Cracks Running Through Stucco Ceilings
Seasonal movement and truss uplift crack stucco ceilings along joints and at the wall line. Filling the crack alone brings it back, so we reinforce the joint underneath before re-texturing.
Stucco repair in Kingston, ON
Stucco Ceiling and Exterior Stucco Repair in Kingston, Ontario
Kingston Drywall repairs stucco ceilings inside the home and patches cracked or broken stucco on exterior walls. We serve homeowners and property managers in Kingston and the surrounding towns.
Our crew brings more than 20 years of plaster, texture and finishing experience to every stucco job. Matching an old stucco surface is about aggregate, application pattern and sheen, and we test before we patch.
We are licensed, insured, WSIB covered and trained for Working at Heights. Pre-1990 stucco ceilings are tested for asbestos before we disturb them.
- 20+ years
- 2,500+ jobs
- Licensed, insured, WSIB
20+ years of drywall
in Eastern Ontario
in Eastern Ontario
Clearing up the names
Stucco, Stipple and Popcorn Are the Same Ceiling
Indoors, many Ontario homeowners call a sprayed textured ceiling a stucco ceiling. Others say stipple, and most American websites say popcorn. They all describe the same sprayed texture.
Outside, stucco means something different: a cement-based cladding on exterior walls. We handle crack and patch repairs on exterior stucco too, while full re-cladding and EIFS systems are left to cladding specialists.
Damage we repair
Stucco Ceiling Damage We Repair
Water Stains and Fallen Stucco After a Leak
Stucco lets go when the board behind it gets wet. We cut back to dry board rather than spraying over damp material, then seal the stain before texture goes on.
Holes From Light Fixtures, Fans and Renovation Work
Moved a fixture or removed a ceiling fan? The opening is backed, patched flush and textured to blend with the surrounding ceiling.
Sections Scraped or Damaged by Previous Work
Half-finished DIY scraping or a trade who scuffed the ceiling leaves bald patches. We rebuild the surface and blend fresh stucco across the area.
Patching Stucco Around New Pot Lights
New recessed lights leave torn texture around each opening. See our pot light hole repair page for old openings that need closing.
Sagging Stucco on Older Lath Ceilings
Stucco on old plaster can hide loose plaster underneath. We secure the ceiling with plaster washers before any cosmetic work, because texture adds weight to a ceiling that is already letting go.
Free written quotes with the finish level spelled out.
Exterior stucco
Exterior Stucco Crack and Patch Repairs
Kingston's freeze and thaw cycles are hard on exterior stucco. Water gets into a hairline crack, freezes and widens it, and eventually a piece lets go.
Cracks Around Windows and Corners
Stress concentrates at window corners. We open and fill cracks so water cannot track into the wall.
Broken Corners and Exposed Lath
Damaged sections are cut back, the wire lath is repaired or replaced, and the patch is built up in scratch, brown and finish coats.
Chipped Stucco at the Wall Base
Snow shovels, splashback and salt wear down the bottom of the wall. We rebuild the base and blend it into the existing finish.
Exterior stucco work is weather dependent and booked between spring and fall, when temperatures allow the material to cure properly.
The craft
Matching Aggregate, Spray Pattern and Sheen
Stucco aggregate varies by era and manufacturer, from fine sand to coarse chips. Spray pressure and the distance from nozzle to ceiling change the pattern completely.
We match all of it on a test board first, in the same light as the room. On painted stucco we also match sheen, because a perfect texture with the wrong gloss still shows.
Compare
Repair or Remove? An Honest Comparison
Not sure whether to patch your stucco ceiling or remove it? Here is how the options compare. If removal looks better, see stipple and popcorn ceiling removal.
| Factor | Repair the stucco | Remove the stucco |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Lower for a few patches | Higher, priced per square foot of ceiling |
| Mess | Limited to the patch area | Whole room contained and scraped |
| Asbestos risk | Small disturbance, still tested if pre-1990 | Full disturbance, testing essential |
| Resale appeal | Keeps a dated look | Smooth ceilings appeal to most buyers |
| Headroom | No change | No change if scraped; slight loss if boarded over |
Send us a few photos for a faster estimate.
Non-negotiable
Testing Before Disturbing a Pre-1990 Stucco Ceiling
Texture coatings from before the mid-1980s can contain asbestos. In Ontario, disturbing asbestos-containing material is regulated under O. Reg. 278/05.
A lab test on a small sample tells us whether a repair can go ahead normally. If it is positive, abatement comes first, and we can finish the ceiling afterwards.
Pricing
Stucco Ceiling Repair Costs in Kingston
Stucco repairs are priced per patch or per room. Painted stucco costs more because it needs priming and sheen matching.
| Job size | Typical scope |
|---|---|
| Single patch | One hole, crack or fixture opening |
| Several patches | Multiple repairs in one room, sharing set-up time |
| Section re-spray | Part of a ceiling rebuilt after water damage |
| Whole room | Full ceiling re-textured for a uniform finish |
FAQ
Stucco Repair Questions
Straight answers to the questions we hear on site visits every week.
Can a stucco ceiling be patched without redoing the whole thing?
Yes, in most cases. We patch the damaged area and blend new stucco into the old. If the damage covers a large share of the ceiling, re-texturing the whole surface gives a more even result.
Will the patched area match the rest of the ceiling?
We test the texture on scrap board first and adjust until it matches. On older, painted or yellowed ceilings we may recommend painting the whole ceiling after the repair.
Does my old stucco ceiling contain asbestos?
Only a lab test can tell you. Any stucco ceiling applied before 1990 should be tested before it is disturbed.
Should I repair the stucco or just remove it all?
If you like the ceiling and the damage is limited, repair it. If you are renovating, selling or tired of the look, removal usually makes more sense. We will price both if you are undecided.
Do you repair exterior stucco as well?
Yes, we repair cracks, broken corners and damaged sections on exterior stucco walls. Full re-cladding and EIFS systems are specialist work that we refer out.
Talk to a drywall specialist, not a call centre.
Related
Related Ceiling Services
Stucco ceilings often need other work at the same time. See textured ceiling and wall repairs for knockdown and swirl patterns, and ceiling repair for sagging or water damaged ceilings.
Free written quote Prefer to talk it through? Call us (343) 504-7975
Request a Stucco Ceiling Repair Quote
Send a close-up photo of the stucco and a wider photo of the damage. Tell us roughly when the home was built so we know whether testing is needed.
For exterior stucco, include a photo of the full wall so we can see the extent of cracking.
- Hours
- Mon to Sat: 7:00am to 9:30pm
- Sun: 9:00am to 8:00pm
- Service area
- Kingston and towns within about 45 minutes, plus larger projects further afield.
- Licensed
- Fully insured
- WSIB covered
- WHMIS trained
- Working at Heights trained
- Drywall specialists