I have a 35-year old wood frame house in LA area with stucco exterior. The previous owner had it painted 12 years ago, and it is peeling from ground level to about 4 feet above ground (presumably due to moisture reactig with some chemical compounds in the soil ---- used to be dairyland long time ago). I like smooth or semi-smooth stucco, but conncerned about price and if earthequakes will produce many fine cracks.