Stucco is a Portland cement-based plaster material that is most frequently employed as an exterior wall finish. It is employed to Spanish- or Mediterranean-style homes. Color pigments can be added to the plaster mixture before it’s applied, or it may be painted after application. Section of stucco’s allure is that it may be textured in many different approaches to make distinctive and beautiful patterns on a home’s exterior.
Assess Your Foundation
Stucco must be applied to a solid material for adhesion. A cement or masonry wall that has been inspected for imperfections and washed nicely is ideal. Should you wish to stucco over some other material besides cement or masonry, a substructure made from wire mesh, wooden or metal slatting is recommended.
Scratch Layer # 1
The base coat of stucco is referred to. Before employing the scratch layer, the structure or substructure should be dampened. Employ a 3/8-inch-thick layer of stucco to the damp surface with a trowel and allow to dry for several hours, until it’s just damp. Scratch the surface together with criss-cross ridges together with the edge of the trowel or a similar tool and allow to dry for 24 hours.
Scratch Layer # 2
Apply a second scratch layer in precisely the same manner as the very first and allow to dry for 24 hours.
Smooth Layer
Apply a thin layer of stucco, measuring roughly 1/8 inch, over the scratch layer. Create designs and textures while the smooth layer is still wet and pliable. If high temperatures threaten to dry the stucco too fast and cause fractures, mist the stucco with water several times during the drying period.