Stucco House Basics and What Comes Standard in a Del Mar Townhome

A stucco house has a hard, cement-based coating on its outside walls. At Del Mar, Lennar lists ""Quality Masonry construction"" with ""decorative stucco design detail,"" so the walls are concrete block with stucco over them. This guide explains what that means and how to care for it, then walks through what else comes standard in a Del Mar townhome, how the Lennar warranty works and the steps to buy.

What a Stucco House Is

Stucco is a plaster made for outside walls. The Portland Cement Association describes it as ""a mixture of cementitious ingredients, aggregate, and water."" In plain words, it is cement, sand and water, often with some lime, spread on in layers and left to harden.

The National Park Service, which cares for many old stucco buildings, notes that ""after about 1900, most stucco was composed primarily of portland cement, mixed with some lime."" That is the same basic recipe builders still use.

Stucco can go on two kinds of walls:

• Wood or steel frame walls. Here it needs metal lath, a mesh the stucco grabs onto.

• Concrete block walls. The Portland Cement Association says stucco ""can also be applied directly to concrete and masonry."" The National Concrete Masonry Association adds that concrete masonry ""provides an excellent base for plaster without the need for reinforcement.""

Del Mar is the second kind. Lennar lists masonry construction, so the stucco goes over block. To see how block homes go up, read our guide to how a concrete block house is built. You can see Del Mar's stucco fronts in the photos on Del Mar's community page.

How Stucco Goes On

Stucco is put on in coats. The International Residential Code, a model code many states build on, calls for ""not less than three coats when applied over metal lath or wire lath"" and ""not less than two coats when applied over masonry, concrete"" and similar bases. In a three-coat job, the coats have names: a scratch coat first, then a brown coat, then a finish coat. The National Concrete Masonry Association explains that block and stucco are made of the same kind of cement-based material, which helps the two bond.

At Del Mar, Lennar describes the look as ""a contemporary-inspired exterior with a low-hipped roof design, stucco finish, decorative details and designer-selected color schemes."" The roof is not tile. Lennar lists ""dimensional roof shingles.""

Caring for a Stucco House

Stucco is tough, but it is not care-free. Three simple habits keep it in shape:

1. Look at it twice a year. This Old House says to ""inspect stucco twice a year for cracks, damage, or peeling paint.""

2. Do not panic over hairline cracks. The National Park Service says ""small hairline cracks usually are not serious and may be sealed with a thin slurry coat."" Bigger cracks, or cracks that keep growing, are worth a call to the builder while you are under warranty.

3. Repaint on a schedule. This Old House says to ""plan to paint every 5-10 years."" It also notes that elastomeric paint, a thick stretchy coating, ""can bridge small cracks.""

If you are not sure whether a crack is cosmetic, take a dated photo and ask during your one-year warranty window. A photo log makes the conversation with the builder much easier.

What Else Comes Standard at Del Mar

Lennar lists the same features for all three Horizon plans: the Azure, Magenta and Sunglow. Here are the highlights, in Lennar's own groups.

Outside

• Impact-resistant windows and sliding glass doors. Our guide to how impact glass protects a home explains how it works.

• Brick paver walkway, entry and patio areas.

• A covered entry and pre-selected exterior paint schemes.

Inside

• Energy-efficient central air conditioning and heating.

• 18-inch by 18-inch ceramic tile on the first floor, laundry and A/C closet.

• Stain-resistant carpet with padding. See what stain-resistant carpet can and cannot do.

• Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout.

Kitchen

• A stainless steel appliance package with a 30-inch smooth-surface electric range, built-in microwave, dishwasher and a side-by-side refrigerator.

• Porcelain 2cm countertops with a 6-inch backsplash.

• 36-inch upper cabinets with brushed nickel hardware.

Bathrooms

• Cultured marble countertops in the owner's bath.

• Ceramic tile on bathroom floors and shower walls.

• A single glass panel shower enclosure, per Lennar's list.

Laundry and tech

• A stackable washer and dryer.

• A Ring Video Doorbell Pro and a Schlage Encode smart Wi-Fi deadbolt. Read our Ring doorbell and smart-lock guide for Del Mar.

• A smart thermostat. Lennar's list names two thermostat models, so ask which one is installed in your home.

Ask for the feature sheet for your exact homesite. Features can differ by plan, by homesite and over time. You can compare the three plans in our Azure vs Magenta vs Sunglow comparison.

The Lennar Warranty

Lennar's own warranty page lists three parts:

The Del Mar plan pages describe it as a ""1-2-10 year Homeowners Warranty."" The one-year part covers ""construction quality and finish,"" so walk your home carefully before that year ends and report any finish problems, such as cracks or peeling paint, the way Lennar tells you to. For a plain walk-through of this kind of warranty, read what a 1-2-10 builder warranty is.

Questions to Ask About Features

Feature lists are a starting point. Before you sign, ask the sales team:

• Which items are standard on my exact homesite? Lennar's plan pages say to ""see your New Home Consultant and/or home purchase agreement for actual features to be included in the home,"" so get the list for your home.

• Which thermostat is installed? Lennar's list names two models.

• Where does the carpet go? The list puts tile on the first floor but does not name the carpeted rooms.

• Is there a pantry? Lennar lists a pantry closet ""per plan.""

• What paint colors can I pick for the outside? Lennar lists ""pre-selected designer exterior paint schemes.""

Write the answers on the feature sheet itself and keep a copy.

How Buying a Del Mar Townhome Works

Here are the usual steps with Lennar:

1. Tour and pick a plan. Walk the Azure, Magenta and Sunglow.

2. Pick a homesite. Ask which units are released and which way each one faces.

3. Sign the contract and pay the deposit. Get the deposit amount and the refund terms in writing.

4. Line up your loan. You are free to choose your own lender. Lennar lists Lennar Mortgage and says special promotions are available when financing through it. Compare the full cost, not only the rate.

5. Follow the build or the walkthrough. Lennar lists third-party home inspections. You can also hire your own inspector. Our checklist for inspecting a newly built home shows what to look at.

6. Orientation and closing. Lennar lists a personalized new home orientation before you move in.

Common Questions

Want to see the stucco, the finishes and the plans in person? Call 561-704-0091 or schedule a time to see Del Mar.

Related reading: The Ring doorbell at Del Mar · Stain-resistant carpet at Del Mar · Del Mar townhouse plans compared