Stucco Water Damage & Parapet Repair in Albuquerque
Water is the main enemy of stucco. When it gets behind the finish, through a cracked parapet cap, a leaking canale, a missing flashing or a sprinkler that hits the wall every morning, the stucco starts to stain, bubble, crumble or come loose. By the time it shows on the outside, the problem has usually been going on for a while.
We start by finding where the water is coming from. Then we open up the damaged area, repair what’s underneath and rebuild the stucco so the same leak doesn’t happen again.
How we handle water damage
Find the source
Parapet caps, canales, roof-to-wall transitions, window flashing, grade and sprinklers. We trace the water before we patch anything.
Parapets and canales
Cracked parapet caps and leaking canales are some of the most common causes of wall damage on flat-roofed homes.
Damaged material removed
Wet, crumbling or delaminated stucco and rusted lath are cut out, not covered over.
Rebuilt to shed water
Flashing, weep screed and drip edges are corrected so water runs off the wall instead of into it.
Ready for freeze-thaw
Sealed walls don’t hold the water that freezes and expands on cold winter nights.
Finished to match
The repaired area is textured and color-blended into the rest of the wall.
What’s included
- Free on-site inspection and written estimate
- Tracing the source of the water
- Removal of damaged stucco and lath
- Parapet cap and canale repair at the wall
- Flashing, weep screed and drip edge corrections
- Stucco rebuilt, textured and color-blended
- Cleanup and walkthrough
Best for
- Stains or streaks below parapets and canales
- Bubbling, soft or crumbling stucco
- Stucco damaged at the base of the wall
- Walls hit by sprinklers or sitting against soil
Monsoon season and flat roofs
Albuquerque is dry most of the year, which is exactly why water damage gets missed. Then the monsoon arrives in mid to late summer, and short, heavy storms dump water on roofs and walls. Flat roofs drain through canales and scuppers, and any crack at a parapet or canale sends that water straight into the wall.
Winter adds a second problem: water that soaked into a wall can freeze overnight. Each freeze-thaw cycle widens cracks a little more. Catching water damage early keeps a repair small.
How it works
- Step 1
Free on-site inspection
We come out, look at the stucco and talk through what you’re seeing.
- Step 2
Clear written estimate
You get a written estimate that explains exactly what we’ll do and why.
- Step 3
Prep, repair and finish
We protect your property, do the repair in proper layers and finish it to match.
- Step 4
Walkthrough and cleanup
We clean up and walk the finished work with you.
Questions about water damage & parapets
What are the signs of water damage behind stucco?
Common signs include dark stains or streaks below parapets, canales or windows, bubbling or blistering, stucco that sounds hollow or feels soft, efflorescence (a white, chalky residue) and cracks that keep coming back. Indoors, look for stains on the wall or ceiling near exterior walls.
Do you repair roofs?
We repair the stucco side of parapets and canales: caps, the wall surfaces and the transitions where stucco meets the roof. If the roofing membrane itself needs work, we’ll tell you so you can have it handled before we finish the wall.
My sprinklers hit the wall. Is that a problem?
It can be. Stucco that gets wet every day, especially near the ground, can stain, deteriorate and wick water into the wall. Adjusting the sprinkler heads is often the cheapest fix there is. We’ll point it out if we see it.
Related services
Stucco Repair
Cracks, holes, chips and damaged corners repaired, textured to match and color-blended so the fix doesn’t stand out.
Learn moreRe-Stucco & New Stucco
Full re-stucco when the old stucco is failing, and new stucco for additions, garages and remodels.
Learn moreEIFS & Synthetic Stucco Repair
Repairs to synthetic stucco (EIFS): dents, holes, hail damage, cracked base coat and failed sealant joints.
Learn more
Water Damage & Parapets near you
We work across the Albuquerque area, including: