# Can you move a stuccoed wood-frame house? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 31, 2007, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-move-a-stuccoed-wood-frame-house/406184 "2007-05-31T13:56:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-move-a-stuccoed-wood-frame-house/406184/1 "2007-05-31T13:56:28Z")
The house I grew up in, which my family still owns and which we still use as a second residence, is likely to be claimed by the city in the next few years for major street improvements. It’s a damn shame, because it’s a historic, custom designed house, built in 1938 by a local architect in the International style, with materials and techniques that were not in common use in our area - most notably a stucco exterior over the traditional wood frame, and a slab foundation (no basement). It’s one of perhaps 4 houses in this style in a town of 50,000 population without much architectural distinction. The first time I talked to my dad about these developments, I suggested moving the house. It’s not a big house, and it’s done all the time with frame houses. He said, “I don’t think you can move a stuccoed house. It’d just crumble to bits.” I reminded him that it’s not masonry - it’s wood frame, studs and wallboard and like that, and outside, the stucco. We’d want to move it maybe 6 blocks - maybe buy a cheap house/lot further back in town, pull down that house, and plant ours. Assuming the whole enterprise isn’t going to cost us One Million Friggn Dollars (not likely given local property values), my question is: _is it possible - and feasible - to move the house?_ ---
**Author:** ![Shecky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@Shecky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shecky)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-move-a-stuccoed-wood-frame-house/406184/2 "2007-05-31T14:06:46Z")
I believe that you could, assuming the footprint of the house is small enough. I am also pretty sure that the entire foundation would have to be lifted, and evenly at that. Interesting to see how this develops, and I will be bookmarking this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-move-a-stuccoed-wood-frame-house/406184/3 "2007-05-31T14:54:09Z")
I have seen stucco houses moved several times. Repairs will have to be done to the stucco and plaster inside after the move, as some cracks will appear. Call a house mover. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-move-a-stuccoed-wood-frame-house/406184/4 "2007-05-31T15:03:50Z")
Cites for your Dad, in case for some odd reason he’s unwilling to take a total stranger on the Internet’s word for it. 😃 Hire [these people.](http://www.fbhm.com/gallery.html) > [@](#): > > _A 60’ by 50’ two-story stucco house that was moved approximately 100’ on the same lot and was turned 180° in Atherton, California._ Or [these folks.](http://www.youngerbroshousemovers.com/residential_homes.htm) That first house sure looks like stucco to me, as does a later one. And [This Old House](http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/tvprograms/asktoh/qaarticle/0,16588,392990,00.html) sez you can move a brick house, which is a lot heavier than a stucco house and has a lot more issues with things cracking and falling apart. Looks like you get to be right, and your dad gets to be not-right. Enjoy it, it won’t happen again. 😃