When you’re trying to buy or sell a home, it’s important to know the benefits of the materials they’re made from. For example, if you’ve never lived in a desert climate before, you’re probably not aware that a lot of times houses in these areas are made a bit differently than houses in milder or colder climates.
According to Hunker Magazine, roughly 80 percent of houses in Arizona are in the major cities Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma, and Kingman—all known for their extremely hot and dry desert climate. The most common exterior material used for these homes is stucco. Stucco is used because it resists the intense and dry desert sunshine. Being unfamiliar with this type of material, you’re probably wondering – what exactly is stucco?
What is stucco, anyway?
So, What is stucco? In simple terms, stucco is basically fancy cement that is perfect for the desert because it is breathable when it’s dry. Stucco is used so frequently in the desert not only because it resists the climate, but also because it is relatively easy and inexpensive to apply. If stucco cracks, it is also quite easy to repair. In fact, if a crack is small enough, you don’t even have to go to the trouble of filling it in. Instead, you can add a stucco finish to repair the cracks. Ask the experts at Old Pueblo, Inc. for their advice on repairing any cracks you find unsightly in your stucco.
At Old Pueblo Stucco you’ll find trained, licensed, insured, professional, and dedicated workers ready to help you with all your stucco needs. Whether it’s mild crack repairs, a more elaborate stucco repair project, or installing all-new stucco; they’ve got you covered. They offer multiple textures, colors, “synthetic stucco”, and painting services (for after your stucco has been installed) as well. Be sure to ask about their colored stucco to see if this option can save you any money on your next home project. If you’re looking for repairs on a roof parapet, the staff at Old Pueblo Stucco specializes in this type of repair as well.
While you’re at it, consider a kitchen upgrade.
Did you know that even minor work in the kitchen such as fixing “clashing backsplashes” can increase your home’s resale value. In fact, Investopedia puts minor kitchen remodels to increase your resale value by as much as $18,206, and the recoup amount to be at roughly 77.6 percent of the investment. Plus, let’s be honest, an attractive and functional kitchen will make your remaining time there that much better.
If you’re considering adding a backsplash to your kitchen, then it’s probably a good idea to know the differences between standard backsplashes and full kitchen backsplashes. A standard kitchen backsplash covers a smaller area than a full kitchen backsplash. The standard kitchen backsplash protects your walls against the most common kitchen damages (cooking splatters, water splashes, grime buildup from the stove, and more). The standard backsplash is also going to be cheaper, take less time to install, and be easier to switch out if you decide you don’t like it later. Plus, traditional backsplashes will make it easier to remodel in the future if you choose to. However, the standard backsplash can be difficult to match with the rest of the kitchen’s design and only protects part of the wall.
The full kitchen backsplash protects the whole wall and keeps the kitchen looking neat and orderly on its own. However, as the name suggests, the full kitchen backsplash is going to take more time, more materials, and more money. Although some would argue that a full backsplash is worth the investment since you get the “neat look” without having to match everything else in the kitchen, you get extra wall protection, and a full backsplash is less likely to need to be replaced or redone.
