Brentwood · Oakley · Antioch
Choosing a Stucco Contractor in Brentwood, CA
You have decided to hire. This page helps you pick: a quote checklist, the questions worth asking, red flags and how to verify a license. We are an independent referral site, not a stucco contractor, and we pass your request to independent contractors who set their own prices.
How our referral works
We do not do stucco work. When you send a request, we pass it to an independent local stucco contractor serving East Contra Costa, who contacts you, looks at the wall and quotes. We may be compensated for referrals, which never costs you anything. You are free to collect other quotes too, and this page is written to help you compare them. More on how referrals work.
A stucco quote checklist
Ask each contractor to put these in writing so the quotes can be compared:
- Scope. Where the work is, how many square feet, and what is and is not included.
- Repair method. Surface repair, or opening the area and repairing what is behind it.
- Cause. What they think caused the damage and how that gets fixed (a patch alone does not stop a leak).
- Moisture and flashing. Who deals with the water source if it is a window, roof or pipe.
- Hidden damage. What happens, and what it costs, if more damage is found once the wall is open.
- Texture and color. How the repair will be blended, and whether painting is included.
- Permits. Whether one is needed, who pulls it and whether the fee is in the price.
- Schedule. Start and finish dates, and any drying or curing time between steps.
- Warranty. What is covered, for how long and what is excluded.
- Payment. A deposit and a schedule tied to progress.
CSLB's homeowner checklist says a contract should include a detailed description of the work and materials, start and end dates, and whether permits are required and their fees included, and that changes or additions must be in writing (CSLB).
Check the license
Look up any contractor at cslb.ca.gov or by calling 1-800-321-CSLB (2752). Ask which classification covers their stucco work. CSLB's C-35 Lathing and Plastering classification covers applying sand-and-cement plaster coatings and installing lath. The unlicensed "minor work" exemption covers jobs under $1,000 and does not apply if the work needs a permit or the person hires workers (CSLB bulletin).
Down payments and contracts
CSLB says a down payment should be no more than 10% of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less, and that you should pay as the work progresses. A standard 3-day right to cancel applies, or 5 days if you are 65 or older (CSLB). Rules change, so confirm with CSLB before you sign.
Red flags
- No written scope, or a price on a handshake.
- "Just caulk it" for a crack with stains, bubbling or soft spots around it.
- A request for most of the money up front, or cash only.
- No license number, or one that does not check out on CSLB.
- Pressure to decide today.
- Refusing to say how hidden damage will be handled.
Questions to ask on the call
- Which classification do you hold, and what is the license number?
- What caused this, and what are you fixing besides the surface?
- Will you open the area to look behind the stucco?
- How will you match the texture and color?
- Who pulls the permit, if one is needed?
- What does your warranty cover?
See what the repair should cost first: stucco repair cost guide. Then use the form to request a quote.
Hiring a stucco contractor: questions
How do I check a stucco contractor's license in California?
Look up the license number on the Contractors State License Board site (cslb.ca.gov) or call 1-800-321-2752. Ask which classification covers their stucco work; CSLB's C-35 Lathing and Plastering classification covers applying sand-and-cement plaster coatings and installing lath. Check that the license is active before you sign.
How much can a contractor ask for as a down payment?
CSLB's homeowner checklist says a down payment should be no more than 10% of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less, and that you should pay as work progresses rather than in advance. Check the current rule with CSLB before you sign.
What should a stucco repair quote include?
A detailed description of the work and materials, start and end dates, whether permits are needed and whether permit fees are included, and any changes in writing. For stucco, also ask for the repair method, the area covered, how hidden damage will be handled, how the texture and color will be matched and what the warranty covers.
Is the cheapest stucco quote the best one?
Not necessarily. A low quote may cover less: a surface patch instead of repairing what is behind it, or no texture matching. Compare scopes first, then prices.
Stucco repair across East Contra Costa
Requests come from homeowners in Brentwood, 94513, and nearby along Highway 4. Brentwood here means the East Contra Costa city, not the Los Angeles neighborhood.
Request a quote from an independent contractor
Tell us what's happening with your stucco. We pass your request to an independent local stucco contractor serving East Contra Costa, who contacts you to look at the wall and quote. There's no cost to send a request.
- Takes about a minute
- No obligation to hire
- Ask for a written scope and price