Stucco is a versatile plaster used for creating textured, durable, and attractive walls. It can be applied to various surfaces such as drywall, living room walls, basement walls, or concrete walls to add a unique texture. Stucco walls can be used in modern spaces to make them chic and give them a refined feel. To create a textured surface, follow the instructions on the stucco mix packaging to determine the correct sand, cement, and water ratio.
Using a trowel, apply the stucco mixture evenly to the wall, starting from the bottom and working your way up. Create the desired texture using different trowel techniques, such as swirling, stippling, or using a sponge for a sponge-finish texture. Allow the first coat to dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
To create a textured surface, follow the steps on the stucco mix packaging to determine the correct sand, cement, and water ratio. Use a trowel to apply the “scratch coat” to the wall, which should be about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick.
To achieve a stucco-like look on drywall, follow these steps:
Prepare the wall surface by following the instructions on the stucco mix packaging to determine the correct sand, cement, and water ratio. Measure out the appropriate amounts of each.
Apply the sand-textured paint using a joint compound. Paint the base color and darken the wall in places.
Use a stucco trowel to apply the stucco directly onto the surface. This technique is one of the most popular methods for applying stucco to walls. By following these steps, you can create a visually stunning and unique interior stucco wall that can be incorporated into various design styles.
📹 Stucco samples how to make them
Stucco samples how to make them. Exterior Plastering finishes. Different stucco textures, samples, and finishes. For immediate …
📹 Texture Stucco Wall Finish
Texture exterior stucco finish on a residential install in Plantation. Call for your free estimate today! 954-266-8133.
Here in the Netherlands we tend to have some unforgiving weather, “regular” and especially lime stucco does not hold up very well, it’s all portland cement and gypsum with aggregate. The aggregate, type of sand used makes a world of difference, For an outside stucco, I learned to add quartz sand and seashell sand as aggregate, and bring it out to the top layer for a tougher, albeit rougher surface that lasts longer. Nowadays we also add polymer/resin dispersion supplement that works as a binding agent and adds a level of flexibility and durability to your mix.
I just noticed that this was 10 years old, lol… I see that you scratch and double with the same materials? Traditionally, we scratch with Portland and 1/2sealbond,then double with masonry and a shovel Portland. The cracking is a minor thing that usually happens when drying/curing. But, after the finish is applied,it’s all good! All my stuff now is over Styrofoam, and bases and finishes are acrylic based. In Canada, thinner is better. Nowadays, the materials have flexibility and more insulating factors for extreme temperatures and wind driven rain. This was a long, drawn-out process through the 90s that drove me crazy. Some base coats were so gooey and sticky that it wasn’t a pleasant time,lol, but after some more experimental work, the materials had reached their targeted performance. Dryvit bases seem to be a #1 favorite for good control and strength. Have a great day, fellow Plasterer.
Don’t sweat it Kirk. I watched this article just to see what you’re doing with your hands. I actually watched it on mute so I don’t hear a word you’re saying. I have watched it with full audio but last night my kid was sleeping next to me and I watched the whole article and a couple others you have. I just need to see what you’re doing with your hands. I might be overthinking the difficulty of all this
thanks Kirk im a mural painter wanting to do some stucco over brick and am perusal for articles like this to know the best technique. i think two coat with a smooth surface using steel trowel will be best. I then can paint after 28 days a crylok primer then paint the mural. Any suggestions for primer. going with latex paint
Green sponge float finish is best finish. It looks great. That obsession with a trowel finish has to be regional. I only see it in pools. Every rich guys stucco mansion here is green float finish. I guess its like a psychological disorder. You clean 1 shoe for free then tell him the other shoe costs. Because his other shoe is now out of place. For instance 1 green float finish sandwiched between 2 trowel float finished house on the block. Someone out there decided what finish is standard. Also your brain will literally start deleting your stucco finish and the rest of your house as your brain starts deleting unimportant information anyway, unless someone points at it, or it looks out of place, thus calling it to attention. I learned that the hard way learning tile. You try to get your jobs perfect and you start staring at tile nooticing every tile job where the guy could have done a better job and how many sub par tile installers there are. Otherwise you just walk by it like “yep, looks like tile to me”. But once you nootice you cant stop nooticing. Also with tile, like most things. imperfections are not the end of the world. The whole of the job speaks for itself. You either tried your hardest or didnt try at all. The latter. most people will not notice, unless its just so so bad you cant help nooticing. Like you tried to make it bad. Ive seen guys oh so bad and their work flies because unless youre inspecting it you cant notice the sloppy job and areas of lack of trying.
