Hairline cracks
Usually: normal curing and house movement; cosmetic unless they widen.
We do: fill with flexible elastomeric patch, blend the texture, or re-coat the wall if there are many.
Stucco, EIFS and the brick it meets
Stucco that is fixed from the lath out, not painted over
A hairline crack in stucco is cosmetic. A bulge, a stain or a soft spot means water has been behind the wall for a while. We repair, re-coat and replace brick work, traditional cement stucco and EIFS synthetic stucco on New Jersey homes and commercial buildings, replacing the lath and moisture barrier where they have failed, and matching the texture and colour so the repair disappears.
- Since 199035+ years on NJ exteriors
- 50–100 yrLife of cement stucco done right
- MatchedTexture and colour blended on site
- Moisture firstWe test the wall before we patch it
- Exterior Services Since 1990
- 30M+ sq ft of Roofing & Exteriors Installed
- 25,000+ Satisfied Clients
- A Legacy of Giving: $1.5M+ Donated
What your wall needs
Repair, re-coat, replace, or find out what is behind it
Stucco hides what it covers. Before we quote, we tap the wall, check the moisture and look at the flashings, because a patch over a wet wall is a patch you pay for twice.
Repair
Cracks, chips, bulges, stains
Cut out the failed area, replace lath and barrier where needed, three coats, texture and colour matched.
What the symptom means →
Re-coat
A new finish on a sound wall
Acrylic finish coat or elastomeric coating over stucco that is intact but tired, faded or hairline-cracked.
Stucco, EIFS and coatings →
Replace
New stucco or EIFS, wall by wall
Tear-off to the sheathing, rot replaced, weather barrier, lath, scratch, brown and finish coats, or a drained EIFS system.
What a replacement includes →
Inspect
Moisture testing before you buy or sell
Probe readings, infrared and a written report; the stucco inspection buyers' attorneys now ask for.
How the inspection runs →Repair
What the symptom usually means, and what we do about it
Six things we see most on New Jersey stucco, and the honest answer for each.
Cracks wider than a credit card, step cracks
Usually: settlement, a missing control joint, or lath that has rusted and let go.
We do: open the crack, check the lath and sheathing, repair the cause, three-coat the patch, add control joints where they were missed.
Bulging or hollow-sounding areas
Usually: stucco that has separated from the lath, often because water got in behind it.
We do: remove the loose area to sound edges, replace lath and barrier, re-stucco. Never patch over a bulge.
Stains, streaks and dark patches
Usually: water running where it should not: under windows, below roof-to-wall joints, at kick-out flashing that was never installed.
We do: fix the flashing or the gutter first, dry the wall, then repair the stucco. The stain is the symptom, not the problem.
Soft spots, rot behind EIFS
Usually: an older barrier-type EIFS wall with no drainage, holding water against the sheathing for years.
We do: moisture-test the whole wall, cut out and replace wet sheathing and framing, rebuild with a drained EIFS system or cement stucco.
Chalking, fading, peeling paint
Usually: age, or the wrong paint: non-breathable paint traps moisture in cement stucco.
We do: wash, repair, and apply a breathable acrylic finish or elastomeric coating that moves with the wall.
- Crack repairs and patching for stucco walls
- Water damage restoration behind stucco
- Stucco chimney and siding repairs
- Surface resealing and weatherproof coatings
- Inspections for moisture intrusion and rot
- Colour matching and texturing to blend with existing stucco
- Removal of loose or deteriorating stucco
- EIFS (synthetic stucco) system repairs
- Lath replacement and reapplication
- Kick-out flashing and window flashing corrections
Systems
Cement stucco, EIFS, or a coating: which one your wall needs
Three different things get called stucco in New Jersey. They fail differently, they are repaired differently, and mixing them up is how walls rot.
Traditional cement stucco three-coat over lath
What: scratch, brown and finish coats of Portland cement plaster over metal lath and a two-layer weather barrier.
Why: hard, fireproof, breathable, and the right choice for most repairs and replacements; takes any texture and colour.
Expected life 50–100 yrEIFS synthetic stucco, drained
What: foam insulation board, a base coat with mesh and an acrylic finish, over a drainage plane.
Why: adds insulation and a seamless modern finish; common on commercial buildings. We install only drained systems, never the barrier type that caused the rot problems of the 1990s.
Expected life 30–50 yrOne-coat and acrylic finishes on sound walls
What: a new textured finish coat over existing stucco or EIFS that is intact but faded or hairline-cracked.
Why: a fraction of the cost of replacement, new colour, and it bridges small cracks.
