Our stucco has hairline cracks all over the exterior - should we just paint over them or do they need to be fixed first?

You should never just paint over stucco cracks without addressing them first, especially in Metro Vancouver's wet climate. Hairline cracks under about 1/16 of an inch can often be filled with a high-quality elastomeric coating that bridges minor cracking, but anything wider needs proper repair with a compatible stucco patching compound before painting. In Vancouver, moisture intrusion through cracked stucco is a serious concern given our 1,200+ mm of annual rainfall. Water that gets behind the stucco can cause rot in the sheathing and framing, which is exactly the kind of damage that fuelled the leaky condo crisis. A professional painter experienced with stucco will typically power wash the surface, fill and patch all cracks with a flexible repair compound, apply a bonding primer, and then finish with two coats of elastomeric paint. Elastomeric coatings are ideal for Vancouver stucco because they stretch and contract with temperature changes without cracking. Expect to pay around $4,500 to $8,000 for a full stucco crack repair and recoat on a typical two-storey Metro Vancouver home, depending on the extent of damage. If you notice cracks that are wider than a quarter inch or any areas where the stucco sounds hollow when tapped, that could indicate the stucco has delaminated from the substrate and may need more extensive remediation. As a next step, have a qualified exterior painter inspect the stucco and assess whether simple crack filling will suffice or if deeper repairs are needed before recoating.

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