Our stucco exterior has cracks and some areas feel damp to the touch. Can we just paint over it or does the stucco need repair first?

Do not paint over cracked or damp stucco. Painting over moisture problems traps water inside the wall assembly, which accelerates rot and mould growth behind the stucco. This is an especially serious concern in Metro Vancouver, where the leaky condo crisis of the 1990s and 2000s demonstrated exactly how devastating trapped moisture in wall assemblies can be.

Cracks in stucco are active water entry points. Even hairline cracks allow wind-driven rain to penetrate, and once water gets behind the stucco, it often cannot dry out quickly enough in our damp climate. The fact that areas feel damp to the touch suggests moisture is already accumulating within the wall.

Before any painting, you need a proper assessment. Small surface cracks under 3 millimetres can typically be filled with an elastomeric patching compound designed for stucco. Larger cracks or areas with delaminating stucco may need sections cut out and re-applied. If the moisture has reached the sheathing or framing behind, you may be looking at a more significant remediation.

Once repairs are complete and the stucco is sound and dry, the painting process should use an elastomeric coating rather than standard exterior paint. Elastomeric coatings are thick, flexible, and bridge hairline cracks that develop over time. They are the standard recommendation for stucco exteriors in rainy climates and provide a waterproof membrane while still allowing some vapour transmission.

Have a stucco repair specialist or building envelope consultant assess the extent of moisture intrusion before engaging a painter. Addressing the root cause now prevents far costlier envelope remediation later.

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