Crumbling stucco
I hope that you can offer some advice. I live in Bakersfield, California. I had a house built three years ago and the stucco is falling off. It is crumbling and turning to powder when you touch it. The builder at first did not want to take any responsibility. After I contacted the California State Contractors Board he is willing to restucco the front of the house. He said that he would recommend the acrylic stucco. He is willing to split the cost of the materials with us paying 400.00. The problem is that there are many walls that are starting to turn to powder when you touch them. Some of the walls are very thin. We want to resolve the issue without going to court. The problem is that other plasters are identifying that there is a problem but are reluctant to put it in writing.
You may need to go to court. Here in Virginia, the Department of licensing, called DPOR, will help homeowners who get screwed. I am sure that the California licensing board can do something to help. They may have investigators, prosecutors, etc. In Virginia, there is even a homeowner's recovery fund paid for by the contractors. Homeowners can file a claim up to $ 10,000 if they are robbed by a licensed contractor. $ 10,000 may not be enough to stucco a house these days, but it can relieve a lot of pain. I know California arrests unlicensed contractors in sting operations.
Assuming these people have a license, the state can fine the contractor, and make them pay restitution by suspending or revoking their license.
What happened is these people put the mortar on way too thin, and probably in the hot sun, so the the mortar dried out before it set up. I have written about crumbling mortar in the past. The thickness of stucco should be 3/4" A hose should be kept near the scaffold to prevent dry-outs in hot weather. Even a bucket of water with a brush will do to splash water on the dry-outs.
Agreeing to only do the front is a gyp. Even suggesting that you pay for part of the materials is unreasonable. Besides, if they are too incompetent to do it right the first time, they probably are too incompetent the second time. They also may be resentful so you may be better off the seek a cash settlement and find someone with a good reputation to replace the stucco.
I feel they owe you the cost of replacing the stucco, including tearing of the old. Also, you should collect additional damages. Putting an acrylic finish won't work. You can't put good over bad.
You probably should prepare to go to court. Your state licensing department should be able to help a lot