Preparing Lath and Corners for New Stucco
New stucco needs a sound base. We secure loose lath to the sheathing, repair small areas of lath damage with wire, and replace rusted corner beads before applying fresh material. Covering loose or corroded components would leave the patch dependent on a failing support.
How We Build a Three-Coat Patch
For a three-coat repair, we dampen the lath and apply a scratch coat 3/8 to 1/2 inch thick. We cross-hatch that coat and let it cure for 18 to 24 hours. We then apply and float the brown coat before adding a finish coat at least 1/8 inch thick. A rubber stucco float helps us reproduce the surrounding texture. Premixed patch material can be handled with a margin trowel or putty knife where that product is appropriate.
Why Some Lafayette Cracks Return
Near-surface silty clay in Lafayette can have moderate-to-high expansion potential. Repeated wetting and drying can move the ground enough to affect foundations and crack the stucco above them. If seasonal movement keeps reopening a repair, the underlying moisture problem needs to be corrected rather than repeatedly covering the same crack.
Stucco Repair Pricing in Lafayette
General stucco repair commonly ranges from $8 to $50 per square foot. The amount of preparation and rebuilding required affects where a job falls within that range. A repair that requires loose lath to be secured, damaged wire to be repaired, or a rusted corner bead to be replaced involves more work than applying patch material to a prepared surface.
How It Works
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Tell Us What's Going On
Tell us what you're seeing and when it started — you'll get a straight answer, not a sales pitch.
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On-Site Inspection
We come out, measure what's actually happening, and walk you through what we find.
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Clear, Written Quote
We put the fix, the timeline, and the number on paper — take your time with it.
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We Do the Work
We complete the repair, verify it solved the problem, and stand behind the work.
Some of what that looks like in the field:
- Identify loose areas by pressing for sponginess and tapping the stucco with a hammer handle for hollow or changing sounds.
- Cut around damaged stucco with a cold chisel or masonry-bit holes, undercut the perimeter, remove material to the lath, and wire-brush the opening clean.
Pricing Ranges
Typical ranges, not a fixed price - the exact number is confirmed in writing before work starts.
$8–$30
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Communities We Cover
We work across Lafayette, CA. Call (925) 298-0901 to confirm coverage for your address.
Why Lafayette Homeowners Call
Straight Answers
Need help today? Call (925) 298-0901.