How Much Does Stucco Repair Cost?
Typical Range:
$600 - $2,698
Typical Range:
$600 - $2,698
Cost data is based on actual project costs as reported by 3,121 HomeAdvisor members. Embed this data
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Updated September 9, 2022
Written by HomeAdvisor.It costs about $1,649 to repair stucco, but you can pay anywhere from $600 and $2,698, depending on the extent of the stucco damage and what it takes to repair it. Bad weather or accidents are the most likely culprits for damaged stucco siding, and you should quickly address even minor cracks to avoid further damage.
Let's calculate cost data for you. Where are you located?
Where are you located?
National Average | $1,649 |
Typical Range | $600 - $2,698 |
Low End - High End | $250 - $7,000 |
Cost data is based on actual project costs as reported by 3,121 HomeAdvisor members.
The cost of repairing stucco varies depending on location.
Atlanta: $1,014
Chicago: $3,711
Dallas: $2,209
Denver: $1,587
Kansas City: $1,106
Philadelphia: $2,676
San Francisco: $1,547
It costs $60 to $120 per square foot to hire someone to repair stucco, so how much you pay depends heavily on the square footage that needs repair. This table compares three scenarios for a 2,000-square-foot house: repairing a small section on one wall, repairing the stucco on an entire side of the house, and repairing all of the stucco on the house.
Square Footage | Cost Range | Average Cost |
---|---|---|
10 | $600 – $1,200 | $900 |
500 | $30,000 – $60,000 | $45,000 |
2,000 | $120,000 – $240,000 | $180,000 |
The cost of stucco siding and the materials you'll need and how much they'll cost include:
Traditional stucco: $0.05 to $0.10 per square foot
Synthetic stucco: $0.25 to $0.50 per square foot
Finishing materials: $22
Vapor barrier and metal lath: $40 to $50
Paint: $300 to $500
So, if you repaired traditional stucco on a 1,500-square-foot house, you should expect to pay $437 to $722 for materials. Most of that is the cost of giving your home a new paint job; without the paint, you would only pay about $137 to $222 for the stucco, finishing materials, vapor barrier, and metal lath.
You can expect to pay between $60 and $120 per square foot to have a professional repair your stucco for you. However, keep in mind that not all stucco repair professionals charge by the square foot. Some charge per hour; expect to pay $40 to $50 per hour.
How much you'll pay for s depends heavily on the problem and the type of repair. Some minor issues are easy to resolve with DIY fixes for just a few dollars. Others require extensive professional work and may even require covering the cost to replace stucco siding.
Repairing cracked stucco costs between $8 and $20 per square foot. You can get a DIY kit and fix minor hairline cracks yourself for as little as $30. While the occasional hairline crack is normal, multiple cracks, larger ones, or ones that keep coming back even after fixing can indicate more serious issues, such as water damage or improper installation. In these cases, it's worth getting an inspection from a pro to find and fix the cause of these cracks before they turn into more serious issues.
Patching stucco costs between $8 and $50 per square foot. How much you'll pay depends on the size and severity of the damage. Smaller holes can usually be patched with minimal fuss. You can even get inexpensive DIY kits to tackle small holes yourself. However, more substantial holes, crumbling, or other damage most likely require a larger area to be cut away to make sure you remove the entire problem area so that the pro can properly install new material.
Repairing water-damaged stucco costs $30 to $50 per square foot. It's a costly repair because it tends to plague large portions of stucco. If you have visible water damage, there's likely water behind the stucco across large areas and often over multiple walls. The only way to remediate water-damaged stucco is to cut it away, fix the moisture issue behind the walls, and install new stucco.
Caulking costs around $3.25 per linear foot if a pro tackles the project. Alternatively, you can do it yourself with caulk and a caulking gun for the cost of the supplies, which are around $30. It's a fairly quick and affordable project that can prevent huge repair bills down the line.