Expected life 15–25 yrElastomeric coatings flexible, waterproof, breathable
What: a thick, rubbery coating that bridges cracks and sheds water while letting the wall dry outward.
Why: the right answer for cracked but sound stucco and for parapets and foundations that let water into the building.
Expected life 10–15 yrFlashings and control joints why stucco leaks
What: kick-out flashing where a roof meets a wall, head flashing over windows, weep screeds at the bottom, control joints every 144 square feet.
Why: nine stucco leaks in ten are a missing flashing, not the stucco. We add them on every repair and replacement.
Specified on every jobBrick, stone and the transitions where stucco meets masonry
What: repointing, sealing and flashing where stucco walls meet brick chimneys, stone foundations and sills.
Why: the joint between two materials is where water gets in; we do both sides as one job.
See tuck pointing and masonry
Replace
What a stucco replacement includes with us
When a wall has bulged, rotted or been patched too many times, we take it back to the sheathing and build it the way the code and the manufacturer say, which is more than most stucco walls in New Jersey got the first time.
- 01Tear-off and sheathingOld stucco and lath removed, wet or rotted sheathing and framing replaced and photographed, windows and doors re-flashed.
- 02Weather barrier and lathTwo layers of building paper or a drainage wrap, weep screed at the base, galvanized lath fastened to the studs, control joints laid out.
- 03Three coatsScratch coat, brown coat, cure time between them, then the finish coat in the texture you chose: smooth, sand, dash, lace or a custom match to the rest of the house.
- 04Colour and protectionIntegral colour or a breathable acrylic finish, elastomeric at parapets and foundations, sealant at every penetration. Our workmanship warranty in writing.
EIFS replacement: the same tear-off and flashing, then a drained EIFS assembly with insulation board, mesh base coat and acrylic finish, for buildings that want the insulation and the seamless look.
Brick and stucco packages
Gold, Platinum and Diamond
Targeted repairs, a full-surface seal, or a brand-new wall system: the right level depends on what the inspection finds behind the surface.
Reinforcing the vulnerable points with targeted repairs and spot-pointing
- Pointing: Spot repointing of deteriorated joints
- Stucco: Small crack injection
- Cleaning: Efflorescence removal
Best for: Localised spalling or loose mortar, fixed before it spreads
Armouring the walls with full-surface sealing and finishes
- Scope: Systemic pointing, repairs and waterproofing for a robust exterior without the cost of full replacement
- Finish: Full-surface sealing and finishes
Best for: Owners who want a uniform look and long-term protection against driving rain
Replacing aging components with brand-new, modern wall systems
- Replacement: Full brick or stucco replacement
- Drainage: Modern drainage plane installation
- Detail: Custom decorative masonry features
- Scope: Complete system overhaul
Best for: Complete restorations and replacements well beyond a simple repair
No prices on this page on purpose: every package is scoped and priced after the inspection, and the exact terms go into your written proposal. Bring any other written proposal: same scope, same warranty, we beat it.
Request a Free Estimate →
Why Roof4Roof
A roofer's stucco job: the flashing comes first
Stucco contractors patch stucco. We get called when the patch fails, because the water was coming from the roof-to-wall joint or the window above it. Four things we do on every stucco job that most crews do not:
- Moisture-tested before we quoteProbe readings and infrared where the wall shows stains or sounds hollow, so you know whether it is a patch or a wall before the price is written.
- Kick-out and head flashing addedWhere a roof runs into a stucco wall and over every window, because that is where the water that stained your wall came from.
- Rot replaced, not coveredWet sheathing and framing cut out and replaced the same day, with photos, before any new stucco goes on.
- The owners' direct line on every documentIssues answered within 48 hours, most within 24. The owners' contact details are printed on every proposal and invoice.
And a share of this job funds a roof for a family in need, through our One4One program.
Our stucco and masonry work
Walls we repaired, on the map and in photos
Real jobs from our records. Tap a pin for the details; the documented ones have their own page with every photo.
Case studySlate Roof & Copper Restoration, Saint George's Church, Maplewood
Ridgewood Rd, Maplewood, NJ 07040
Exterior Refresh & Roof Check-Up in Gillette
Preston Dr, Gillette, NJ 07933
Building Cleaning in Hoboken
Grand St, Hoboken, NJ 07030
Historical building, brick joints and a masonry sealing project
Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ
Building Cleaning in Hoboken
Madison St, Hoboken, NJ 07030
Vertical Property Management, semi-annual roof maintenance, Jersey City
Hudson St, Jersey City, NJ 07302
Residential stucco, masonry & waterproofing: 9 projects → Commercial stucco, masonry & waterproofing: 9 projects →
Inspect, then decide
How a stucco job runs with us
Step 01
01Inspect
Every wall tapped and looked at, flashings and gutters checked, moisture readings where the wall is suspect. Free, with a written report and photos.
