But as homeowners begin spending more time outdoors, some may notice something less welcome: a crack in the stucco that wasn't there before.

A Houston rainstorm passes, the sun comes back out, and before long most of your home's stucco looks dry again. Except for one spot.

A home doesn't experience weather evenly. In the Houston area, south- and west-facing walls typically receive the most intense afternoon sun. Those surfaces heat up significantly during the day, then cool after sunset.