Stucco Lawsuits
Stucco lawsuits are considered civil lawsuits for suing a home or stone wall builder when they’ve been damaged or destroyed by shoddy construction or material defects. In Florida, it’s known as a construction defect. These cases are filed by homeowners who have lost their homes to stucco damage caused by faulty materials or poor artistry on behalf of the builder.
FAQs About Stucco Lawsuits
Just What Is Stucco?
Stucco is a mixture of cement and sand or other binding materials. It coats the surface of a building or structure and creates a smooth, protective finish that resists water, soil, and weather damage. Stucco is also used as an insulation material in homes.
Stucco can be made from any aggregate, including sand, gravel, or crushed stone. It can be poured onto a substrate directly or applied over brick or concrete masonry units (CMUs). The finished product is then covered with plaster or plasterboard to protect against moisture and weather damage.
Stucco can be applied in many different forms, including:
- Masonry stucco – This form of stucco uses mortared CMUs to create a solid surface that’s easy to maintain but tough on stains and water damage.
- Plaster stucco – This form of stucco uses lime-based plaster as its binder, which produces a smooth finish without the need for sanding or sealing after application. Plaster stucco requires more skilled labor than other types of stucco.
What Causes Stucco to Fail?
There are many types of stucco out there, with specific properties and applications. Although everyone may feel like they know how stucco works, you’ll find that often people make mistakes in their stucco application. By being aware of the causes of stucco failure and having a plan that applies to your situation, you can ensure that you won’t be faced with expensive repairs. Here are the causes of stucco failure. If your stucco fails and causes damage to your home, you may be able to receive compensation. Contact our team today to learn more.
Installation Defects
Installation defects are the most common cause of stucco failure. Stucco is a very flexible material; if it’s not installed correctly, it can crack and crumble. Therefore, it’s essential to ensure that your stucco is installed correctly. This can be accomplished using a stucco installer with experience working with the product.
If you don’t have an experienced contractor on site, this can damage the home or structure. You should also make sure that the stucco installer uses quality materials when applying your stucco.
Poor Site Preparation
Poor site preparation is the single most common cause of stucco failure. The stucco layer can become brittle or be damaged by water penetration or freezing.
A problem with the site preparation is that it can be done at any time during construction, but it’s often done well after the stucco has been applied to a wall. When this happens, several things could go wrong:
- When applied to the wall, the stucco layer may not be cured (set). This can cause cracking and other problems in the long run.
- The stucco layer may not have been appropriately applied to all wall surfaces. For example, if you apply it to just one side of a panel, water can seep through and damage that side much more quickly than if you used an airless sprayer with a broad pattern covering both sides. In addition, you may have used an adhesive that was too thin when you applied it to your molding line.
Inadequate Bonding Material
The bonding material between the stucco layers must be strong enough to withstand the weight of the stucco and allow it to bond with the underlying unit. Bonding materials such as asphalt, fiberglass, or cement should be used if available at your location. If you do not have these materials on-site, they should be ordered ahead of time so they can be trucked in for installation during the construction phase of your project.
Poor cement-to-water ratio
The cement in stucco is a powerful binder, almost as strong as concrete. It will bind to the organic content in the substrate and form a solid mass of calcium silicate hydrate. This can be prevented by using enough water and enough cement, but it’s easier said than done. It’s challenging if you’re working with a thin layer of stucco, like when you’re repairing a crack or adding a layer over the top of an existing one.
The problem with using too little water is that it can make the mortar too dry. If the mortar is too dry, it does not have enough moisture to bind together correctly and will crack when you apply your stucco coatings.
The other problem with using too little water is that it causes the mortar to be too heavy and makes it difficult for the stucco to adhere to the substrate or surface properly. If you use too much water, you’ll find yourself applying multiple coats of stucco, which could be very expensive in terms of labor and materials costs.
Florida’s climate
Florida’s climate is very different from that of other regions, and it affects stucco. The humidity and temperature in Florida are high, and stucco needs to be protected from both. Humidity causes stucco to crack and peel. The high temperatures cause the surface material to expand, which can cause cracks in the finished stucco surface.
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Who is responsible for a stucco failure?
Stucco lawsuits are prevalent in Florida. Many homeowners who have had to deal with stucco problems in their homes have filed a Stucco lawsuit against the contractor who installed the stucco. Construction defects are the main reason for stucco lawsuits.
In most cases, stucco failures are caused by improper installation. In other words, the contractor who installed your stucco did not follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
There are two kinds of contractors:
- licensed contractors
- unlicensed contractors.
To maintain their license, licensed contractors must follow all rules and regulations local and state governments set regarding construction activities.
Unlicensed contractors have no such restrictions on their activities and are free to do what they please, with no regard for laws or regulations governing stucco installation. Unlicensed contractors are often known as “fly-by-night” contractors because they only stick around long enough to complete one job before moving on.
These contractors care little about the quality of their work or the safety of your home and family; all they want is your money. On the other hand, licensed stucco contractors are vested in seeing that their work is done right so they don’t get sued by unhappy customers later on.
What Can You Recover in Stucco Lawsuits?
When faced with stucco lawsuits, you can do a few things to ensure you get the compensation you deserve. First, hiring an attorney specializing in this type of litigation is essential. Stucco is a relatively new construction material, and there aren’t many attorneys who know how to handle these types of cases.
An experienced stucco lawyer can help you understand what your legal options are and will be able to help guide you through the process.
A second thing you should do is contact any insurance companies that may be responsible for paying for the damages caused by your stucco problem. One of these companies may offer some settlement or goodwill payment, but in most cases, they want nothing more than they have already paid out on their policies. If they refuse to make any payments, it may be time to look into filing a lawsuit against them.
You can recover your expenses.
If you have lost money because of the stucco problems, you may be able to get compensated for these losses. For example, if you had to pay an exterminator to get rid of the insects that came into your home because of the stucco problems, then you might be able to recover those costs from your insurance company. In addition, if you had to hire a new contractor because of the stucco problems, then you might also be able to recover those costs from your insurance company.
You can get compensation for your aggravation and anxiety.
If you had to deal with multiple contractors who were not up to date on their stucco repair knowledge, this could cause you great anguish and anxiety. This could even lead to panic attacks or other psychological issues. In some cases, this can even lead to serious health problems later. If this is true for you or someone else in your family, then it would make sense for them to be compensated by their insurance company.
You can get compensation for the business or work you lost because of the stucco problems.
If you worked at home or in another location when a stucco issue arose on your property, then it’s possible that what happened could have prevented you from earning income during those months. In this case, it could be possible for you to recover compensation for those lost earnings through a Stucco Lawsuit settlement or verdict. For example, if you were working part-time at home but still earned.
Suppose you are a victim of stucco or any other defective building material and have experienced health problems. In that case, you must take action fast by contacting an attorney who handles these cases. In addition, you may be entitled to financial compensation.
If you need to file a stucco lawsuit, contact our lawyers today. We will fight for the highest compensation possible for you and your family.