Plaster Home Maintenance
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Exterior Plaster Maintenance
A well-maintained plaster exterior does more than enhance curb appeal. It protects your home from moisture ingress while preserving the modern finish that makes plaster cladding so desirable. At HomeSmart Maintenance, we provide professional plaster maintenance services tailored to the unique demands of Auckland homes. From annual soft washing and crack inspections to full repainting and sealant replacement, our approach is proactive and practical. With regular maintenance we can help you regain your peace of mind that your home is as watertight as possible.
We service the greater Auckland area – from Bombay to Whangaparaoa
Why Exterior Plaster Maintenance Matters
Maintaining the exterior plaster on your home is essential for protecting both its appearance and structural integrity. Plaster cladding faces constant exposure to weather and temperature changes, both of which cause gradual wear and damage over time. We specialise in monolithic cladding repairs and maintenance and will help point you in the right direction.
Regular maintenance will help prevent:
- Moisture ingress and water damage that can lead to mould, rot, and costly repairs
- Cracking and surface degradation which affect both aesthetics and durability
- UV damage and fading that dulls colours and weakens protective coatings
- Loss of waterproofing and sealant failure around windows, doors, and joints
By addressing minor issues early you are likely to avoid major restoration costs. Preventative maintenance will extend the lifespan of your plaster and protect your investment.
Depending on your homes unique needs, our maintenance process normally recommends:
- Grinding out cracks in the plaster, embedding mesh into a flat coating of plaster and applying texture to match the existing surface
- Remove old sealant from all penetrations and replace with a high end paintable sealant
- Wash and Paint home with 2 coats of Resene or Shieldcoat
While this maintenance might suit most homes, there are many other factors to consider which we will also be looking at:
- Lack of head flashings
- Lack of water (kickout) diverters
- Lack of expansion joints
- Poor design or finishing detail
Unfortunately there is a misconception that just painting a plaster home will suffice. And while painting over cracks probably will work for a while, the expansion and contraction (heat) every day as well as house general house movement will inevitably mean the cracks will return.
When it comes to painting a plaster home, make sure you get quotes from plaster home experts – not just people that paint houses. We’ll do everything we can to make your home as watertight as possible prior to painting.
Become Familiar with your Plaster Home
Every home is different, so knowing what to look for is crucial. While it’s important to stay on top of the general maintenance, you should also:
Check for water diverters and finishing detail.
Water diverters/Kickout flashings are installed on all new builds, however this was often not done on properties built in the 90’s and early 2000’s. These flashings assist in moving water away from the roof and into the gutter. Without them, water may have direct access to the wall cavity.
Exposed Timber
Lack of Diverter Flashing
Ensure ground level has clearance well below the level of the cladding
Plaster cladding needs space to breathe. If there is insufficient clearance moisture will over time degrade the cladding to the point where it is so brittle it will simply break off. Worse still is that the lack of clearance will actually ‘suck’ moisture from the ground, up and into the base plate where it will cause it to rot.
Ground Level too High
Plaster Delamination
Ensure your gutters are clear, especially if you have ‘internal gutters’
Internal gutters look nice but when blocked or during excessive rain they will often overflow. The biggest issue is that this water will overflow into the soffit or even worse the wall cavity. Our sister company HomeSmart Roofing can quote to do a gutter conversion transforming these gutters to external making it a much safer long term solution.
Internal Gutter Leak
Example of Internal Gutters
Check for swollen/mouldy skirting boards as this can indicate damage/rot to timber framing inside the wall.
Homes from the 90’s often weren’t built with a cavity so moisture was trapped and the poorly/untreated framing will rot. We can open the walls and replace damaged framing but proactive maintenance is cheaper.
Swollen Timber Framing
Swollen Skirting Boards
Flaking paint
Poor preparation but more often than not moisture will cause paint to flake. Check for discolouration in your ceiling and walls. Many homes also have chipboard floors which crumble after prolonged periods of moisture. Regularly check your skirting boards as it can be a sign of bigger issues.
Mould and Delaminating Paint
Rotten / Non Existent Flooring
Ensure your Pergolas and Decks aren’t fixed directly to the cladding.
Today, spacers are installed to ensure the cladding can breathe and allow moisture to pass. Ribbon plates bolted directly to the cladding can force moisture in alongside the bolts which are often bolted directly into the lintel. We can generally retrofit spacers on most homes to bring them up to current code.
Ensure breathing space between deck boards and cladding. Decking is sometimes also laid hard against the cladding. We can remove the decking and trim or replace to reduce the change of damage.
Lack of Deck Spacing
Directly Fixed Pergola
Check for delamination
Poor preparation and excessive moisture over a long period of time can lead to delamination where the plaster will simply peel off your home. The longer it’s left the worse it gets.
Exterior Plaster Delamination
Delaminated Plaster Crack
Circular windows
Semi circular windows can be difficult to flash and were often installed in the hope that sealant alone would do the job. Sealant eventually breaks down and leaves the window at risk of leaking.
Check Circular Window Flashings
Lack of Window Flashings
Flat surfaces
Plaster and paint don’t generally like to support ponding water which you often get with flat surfaces. These surfaces should have a metal cap flashing installed and any penetrations moved to a vertical side.
Flat Surface Penetration
Painted Flat Surface
Old Joinery and Fittings
Houses shift over time, and anything attached to them moves too. If joinery has opened, it could mean the internal junction is no longer watertight. At this stage, it’s worth considering a joinery specialist, alongside replacing any old sealant, to help protect your home.
Older light fittings often have worn-out seals that allow water in. These can fill with moisture, which then enters the wall cavity by travelling along the power cable.
Potential Joinery Leak
Potential Leaking Light Fitting
Plaster Maintenance FAQ's
We recommend a professional inspection every 1 to 2 years to catch early signs of damage and perform minor repairs before issues worsen.
Yes. Even hairline cracks can allow moisture to enter, leading to mould, rot, and structural problems if left untreated.
Often, repainting is recommended to restore waterproofing and ensure a consistent finish, especially if repairs cover larger areas.
While we focus primarily on Auckland and surrounding suburbs, we do consider projects outside these areas on a case-by-case basis. Contact us to discuss your location.
Waterproofing includes sealing cracks, renewing sealants around windows and joints, and applying protective coatings to prevent moisture penetration and maintain the cladding’s integrity.
We conduct moisture testing and inspection to identify trapped water. Repairs may include drying, sealing, and applying specialized coatings to prevent further ingress.
Yes. Proactive maintenance can significantly extend the life of your plaster cladding and reduce the risk of expensive recladding in the future.
Book a Free Quote
Protect your home with professional exterior plaster maintenance and repair services trusted by homeowners across Auckland. Whether you’ve noticed cracks, signs of water damage, or simply want to stay ahead with preventative care, our team is here to help.
Fill out the form below to request a free inspection, get expert advice, or book your next service. HomeSmart Maintenance delivers premium results you can rely on.