Stucco

Stucco installation, repair and resurfacing for Florida homes, with proper moisture barrier, weep screeds and detailing for a humid climate.

Overview

Stucco done right the first time

Stucco is the most common exterior finish on Florida homes, and it fails when water gets behind it and cannot drain out. Brothers Remodelers installs, repairs and resurfaces stucco under one Florida Certified General Contractor license, installing the moisture barrier, weep screeds and flashing that let the wall breathe and drain, so the finish stays sound in a humid climate.

At a glance

Typical timeline: Small repairs take a day or two; a full stucco installation takes longer as each coat cures.
Permits required: Permit typically required for full installation; small repairs usually do not need one.
Main cost drivers: Square footage and height, stucco system, repair vs. resurfacing, moisture barrier, finish.
Warranty: Two-year workmanship warranty plus manufacturer coverage on installed products.

What is included

Stucco inspection and crack diagnosis
Hardcoat three-coat stucco installation
Stucco repair and crack patching
Resurfacing and recoat
Moisture barrier, weep screeds and flashing
Color and texture matching

Service options & benefits

Hardcoat stucco: A traditional three-coat stucco system over a moisture barrier and lath is durable and breathable when detailed with proper weep screeds and flashing.
Stucco repair: Cracks, stains and impact damage can often be repaired and color-matched without resurfacing the whole wall.
Resurfacing: When the existing stucco is sound but tired, a resurfacing coat refreshes the look and texture without a full tear-off.
EIFS vs. hardcoat: Synthetic EIFS systems and traditional hardcoat stucco behave differently with water. We help you understand which is on your home and what repair approach fits.

Our stucco process

Step 01
Inspection & estimate
We inspect the stucco, diagnose any cracks or water intrusion, and return a line-item proposal for repair or installation.
Step 02
Permits & prep
Where required, we file a permit. The wall is prepped, the moisture barrier and lath are inspected, and flashing and weep screeds are confirmed.
Step 03
Base & brown coats
For new stucco, the scratch and brown coats are applied and leveled over the lath.
Step 04
Finish coat
The finish coat is applied in the color and texture you choose, and repairs are color-matched to the existing wall.
Step 05
Clean-up & closeout
The site is cleaned and the work is handed over.

Florida considerations

Building in the Tampa Bay and Sarasota region comes with conditions that affect scope, cost and permitting. These are the issues that most often affect stucco projects here.

Moisture management

Florida wind-driven rain tests every stucco wall. A proper moisture barrier behind the stucco, with weep screeds at the bottom, lets water that gets behind the stucco drain out — the detail that prevents most stucco failure.

Humidity and cracking

Florida humidity and temperature swings cause stucco to move. Control joints and the right mix reduce cracking, and small cracks should be sealed before they let water in.

Hardcoat vs. EIFS

Traditional hardcoat stucco is breathable; synthetic EIFS systems can trap water if not detailed correctly. Knowing which is on your home drives the right repair.

What affects the cost of stucco

Every estimate is built from the same line items. Knowing what drives them helps you compare bids fairly and decide where to invest.

Square footage and wall height: Cost scales with the area of wall covered and the height of the work. Taller walls require lifts or scaffolding, which adds labor and equipment.
Stucco system: A traditional three-coat hardcoat stucco system over a moisture barrier and lath is durable and breathable. Synthetic EIFS systems behave differently with water, and the repair approach depends on which is on your home.
Repair vs. full resurfacing: Targeted crack repair and color matching cost a fraction of a full resurface. We tell you honestly when a repair is enough and when the wall needs resurfacing.
Moisture barrier and flashing: A proper moisture barrier behind the stucco, with weep screeds at the bottom and flashing at openings, lets water drain out. This detailing is what prevents most stucco failure and is part of the assembly.
Color and texture matching: Matching a new finish or repair to an existing wall is labor-intensive and not always perfect on an older wall. We set expectations at the estimate.
Permits and inspections: Full stucco installation typically requires a permit; small repairs usually do not. Fees vary by city and county and are part of the written estimate.

After a walkthrough and scope conversation, we return a written line-item proposal — usually within five business days. Allowances for owner-selected finishes are stated plainly, and payments follow completed milestones. See how owners fund projects on our financing page.

Permits and inspections

Stucco work in Florida is governed by the Florida Building Code. If you live inside city limits — Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Sarasota, Bradenton — the permit runs through the city’s building department. In unincorporated areas it goes through the county. Each department sets its own review times and inspection windows, which is why we file early and order long-lead materials during pre-construction.

We schedule every required inspection and keep the records in your closeout package, alongside sign-offs and warranty documents. Read more about our licensing, insurance and site safety standards.

How to choose a stucco contractor

The contractor you hire matters more than any single finish. Before signing, confirm the following:

Verify the license. A Florida Certified General Contractor (CGC) number can be confirmed through the state DBPR online license check. Ours is CGC1535875.
Ask for certificates of insurance. General liability and workers' compensation should be sent directly to your HOA, lender or landlord — not handed over as a photocopy.
Require a line-item proposal. Fixed pricing with stated allowances lets you compare bids on equal terms and exposes where money is hidden in a single lump sum.
Confirm who supervises the site. A dedicated superintendent on site — not a project manager juggling ten jobs by phone — is what keeps a project on schedule.
Get the warranty in writing. Workmanship coverage and manufacturer warranties should be documented in a closeout package at handover, not promised verbally.

See completed work in our project gallery, or read what other owners say on our reviews page.

Why homeowners hire Brothers Remodelers

Licensed & insured

FL CGC Lic. #CGC1535875 · Fully licensed & insured. Certificates issued to your HOA or lender on request.

Moisture-managed

Water-resistive barrier and weep screeds behind the stucco, not just the finish coat.

On-schedule builds

A live schedule and weekly photo updates from a dedicated site superintendent.

Two-year warranty

Workmanship warranty plus manufacturer warranties, documented at closeout.

Cities we serve

We provide stucco for homeowners and property owners across the Tampa Bay and Sarasota region. Select a county below to see the communities we serve, or browse the full Areas We Serve page.

Hillsborough County Pinellas County Pasco County Sarasota County Manatee County

Related services

Windows Doors Home Additions General Contracting

Questions we get asked

Do I need a permit for stucco work in Florida?

Full stucco installation typically requires a permit; small repairs usually do not. We confirm what applies to your project and file where required.

Why does stucco crack in Florida?

Stucco moves with temperature and humidity. Without proper control joints and the right mix, that movement shows up as cracks. Small cracks should be sealed before they let water behind the wall.

What is a weep screed?

A weep screed is a metal trim at the bottom of a stucco wall that lets water trapped behind the stucco drain out. It is one of the most important details in a Florida stucco wall.

Can you match the color and texture of my existing stucco?

We color-match repairs to the existing finish as closely as possible. A perfect match is not always possible on an older wall, and we set expectations at the estimate.

How long does stucco take?

Small repairs take a day or two. A full stucco installation takes longer because each coat needs to cure before the next is applied. We give you a written schedule.

Do you do stucco as part of a remodel?

Yes. Stucco repair or resurfacing is often part of a home addition, window or door replacement, or whole-home remodel, and we sequence it with the rest of the work.

Plan your stucco project

Ready to move forward? The fastest path is a free site walkthrough — we measure, confirm scope and return a written line-item proposal within five business days. Request a free quote or contact our office directly.

Where we work

We provide stucco across the Tampa Bay and Sarasota region, including Tampa, St. Petersburg, Wesley Chapel, Sarasota and Bradenton. See the full list on our areas we serve page.

Get an Estimate

Request a free, no-obligation line-item proposal for your stucco project within five business days.