hey thank you so much for showing this can you do a fresco on the chimney that has just a little paint left on it the reason about the Fresco finish is because I did that on the sheetrock mud in my house I just really like the finish also hey thank you so much for showing this😀 I like the Spanish lace to that’s beautiful question can you put this on cinder block on the chimney that has just a little bit of paint left on it? thank you in advance for any help you can give me
Kirk, you are awesome. One Q: for these samples, did you just use a concrete / masonry surface? And if ‘yes’, are these steps shown here exactly how you would apply them of a hardie backer siding? Or are there surface prep prior? Apologies as this is probably a rookie Q. I am! I’ll be binging on your vids this weekend to deepen knowledge. Thank you!
You said, “Portland Cement has sand, concrete had aggregate.” I understood what you ment. But to clarify for people that aren’t in any form of construction and literally don’t know a thing about cement, stucco, concrete E.T.C. Portland is a type of cement. Portland is the Main cement ingredient in MOST mixes that is the binding agent. Portland doesn’t have sand in it. Stucco has sand mixed in it. For example you go to HomeDepot Or Lowes, you find bags of straight Portland cement. (Then u can mix your own ratio of sand to it to make stucco, motor or concrete.) Or there is Mason mix, or S-type, s-stype stucco, concrete 3000psi, concrete 5000 psi. e.t.c. Pure cement by itself once water is added is SO sticky you almost cannot get it off your shovel let alone work with it. That’s why it’s mixed with sand, stone etc. Portland is type of cement. Portland mixed with sand is called Morter. Usually 3-1 ratio, 3 sand 1 Portland. This creates more volume, texture and makes it usable. That same mixture and then add (example) 3/8″ stone to the Portland, sand mix this makes concrete. Some mix Portland, sand, calcium then their stone. There is a few types of mixs and multiple variations of this. I.E demographics makes a difference depending on the avaliable aggregates. That’s my brief example. But I just felt was needed based of of his comment, ” Portland with sand, or Portland with stone is concrete.” It wasn’t entirely true/accurate. Very vague. I hope this helps anyone who didn’t know understand better.
this is one thing i like about men, your skills. I wanna do this too though. I wanted to do pottery so I tried to make clay using my land but its sandy loam….not enough clay🤧🤣so now I want to use my sandy land for something else and apparently stucco originally came from sand. So now I want to make my OWN stucco but my female brain is dying here, this looks difficulttttt🥲
Kirk – the man, the myth, the legend. What are your thoughts on tooling (and the water used while tooling), and the effects it will have on colored mortar? We’re using a blend that incorporates brown mortar in a certain proportion to yield a specific-colored mortar (3 coat system, that will be UNpainted)
Great YouTube website!! I’ve been following for a few years now and you sir are the epitome of a craftsman. First, awesome name by the way :-). Second, can these same finishes be achieved using USG diamond finishes? I’m in St. Louis and my home was built in 1960 so I have plaster board with a scratch coat, then a sand veneer. I’m trying to get the sand texture to match which looks like your light float from what I can tell. I’ve done one sample but it looks like I used to much water on my sponge float so I’ll be trying a dry float and one with just a little water. Again thank you for this website and the information you provide!!