Step 02
02Propose
Repair, re-coat or replace, the system, the texture and colour sample, the flashing corrections, the warranty and the price, in writing.
Step 03
03Build
Landscaping and windows protected, failed areas cut out, barrier and lath replaced, coats applied with the cure time each needs. Repairs in a day or two; walls in a week.
Step 04
04Protect
Walkthrough in daylight to check the blend, closeout photos, workmanship warranty in writing, and the two things that keep stucco alive: gutters that work and sealant that is renewed.
Cost & financing
What stucco work costs in New Jersey
The size of the repair, how much is behind it, the texture to match and whether scaffolding is needed decide the price. These are honest ranges from our own jobs; your written estimate is free and exact.
- Crack and patch repairs
- Minor $400–$900 · a bulged or stained section $900–$3,000 · rot behind it quoted after the wall is opened
- Re-coat (acrylic finish or elastomeric)
- Priced per square foot after washing and repairs; a fraction of replacement
- Stucco or EIFS replacement
- Priced per square foot by system, storeys and access; a full single-family re-stucco typically $15,000–$40,000+
- Moisture inspection and report
- From $350; credited against repairs we do
100% financing
Financing options →
Pay for the wall the way that suits you
Residential financing through Service Finance Company for qualified applicants, including same-as-cash and fixed-rate plans. Terms are confirmed in writing before you sign.
Financing options →
Storm damage? We document the wall for your insurer and work with the adjuster.
FAQ
Stucco questions, answered straight
What New Jersey owners ask us before they sign.
Have a question not listed here? Call (201) 267-3000 or request an estimate.
01How long does stucco last?+
Properly applied cement stucco lasts 50 to 100 years with little upkeep: renewed sealant, working gutters and a breathable finish every couple of decades. EIFS lasts 30 to 50 years when it is a drained system and the flashings are right.
02What causes stucco to crack?+
Curing shrinkage and house settling cause hairline cracks, which are normal. Wider cracks, step cracks and cracks that keep growing point to missing control joints, rusted lath, movement or water behind the wall, and need a look.
03Can cracked or chipped stucco be repaired, or does it all have to come off?+
Localized damage is repaired: cut to sound edges, lath and barrier replaced if needed, three coats, texture matched. Replacement is for walls that have bulged, rotted behind, or been patched so often that the repairs are the wall.
04Can you match my existing texture and colour?+
Yes. Texture is matched by hand on a sample panel before the finish coat goes on; colour by integral pigment or a finish coat tinted to the wall. On an old, weathered wall we sometimes recommend re-coating the whole elevation so there is nothing to match.
05Can I paint over stucco?+
Yes, with a breathable exterior masonry paint or an elastomeric coating. Ordinary paint traps moisture inside a cement wall and peels within a few years. We prepare and coat stucco as part of our painting and coating work.
06Is EIFS a problem? My buyer's inspector is worried.+
Barrier EIFS installed in the 1980s and 90s without drainage and without proper flashing caused widespread rot, which is why inspectors flag it. Modern drained EIFS with correct flashings performs well. We moisture-test EIFS walls and give you a written report either way.
07Does stucco insulate the house?+
Cement stucco adds a little thermal mass but almost no R-value; the insulation has to be in the wall behind it. EIFS adds real insulation, typically R-4 to R-8 from the foam board, which is one reason commercial buildings choose it.
08Where do you work?+
Homes across Northern and Central New Jersey, including Bergen, Hudson, Essex, Passaic, Morris, Union, Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon and Sussex counties. Commercial and multifamily stucco and EIFS across the whole of New Jersey.
Reviews
From people whose walls we fixed
★★★★★
"They repointed my brick chimney and repaired stucco trim in Wyckoff using breathable mortar and elastomeric coating, and power washed the exterior. The crisp finish looks brand-new."
★★★★★
"Roof4Roof was very professional, the employees were courteous and respectful with my property. The job was completed on time. All debris was cleaned and removed from the job site. We would not hesitate to recommend Roof4Roof."
★★★★★
"Good quality and good service at a great price. Special thanks go to John, who provided a lot of useful suggestions and made sure the workers did a good job."
One4One
A share of every job funds a roof, a repair or a home for a family in need, in New Jersey and abroad: $1.5M+ donated and 1,300+ families helped since 2010.
How One4One works →
Free estimate
Find out what is behind the crack
A moisture check where it matters, a written report with photos, and a proposal that says repair, re-coat or replace, with the price next to each.