Stucco Moisture Testing

Stucco is known to be a durable and safe material to use for the outside of a home, while still being desired for it’s looks. 

However, stucco can also allow moisture to get underneath it if it is not installed properly. Here is why you should have your stucco home tested for moisture! 

How Does Moisture Get In?

If the stucco on a home is not properly installed over previous materials, the system that is used to filter and keep water out cannot be seen. 

It is completely concealed behind the stucco, meaning that it is very hard to tell if it is working properly. 

Newer homes that have been built quickly with stucco tend to have more severe cases of water damage, because the builders didn’t lay the materials correctly and tons of water has been able to get inside. 

The only way to tell if the stucco on the outside of your home is allowing water to get in is by having a moisture test done by a professional. 

How Does an Inspector do a Stucco Moisture Test? 

To test for moisture underneath stucco, the inspector will have to examine the home both visually and physically. 

Visually, the inspector will look for signs of how the stucco is holding up and whether it is being influenced by moisture. These signs include cracking, stains, and missing or containing materials that the builder should have installed – such as metal flashing. 

If the inspector notices that materials the inspector would have needed to install to protect against water are not present, this is a clue that the house may have water damage. 

To see if there is water damage, the inspector will drill a few very small holes into the stucco and use a moisture-reading tool to determine if the house is dry behind the stucco or not. 

Thermal Imaging

Thermal imaging is another great way to detect if there may be a moisture issue, because the thermal scan can show that there are differences of temperature in certain areas of the exterior. 

This will show the inspector where to drill the holes in the stucco to test and see if the wood behind is wet or is rotting. 

Thermal imaging cannot be used without drilling into the house to determine if there is moisture though, because the change in temperature can mean various different things, not just that there is moisture.