Stucco Peel Off Calgary

What Causes Stucco to Peel Off?

There are plenty of homes with stucco in Calgary. You can see why it’s a popular material since it’s quite durable. However, there are ways for it to start peeling off. If your house is made with stucco material, it would be in your best interest to learn about what can cause this issue. Find out how here.

Understanding the Causes Behind Stucco in Calgary to Peel Off

Peel Off Stucco Calgary


What is Stucco?

Before we understand what causes stucco to start peeling, it’s important first to know the makeup of stucco. Alternatively known as plaster, stucco comprises three basic materials – aggregates, a binder, and water. In construction, it’s generally applied wet before hardening into a dense solid. Its strength makes it a popular construction material for decorative coating for walls, ceilings, exterior walls, and even more creative uses for architectural sculptures.

How Could Stucco Begin to Peel Off?

Even the most durable construction material has its Achilles heel – stucco is no different. That’s why it’s important to understand what could cause stucco to start peeling off. Once you know, you can effectively prevent or catch the issue and call a professional for stucco repair

For the most part, the main culprit behind stucco peeling can be summed up to one main cause – water damage.

Yet, you might wonder how water can create this issue. Often than not, it stems from water seeping into the water underneath the stucco. How can this occur? Easily from ice-damming. If you’re unfamiliar with ice-damming, it forms after heavy snowfall. 

With how Calgary winters can be, you want to look out for this. All the snow collected on your roof warms up from the heat in your home. The melted snow then goes down before freezing again at the edge of your roof – creating a pile of ice. That’s where peeling can start in your stucco. 

How to Fix Peeling Stucco?


Thankfully, it is possible to fix peeling stucco. However, a few steps must be taken to achieve that. 

These include the following:

  • Removing loose stucco
  • Adding builder’s paper & mesh
  • Patching it up with base coats
  • Applying a finishing coat

If you’re into DIY, it’s possible to fix small stucco peeling. However, if you notice a lot of stucco peeling, it’s best not to do it yourself. With so much peeling, it can easily get overwhelming. Furthermore, the pressure can make concentrating hard, resulting in a poor job. You risk making things worse – especially if you have never done it. A bad job can result in paying more for repairs than you would have hoped in saving costs through DIYing. 

If you have a lot of stucco peeling, it’s best to leave it to the professionals. In this way, you can ensure the peeling is fixed properly. Plus, reaching out to one can help you better understand ways to prevent this from occurring again in the future. 



Golden Trowel Stucco has been providing Calgary homes and commercial properties with top-quality stucco services. For the past 20 years, we have been the number one stucco contractors in the Calgary and Greater Calgary area. We can completely change your property for the better with our stucco services, including stucco installations, stucco and exterior painting, and stucco repairs in Calgary. We’re flexible and ready to help you when you need it. Call us on 403-891-5343 anytime.

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