Our home, built by a mass-developer, is just over a year old, the warranty is up, and we are suddenly dealing with one final warranty issue...the exterior stucco. Our stucco seems to have deteriorated quickly, and we need advice as to how firmly to handle the situation with the builder.

Below is link to a photo of one of our exterior walls. I could be way off base here, because I admittedly know nothing about stucco, but to me the wall looks bad enough that it seems I should expect nothing less than a complete re-stuccoing. I would greatly appreciate any advice you could lend in this situation.

http://www.mongermusic.com/side-small.jpg

http://www.mongermusic.com/side-large.jpg

Yes, that is bad.

Do any of the neighbors have similar problems?

Do you know what kind of stucco it is? And how it is detailed?

Here is a website about bas stucco.

They have a forum. But also check out the links section to the stucco "assocations".

While it is clearly defective you still might need a local expert to both write it up and also to inspect the replacement so that you don't have the same problems again.

Tell them you location.

Also I would visit with an attorney, one that specializes in contruction defects if you can find one. Otherwise a good general business attorney.

Have them review you contracts and also the state laws and tell you exactly what leverage you do or do not have. Maybe free, but if not still inexpensive for what you need now.

You might also inform the building inspectors of the problem. Specially if the company is still building the same houses in the area.

You might also post this in the roofing and siding section.

You have a number of things wrong! To see more info about badstucco go to http://www.badstucco.com
Bill H. Is right you are going to need legal help!

Carl and Bill, I greatly appreciate your insight and information...what a mess! I noticed that a couple of neighboring houses have some unevenness like ours, just nowhere near as severe, and without the accompanying large cracks. Other homes near us seem to have no visible problems.

Our home was a spec home, one of the first in the area...I'm wondering if they built a few homes with a certain stucco sub-contractor, and then switched to another sub?

I will check out the badstucco site, and hopefully be able to find the resources I need to begin resolving this situation...thank you so much for the point in the right direction!