Fall, Stucco, and Other Things That Are Slowly Cracking Under Pressure

cj91679
Sep 15
4 min read

By a homeowner with a flashlight and unresolved leaf trauma

There’s something magical about fall. The leaves turn to gold, the air gets crisp, and everyone suddenly starts hoarding cinnamon-scented candles like they’re part of a survival kit. But if you own a stucco home — and especially if you’ve ever had to say the words “hairline crack” with a straight face — fall is also the season of unwelcome surprises.

Because while you’re out there admiring the foliage and pretending your gutters don’t exist, your exterior walls are quietly absorbing moisture, growing mold, and occasionally sprouting mysterious spots that you swear weren’t there yesterday. Stucco, it turns out, is a little bit like your Aunt Myrtle: elegant from a distance, but always on the brink of needing professional help.

The Glamour of Fall (And by “Glamour,” I Mean Rot)

Let’s begin with the basics: leaves. They fall. They flutter. They blanket the ground like nature’s version of laundry you meant to fold. But they also have a sinister side. When they pile up around your home, they trap moisture against your stucco — which is basically an engraved invitation for mold to come set up shop.

Tip: Grab a rake, throw on a jacket, and do a quick sweep around your house once a week. It’s cheaper than mold remediation and counts as cardio if you do it with enough resentment.

Weather Whiplash: When Stucco Gets Moody

Stucco is dramatic. It doesn't like being ignored, and it really doesn’t like Houston’s weather — which can swing from swamp to sunburn in a single afternoon.

All that intense sun, soaring humidity, and gulf-coast downpours take a toll. One minute your stucco is basking in 100-degree heat, and the next it’s being pelted by sideways rain like it owes the clouds money. The result? Cracks.

At first they look harmless, like little frown lines. But give them time, and they’ll grow into deep crevices that whisper, “You should have power-washed me when you had the chance.”

Homeowner Translation:

Hairline cracks? Fine-ish, but keep an eye on them.
Cracks wider than 1/8 inch? That’s stucco-speak for “Call someone with a clipboard and a quote.”

Moisture: The Gift That Keeps on Mildewing

Houston fall weather is a delightful mix of rain, sweat, and confusion. This is ideal for moisture buildup, which is great for plants and terrible for your walls.

If your stucco starts smelling like an old basement, it’s not being nostalgic. It’s growing mold.

What to Do:

Get a dehumidifier.
Open a window.
Light a candle, not because it helps, but because it makes you feel better while googling “black splotches on exterior wall — am I doomed?”

Of Mice and Hairline Cracks

As soon as the temperature drops below 70, every bug and rodent within a three-mile radius decides your house is the Four Seasons. And if you’ve got even the tiniest gap in your stucco, guess who’s checking in?

Rodents don’t care about your HOA guidelines. They don’t care about your budget. They will chew through wires and wall insulation like they’re hosting a potluck and forgot to bring snacks.

Prevention Tip:Walk around your house once a month. Look for tiny holes, weird rustling sounds, or droppings. If you see anything suspicious, call pest control before the raccoons start renting out space to their friends.

Drainage: The Thing You Ignore Until You’re Ankle Deep

Gutters. Downspouts. That one leaf-clogged corner that’s been overflowing since Labor Day. If water can’t get away from your house, it will stay — and find its way into your stucco. From there, it’s a short, slippery slide to mildew, rot, and you yelling “WHY is it leaking through the dining room outlet?!”

Minimum Effort Plan:

Clean your gutters after every big storm.
Check your downspouts for clogs.
Pretend it’s a spa day for your house.

The Stucco Survival Checklist

Just to make life easier (because it never is), here’s your fall checklist if you happen to live in a stucco-covered dream home:

✅ Check for cracks bigger than 1/8 inch.
✅ Sweep away leaves and debris regularly.
✅ Look for moisture buildup or strange smells.
✅ Inspect for pests and things that go “skitter” in the night.
✅ Clean your gutters like a responsible adult.
✅ Promise yourself you’ll do this again in spring (and mean it).

When to Call a Professional (a.k.a. When You’ve Emotionally Checked Out)

There comes a time in every homeowner’s life when you have to admit: this is beyond me. Maybe it’s the third crack you’ve patched this month. Maybe it’s the mold that came back despite your bleach-powered vengeance. Maybe it’s just... the look in your spouse’s eyes when you suggest “just YouTube it.”

Call someone. A stucco specialist like Stucco Inspections Houston. A contractor. An adultier adult.

They will charge you money, yes, but they will also fix the thing, and that’s worth more than the emotional toll of pretending you’re fine.