Stucco Installation: How to Install Stucco Exterior

Since ages, stucco has been a popular building material on account of its versatility. When applied to the exterior walls, it helps to make the structure strong. This in turn will increase its durability. The main components of stucco are sand, cement, lime and water. These components of stucco make it a fireproof and water-proof material. It remains unaffected by mold and mildew and thus capable of providing protection from different types of weather elements. It does not cost you much and has a very low maintenance.

Preparation of the Wall

Check out for the holes and cracks on the exterior of the house. Once they are identified, take necessary measures to repair them. The exterior walls of any building is subjected to a lot of wear and tear. All the elements like dirt, grime old paint and mold should be removed from its surface. The right method of cleaning the exterior walls is power-washing. If the walls are neglected for a long duration, then sandblasting should be done to clean them. If the wall on which stucco is to be installed is made of either concrete or cinder block or brick, a coat of concrete bonding agent has to be applied on the wall first. In case it is a wood wall, roofing felt has to be fixed on it and a metal netting is nailed over it.

Application of the First Coat of Stucco

Fix two strips of thick wood lath at the top and bottom of the wall. It will help you prepare the surface of uniform thickness when you will be leveling the stucco. It is always advisable to apply stucco on a moist surface of the wall. So, spray some water on the wall before you start applying the stucco base. Both cement and lime are caustic substances and hence when they are handled, your hands should be covered with gloves and also wear protective glasses.

Start the application from the bottom of the wall, upwards. Apply the first coat of stucco on the wall with the help of a trowel. The coat should be evenly spread over the entire area of the wall with a consistent thickness of 3/8 inches. Put adequate pressure with the trowel so that the stucco gets into the uneven surfaces of the wall. However, make sure that you do not overly trowel the stucco as it may give rise to bonding problems in the future.

Wait for few minutes, and when the stucco is still wet, start the leveling work. You can use metal or wood straightedge for this purpose. Put the straightedge on the wood lath and drag it across the wall with an up and down motion so that all the excess materials of the surface are removed. If you see any dents on the stucco surface, fill it up and level it once again. When the leveling is complete, take out both the wood laths carefully without making any damage to the stucco.

Giving the Finishing Touch

When the stucco has hardened slightly, it is time to float the surface. Take a mason's float and move it over the wall in a circular motion. This is done to reduce the possibility of any kind of shrinkage or cracking that usually occurs when the stucco dries up. Let it dry for almost two days and keep sprinkling some water on it now and then to keep it slightly moist. After two days, apply the finish coat of stucco in the same way as you applied the first coat. This time, keep the coat as thin as 1/8 inch. If you wish, you can add some texture to the stucco. An easy way of making the texture of a rough, but uniform surface is by rubbing the finish coat with a brush. It takes almost 6-7 weeks to cure the stucco thoroughly. After the stucco has cured, painting can be done on it, but the paint should be the one which are meant for concrete.

Now that you know how to install stucco exterior you can start doing it and change the look of your house. Keep in mind that you have to follow the stucco instructions given here, to get the kind of finish that you expect from the professionals.