How Much Does It Cost to Remove Stucco Siding?

Stucco siding is a popular option for many homeowners, but if you need to remove the existing stucco siding (or if there’s underlying damage and it needs to be replaced), you should know how much it will cost before booking a siding pro. The average cost to remove stucco siding is $2,000, although it may cost anywhere from $1,000 to $3,500 depending on the size of your home.

Estimating Stucco Siding Removal Costs

The cost of removing stucco siding is basically just the price of labor. If you do the job yourself, you may need to invest in tools like a circular saw, hammer, chisel, and crowbar. You would also want gloves and eye protection while you work.

The job involves gently hammering on a small area of stucco to break it up and loosen it, and then prying it off with a crowbar or using a hammer and chisel. Once you've created a sizable hole, you can use the circular saw to cut off larger pieces of siding to make the job go more quickly, using the crowbar to force the panels loose.

Generally, you can expect to pay a professional about $0.75 to $1.25 per square foot to remove stucco siding, as well as another $50 to $250 in dumping fees.

If you wanted to fix the stucco as opposed to removing it, the cost of stucco repair is typically between $600 and $2,300.

How Much Stucco Siding Can I Remove on My Budget?

Your overall budget impacts how much stucco siding you can afford to remove. Here’s how far your money will go.

How Much Does It Cost to Remove Stucco Siding Yourself?

As noted above, stucco siding removal is free if you already have some basic tools and do the job yourself. All it really involves is a little elbow grease. However, there are good reasons to consider paying the money for a professional to do the work.

For one thing, this is hard work. It may take you many hours or even days to get the job done. There are also risks to doing this job yourself. For example, if you don’t know what’s underneath the stucco, it could create problems if you try to cut through it with the circular saw. A professional will do the job carefully to make sure you don’t damage whatever is underneath the stucco.

Also, chances are if you’re removing stucco siding, you’re putting up new siding in its place. If that’s the case, you’re likely better off hiring a professional to install the new siding. The cost to stucco a house is about $5,000 on average. 

What Factors Influence the Cost to Remove Stucco Siding?

There are three main factors that affect the cost of removing stucco siding: the square footage of siding that needs to be removed, the complexity of the project, and whether extra tools are needed.

Size

Size is by far the biggest determining factor of your project's final price. The more siding you have to remove, the more hours of labor it will take, and the more the project will cost.

Complexity

Some siding removal projects are more complicated than others. For example, the siding may be difficult to access or require scaffolding. Or, the professional may need to work carefully to avoid damaging the surface underneath.

Tools Needed

This is a smaller expense relatively speaking, but if you are doing this job yourself, you may need to buy tools such as a circular saw to get the job done.

FAQs About Removing Stucco Siding

What can you replace stucco with?

Properly installed stucco is a great material for siding, but in wetter climates it may need to be replaced with another type of siding material, like fiber cement or vinyl. Cement is the longer-lasting option, and vinyl is the more budget-friendly option—but more prone to damage.

Can you put vinyl siding over stucco?

If you'd rather not pay the cost of removing stucco siding, it is possible to put vinyl siding over stucco as long as it is not directly on the stucco. However, you should only do this if the stucco is in good shape and not rotting or decaying.

How long does it take to re-stucco a house?

If you're looking to replace old or damaged stucco with new stucco, expect it to take a three-person crew the better part of the week to get the job done for an average-sized house.