sold for masonry and stucco. If there were
no cracks for rubber stretchy paint to cover up and stretch with, there
would be no market for elastomeric paints at all. Instead, they sell a LOT
of it.

Think about it.

Steve