The building's raincoat, brick veneer, stucco, EIFS (synthetic stucco), vinyl, or wood siding. Cladding failures are water-intrusion findings wearing a costume: what starts as a failed mortar joint or a cracked stucco panel ends up in the basement or inside the wall assembly.
Repointing $10 to $25/sq ft; spalling repairs $500 to $8,000+; stucco repair $8 to $20/sq ftAddress soonExteriorStructure
The quick answer
The building's raincoat, brick veneer, stucco, EIFS (synthetic stucco), vinyl, or wood siding. Cladding failures are water-intrusion findings wearing a costume: what starts as a failed mortar joint or a cracked stucco panel ends up in the basement or inside the wall assembly.
Face-sealed stucco and EIFS are the material family at the heart of BC's "leaky condo" crisis, CMHC's 1996 survey of building-envelope failures in coastal BC found exterior moisture (mainly wind-driven rain) initiated about 90% of the failures studied, with stucco assemblies dominating the problem walls. The fix was rainscreen construction; pre-2000 face-sealed walls in coastal BC deserve real scrutiny. In the GTA, the freeze-thaw equivalents are spalling brick (faces popping off), failed mortar, and rusted steel lintels over windows.
How to spot it
On brick: popped or flaking brick faces (especially near grade), powdery mortar joints, bulging veneer sections, rust staining at the lintels over windows and doors, sealed-over weep holes at the base course. On stucco/EIFS: staining or rust streaks below windows, cracked or patched panels, caulk-heavy joints, stucco running down into the soil. On any wall: one freshly painted patch on an otherwise weathered elevation is the exterior version of the stain cover-up.
What it costs
GTA masonry: repointing $10 to $25/sq ft; spalled-brick replacement $25 to $60 per brick (small sections $500 to $1,500, large areas $3,000 to $8,000+); stucco repair $8 to $20/sq ft. A full EIFS re-clad on a two-storey home is a $44,000 to $70,000 project, which is why systemic failure is a High flag.
What to do
Address soon when localized, small masonry fixes deferred become rebuilds. In BC, ask the era and whether walls were rainscreened; systemic EIFS problems need a building-envelope professional, not a painter.
Education and triage, not a home inspection. Casaroo reads the elevation photos for the tells; a mason or building-envelope specialist confirms what's behind them.
Common questions
What is Exterior cladding: brick, stucco & EIFS?
The building's raincoat, brick veneer, stucco, EIFS (synthetic stucco), vinyl, or wood siding. Cladding failures are water-intrusion findings wearing a costume: what starts as a failed mortar joint or a cracked stucco panel ends up in the basement or inside the wall assembly.
Why does it matter for home buyers?
Face-sealed stucco and EIFS are the material family at the heart of BC's "leaky condo" crisis, CMHC's 1996 survey of building-envelope failures in coastal BC found exterior moisture (mainly wind-driven rain) initiated about 90% of the failures studied, with stucco assemblies dominating the problem walls. The fix was rainscreen construction; pre-2000 face-sealed walls in coastal BC deserve real scrutiny. In the GTA, the freeze-thaw equivalents are spalling brick (faces popping off), failed mortar, and rusted steel lintels over windows.
How can I spot it?
On brick: popped or flaking brick faces (especially near grade), powdery mortar joints, bulging veneer sections, rust staining at the lintels over windows and doors, sealed-over weep holes at the base course. On stucco/EIFS: staining or rust streaks below windows, cracked or patched panels, caulk-heavy joints, stucco running down into the soil. On any wall: one freshly painted patch on an otherwise weathered elevation is the exterior version of the stain cover-up.
How much does it cost to fix?
GTA masonry: repointing $10 to $25/sq ft; spalled-brick replacement $25 to $60 per brick (small sections $500 to $1,500, large areas $3,000 to $8,000+); stucco repair $8 to $20/sq ft. A full EIFS re-clad on a two-storey home is a $44,000 to $70,000 project, which is why systemic failure is a High flag.
Last reviewed 2026-07-10.
This guide is general education, not a home inspection and not advice for your specific property. Always
consult the appropriate licensed professional, and get a licensed home inspection before you remove conditions
or buy. Cost ranges are 2026 estimates that vary by region, size, and access; confirm specifics with a
qualified professional.