- Q.
A homeowner has asked me how to repair what looks to me like a
botched job, where new entry doors were installed in a brick
home covered with stucco or some kind of cement parging. The
home is in New Jersey and dates to 1905. The stucco was crudely
chipped away, leaving 1„2-inch gaps between the
new solid plastic trim and the wall surface (see photo). The
stucco has a textured surface that would be hard to match.
What’s the best way to fix this?
A.Steve Thomas, who has worked for over
20 years in the stucco and masonry industry in Columbus, Ohio,
responds: One possibility might be to try patching with
nonshrink grout — but as you note, matching the rough
texture would be hard, and getting a color match would be even
harder. I would use a simpler approach: Replace the new trim
with a wider, thicker trim, or add a band molding around the
outside edge to cover the gap (see illustration, below). If the
original PVC trim has been glued in place, the band molding
might be easier to install, and if chosen well, it could
enhance the appearance of the entryway. Use a foam backer rod
and a high-quality sealant to finish the job.