How would you deal with the contractor?

I was concerned because my stucco patch had begun cracking on top left, just inside the window recess (see top pic) so I called a licensed contractor, who does concrete/masonry repair & restoration full time, for a "free estimate" on the repair.



The contractor came to the house, looked around, took moisture readings and a couple of pics and then took out a hammer, starting tapping around. When he got to this spot, he started hitting a bit harder, then left me with this (see bottom two pics)!

Afterwards, he didn't appear to plan on giving me a free estimate on the repair as he said "I should...go to HD and buy some Sika 211 or rapid set, then just layer it in...Maybe I buy some blue bond and put that on first".

How would you deal with the contractor, who did this?

If you had come here first,I would have told you to tap it with a hammer and if you found a spot that sounded different it likely isn't stuck good enough and remove and repair.
I don't think there is a complaint here.

I'll agree with nealtw. It's a small job, he gave you free advice. You knew there was damage there. I wouldn't have an issue. It's one of the nice things about having a CBS house, get some damage...slather on some concrete.

o2284200 said:

I was concerned because my stucco patch had begun cracking on top left, just inside the window recess (see top pic) so I called a licensed contractor, who does concrete/masonry repair & restoration full time, for a "free estimate" on the repair.

The contractor came to the house, looked around, took moisture readings and a couple of pics and then took out a hammer, starting tapping around. When he got to this spot, he started hitting a bit harder, then left me with this (see bottom two pics)!

Afterwards, he didn't appear to plan on giving me a free estimate on the repair as he said "I should...go to HD and buy some Sika 211 or rapid set, then just layer it in...Maybe I buy some blue bond and put that on first".

How would you deal with the contractor, who did this?

Click to expand...

Find the person who didn't understand how to mix nor the proper use of tools to accomplish the original repair, because there obviously is a big area of the learning curve that was missed.

The "free labor" that was ALSO provided, you should thank him for.

However, we can help.

I’m going to take a slightly different look at this. When I read this the other day I assumed the owner did his own repair and maybe he didn’t know what he was doing 100% but tried to fix it up. I don’t know the first thing about stucco and hope I never do but if I had a problem I don’t know if my first crack at fixing it would have been any better.

So he made a patch and was keeping an eye on it and saw some cracks and maybe figure he might be in over his head and called in an expert. I also don’t think the guy did anything wrong in doing some tapping around. I think that maybe he should have said see here you don’t have a good bond would you like me to give it a wack and show you it wants to fall off rather than just doing it.

At that point he might have looked at the job as being too small to mess with and told the OP to fix it himself with a couple pointers.

This is a DIY forum and I haven’t seen any DIY advice given as to what the OP did wrong and how to do it right next time. I can’t offer advice as I have never stuccoed one square inch in my life. If someone knows if it should be fixed on the surface or if water is getting in behind it or whatever lets walk the OP thru the steps to make him a DIY expert on the subject not tell him he fell off the learning curve.

As I did see anything wrong with what the contractor did, I didn't question what he said either. He did give advice on how to fix it.

The OP never asked for DIY advice on fixing the issue. Just asked for an opinion about the contractors response.

beachguy005 said:

The OP never asked for DIY advice on fixing the issue. Just asked for an opinion about the contractors response.

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That’s never stopped us in the past.

I always look at it as there are another 500 people out in the world lurking that would never sign on or really never post but are searching for an answer. I do the same thing a lot with problems I’m having that I don’t want to get to involved but would like to have an idea on.

But you are right if he wants advice he can ask.

Thanks everyone! OK...He's asking for :help:. Here are more pics for a better perspective of this corner column. Even, if I re-patch that area, as the contractor suggested, where he did his thing, I'm still concerned something else is wrong that he did not want to deal with. My concern is why all the patching keeps cracking with the cracks getting bigger?

Exterior corner column before contractor:


Previously patched and caulked but still cracking with the cracks getting bigger:


Interior previous patch also has large crack that corresponds with the caulked exterior crack, which is getting bigger.

Keep in mind that a "license" is no guarantee of professional quality.

In many places, a license is a cheap way to be allowed to work in an area if the applicant pays the minimal fee.

Did you have any references or did you just go by the yellow pages or a flier handed out?

A free estimate is a way to get a foot in the door and no more.

Dick

So tell us again about the construction of the house, wood frame on slab???

Concrete block on slab

I don't know enough about stucco. I went looking to learn what I could .
I found this guy that sounds like an expert, who knows.
He starts out by telling us what was wrong in the first place and showing us at least three previous patches.
And he says that the whole area should be replaced.
To me it is obvious that if we we just do a cosmetic repair it will not last.
We have to find the cause and go after that or it is just a matter of time.
At the very least he should have installed a flashing over the window. But I am just guessing.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXhYf4yNNto[/ame]

The basic process is correct for wood framed structures.

However, in this case it's a CMU structure and the process is far simpler. The initial application is a brown coat or a dry-sack to create a stable, uniform surface to apply the color and/or texture coat over.

If you do not apply a base, the masonry grout lines bleed through.

In tracts and on some individuals, either or both can be hand or machine applied.

Photo #3 of msg. #1 shows the brown coat and what was not accomplished in the repairs, was the application and use of the proper float in the application of the finish texture, let alone any attempt at a color match.

The learning curve for this is really short.

Snoonyb said:

The basic process is correct for wood framed structures.

However, in this case it's a CMU structure and the process is far simpler. The initial application is a brown coat or a dry-sack to create a stable, uniform surface to apply the color and/or texture coat over.

If you do not apply a base, the masonry grout lines bleed through.

In tracts and on some individuals, either or both can be hand or machine applied.

Photo #3 of msg. #1 shows the brown coat and what was not accomplished in the repairs, was the application and use of the proper float in the application of the finish texture, let alone any attempt at a color match.

The learning curve for this is really short.

Click to expand...

Thanks!
I'm not really sure I understand.

What are you not understanding?