Caulking around doors, windows, and other potential water ingress points greatly reduces the risk of water damage and ensures your stucco is tightly sealed. If you notice missing or damaged caulking, replace it as soon as possible to avoid problems down the line.
If the stucco is severely damaged and requires extensive work, such as from significant water damage or improper installation, you'll need to replace it. Replacing stucco costs between $3 and $6 per square foot, including the cost of removing the old stucco. However, this figure doesn't include the cost of remediating the underlying problem or any other issues that have arisen due to the root cause of the siding replacement.
For example, if you've got extensive water damage, you'll pay $30 to $50 for remediation and installation of the new siding. But you may also have to pay for mold remediation, which costs between $10 and $25 per square foot.
Four key factors create a wide range of stucco costs.
The project’s cost can rapidly grow, depending on the size of the area that needs replacing. So, the best way to keep costs low is to try to limit the repair to the damaged area. Companies may discount the standard rate for a whole-house stucco tear-off and replacement, but you could still easily pay six figures to get the job done.
There are different types of stucco, each with its own price point. For example, you may prefer the advantages of synthetic stucco over traditional stucco, such as more resistance to cracking or breaking. Synthetic stucco will cost you between $0.25 and $0.50 per square foot, which is five times what traditional stucco costs.
Ideally, you'll only need to patch a small section of stucco, which would involve scraping off the damaged stucco and using some stucco patch available at a hardware store for around $20 to $30 per bucket. However, if you need to completely tear off a section of stucco and replace it, you'll have to hire a professional at the standard $60 to $120 per square foot rate.
If you need to paint the stucco after you repair it, that will cost you extra as well. Painting stucco costs about $4,500 for a 2,000-square-foot home.
Considering the average price of hiring someone to repair stucco is $1,400, and you're likely to pay less than $750 to DIY, it's certainly tempting to try to take on the job yourself. However, keep in mind that this is a difficult, time-intensive job that needs to be done right. And if it’s a bigger job, you will definitely not want to do this yourself.
But even if it’s a relatively small job, it could not only take up your entire weekend or more, but you also may make some mistakes repairing the stucco if you lack experience. This can lead to even more costs down the road and may force you to hire a professional anyway.
Usually, it's better to pay a professional and enjoy your weekend while someone else does the hard work—particularly for a job like this.
The most common sign that you need to repair your stucco is when you see cracks. However, you and your pro should inspect stains, chips, or soft spots in case they indicate underlying damage. Excessive staining and black mold growth can also indicate water damage behind the stucco.
Stucco repair can take just an hour or two if it's a small job like repairing a crack or caulking around a couple of windows. However, more extensive jobs, such as remediating water damage, patching or replacing large areas, or replacing the siding completely, can take three or four days. The time it takes to repair stucco depends on the type and extent of damage and if you're DIYing or letting a pro tackle the job.
The best way to tell if your stucco can be repaired or if it requires replacement is to hire a pro for a siding inspection. They have the knowledge and experience to accurately diagnose the root cause of your stucco issues, are best placed to tell if the stucco needs repairing or replacement, and which is the most cost-effective solution for you.
Hairline cracks in stucco aren't particularly serious, but they do need fixing as soon as you spot them. While not serious in themselves, hairline cracks provide ingress for water, letting moisture slowly penetrate the stucco, which can cause significant and expensive issues over time. Hairline cracks are easy and affordable to fix yourself. However, wider and deeper cracks are more significant and require professional inspection and remediation.
While not conclusive, one of the main signs of water behind stucco is unexplained cracks. You may also notice chips and chunks of stucco breaking off. Missing caulking or caulk gapping and cracking around windows and doors is another indicator that you may have moisture buildup behind your stucco.
If your stucco still looks or feels damp several days after rain, or if you have spots that are always discolored, damp-looking, or soft, these issues strongly suggest moisture problems and need professional help. You may also find that the drywall inside your home, below windows, feels soft; this indicates moisture behind the stucco, damaging your home's walls from the outside-in.