Tired of Your Stucco? Here’s How to Remove Stucco Siding
Maybe you’re ready to give your home or commercial building an entirely new facelift. Or maybe you’re constantly dealing with moisture problems in your stucco and want a more climate-friendly siding. No matter the reason, removing stucco is a fairly simple and straightforward job. It doesn’t require a specific skill set, just some dedicated time and manual labor.
What is the Best Way to Remove Stucco?
Before you start the removal process, it’s helpful to know that there are several types of stucco. The most common is plaster stucco but some of the newer stuccos, popular in the West and Southwest, contain plastic polymers. EIFS stucco is one example. It’s also helpful to know that stucco can be applied to a variety of backings such as insulating concrete forms, concrete blocks, brick, or plywood covered with roofing felt and metal netting or lath. Be sure to know what type of stucco you’ll be removing and what’s behind the stucco. Overall, the best way to remove stucco involves the following:
Preparation
Safety gear will go a long way in making sure your demolition project is successful. If you don’t have the necessary safety gear, it’s well worth a trip to your home improvement store to invest in the appropriate equipment. Make sure your stucco removal project avoids a trip to the emergency room.
- Safety gear:
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- Goggles protect your eyes from dust and small particles that will be flying off of the concrete as you remove it.
- A respirator or mask to protect your nose, mouth, throat, and lungs from breathing in stucco dust and particles. Count on a lot of dust!
- Sturdy work gloves
- A hardhat
- Boots with toe protection. Don’t be tempted to wear flip flops or sneakers – they simply can’t protect your feet for a job like this.
- Clear the area of all debris and obstacles that you could possibly trip over. Also, as you remove the stucco, continue to keep the debris from cluttering walkways and workspaces.
- Get help. Removing stucco by yourself is a big job. Ask a few trusty friends to help – the job will go faster and more efficiently.
- Tools. Having the necessary tools will make the job go faster and keep you and your helpers safer. You’ll need:
- A circular saw with a sharp blade
- Chisel
- Hammer
- Pry bar
- Roofing shovel
- Tarps to cover exposed areas once the stucco is removed and before the new siding is installed
Removing the Stucco
Now you’re prepared and ready to get to work. It may be tempting to grab a sledgehammer like some home improvement hosts deftly swing on TV. But a sledgehammer can cause a lot of unwanted damage so leave it in the tool shed.
- Set the saw blade to cut at the thickness of the stucco, but no deeper.
- Using the circular saw, make a series of square cuts about 2′ x 2′ in the stucco.
- Dislodge each cut section with the hammer, chisel, and pry bar. Sometimes you can remove an entire section with a roofing shovel.
- If the section seems particularly stubborn to remove, you can pound on the stucco with a lump hammer. The hammer will fracture the stucco, making it much easier to pry off.
Protect the Exposed Backing
Depending on the backing material underneath the removed stucco, it may need protecting. If you won’t be installing the new siding immediately, cover the exposed backing with tarps, especially if inclement weather is predicted.
Disposing of the Stucco
Plan ahead for how you’ll dispose of the removed stucco. If you can, try to divert waste stucco away from landfills.
- Recycling plaster stucco. Crushers break down the stucco for recycled stucco or plaster. Some companies will grind stucco and add it to the road base. Even some commercial composting plants will accept plaster. They grind it up and add it to the compost mix. Search online using key search words like plaster recycling, stucco recycling, or stucco composting.
- Stucco with plastic polymers and painted stucco won’t be accepted for recycling or composting. Order a dumpster from your refuse company.
How Much Does it Cost to Remove Stucco Siding?
The majority of the cost involved in removing stucco siding is in the labor. If you do the job yourself, your major cost will be in pizza and beverages for your friends. If removing stucco on your own seems like too big of a job, CLAD Siding offers fast free quotes from licensed and insured professional contractors in your area. The cost will depend on the square footage of your home or building, how hard the stucco is to remove, and disposal costs. In general, plan on $1 – $3 per square foot of exterior wall area, plus disposal costs.
Do You Have to Remove Stucco Before Siding?
Not usually. In fact, the stucco can serve as an additional insulation layer when it’s covered with siding. What you must do, however, is check to make sure the stucco is in good condition. If there’s damage, it must be repaired before applying the siding. If the stucco has gaps, holes, or cracks, moisture can enter. You absolutely don’t want mildew, mold, or algae to continue growing on the stucco after the siding is installed. Also, make sure the stucco doesn’t contain asbestos. If it does, it’s best removed by a licensed contractor.
Consider a Stucco Removal Pro
Certainly, an advantage to removing stucco on your own is the money you’ll save. But if you simply don’t have the time to devote to the job, or if you can’t manage the labor on your own, a professional stucco contractor can do the job for you. Just be sure to hire pros who are licensed and insured. CLAD Siding helps you find reputable pros quickly. We connect you with licensed and insured siding contractors who are experienced with residential and commercial siding removal, repairs, and installation. A team will remove the stucco, dispose of it, and leave the job clean, neat, and ready for the siding of your choice.
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You can have your stucco removed in a flash when you find expert licensed and insured stucco siding professionals at CLAD Siding. We connect you quickly with top-rated stucco pros in your area. Request a free quote now!