Thank you for this. We had 3 different crews from the same contractor. To fix the stucco which I call spider veins since last October. She or her husband have the license. Anyway, they really messed up the stucco and now I can’t have a license painter come over until we have this fixed. Is there anyway I could make it a little easier and Tru to fix it myself? I never did stucco before but thus has been going on since last November and I want my house painted. I live in lake elsinore ca. Thank you mike hunter
Looks like everone is getting there render on in the last couple of months going by the comments! Great to see you are still answering questions after nearly 8 years! I am in Australia and am looking at having a crack at my walls soon (starting an an inconspicuous spot first!). Is it common to always paint the finish, or can you get away with pigments in the finish coat? I will browse some of your other articles anyway and may find an answer there. I have watched 2 now and find your instuctional style to be easy to understand and follow. Onya Kirk
Not gonna lie I hated this guy something about his demeanor just shook me the wrong way. I was like man this guy sounds like he’s full of himself. After doubling back and giving this website another try man, He’s actually a seems like a cool guy I was just being a judgmental dueche. That being said sorry I didn’t give your website a chance earlier really enjoyed the content and the guy seems like a genuine type of guy
Jus a friendly tip for ones that don’t know what a plastering slicker is A slicker is a piece of aluminum that’s about 4 feet long 5 inches wide and is tapered and flexable. Its used as a straight edge for leveling the wall, etc,but when its held almost flat while leveling its called slicking. It may not be level, but its smooth and tight. The slicker is a great tool but takes time to master. Yes,I am a Plasterer
Thanks for the articles, homeowner, wood frame and stucco home an in Florida had 24 impact resistant windows and doors 2nd owners an built or c/o in 1990, with all hurricanes 🌀 and tropical storms an I never get to one side if my yard but had red ants set up camp an about puked over the cracks going down an slanted from the bottom sides of the windows an so nobody wants to come even look which is why I’m so doing it myself since they’re not hurting for money $$! Lol or I would’ve paid them. Do I also use “special paint “for sealing the stucco, cracks ect before I go spending 🤔 too much bcuz I need to get it sealed and lockout moisture out in Florida and get it really well sealed, yes I bought 5 gal stucco paint says it seals, conditions the house.
I recently moved to puerto rico and am starting my business all over again. I was a union laborer back home. lots of concrete and drywall experience but not plastering. I have a job plastering the interior of a condo. The walls are concrete and have been plastered before but are now damaged in many places. The client wants the walls smooth and i cant get usg diamond or imperial on the island. Any suggestions?
SAND SHEDDING! HELP! Got my interior basement walls sponge floated one month ago (two coat process over 100 year old rock wall, new vapor barrier, and new wire). Walls were left alone in the humid basement after application (no wet curing). Contractor used the right materials (type S masonry cement, clean sand, clean water) and it cured from gray to yellowish (the sand color) over one month… But now there’s a LOT of barely attached sand on the surface (sitting just outside the grip of what appears to be a shell-like crystalline skin that formed during curing and gleams a bit under a bright flashlight). Love the look of this “sand finish”… But now the slightest touch makes it rain sand (and leaves a white residue). Can I just brush off this surface sand and call it good or is there a curing issue? Would “wet curing” help at this point? Painting? Or a new finish coat?
Ok this may sound crazy, but my house was built in 1914 and is stucco. A back porch that was enclosed and expanded a bit at some point later, has issues and we will eventually remove and redesign another add on. But it’s not happening now and there is an area at the foundation with plaster that popped out due to age of structure. It is a pretty large piece that broke in several nice size smaller pieces. I was thinking since I was able to easily piece back together, like a puzzle, that I might just piece together and then place the one piece back. This would be instead of purchasing a sheet of masonry composite and cutting to size and placing on the area where stucco is missing. Can you give me pros and cons. The pro I’m considering is related to aesthetics. I know, you just showed me how to apply stucco myself and actually if you tell me not a good idea I am going to attempt applying stucco myself and forgo the masonry sheet. But I’d like to know if my idea could work. Of course I’d go back and place stucco finish over the entire piece after putting in place.
Hey Kirk so I recently moved from good ole Oakland to North Las Vegas where all houses are stuccoed. I have a problem where when someone plumbed an exterior water tap, then put so much stucco on around the new tap to fill the gaps at the tap that it is noticeably raised 8″ around the new outdoor water tap. What are my options also it looks like a Spanish Lace finish.
Great vids! I was going to hire someone to do some stucco but after perusal your vids, I may attempt it myself. I have section of my house that has these small tiles over it, wondering if I should go over it or would need to strip them off. Is there a way I can send you a pictures and you can let me know?
mastering a trade is so incredibly inspiring to those that are perusal….. and mastering anything from computers to stucco all deserve respect…. the level of concentration is really what drives my to keep trying to find my expertise…. my worst enemy in any skillset I apply myself is that friggin plataeu effect … nothing against being a jack of all trades but it would be nice to master just one….
Kirk, man I really love your articles. I am not a stucco man, not in the trade, but always wanted to do some of this work on either a house I build, or an upcoming workshop. And do it by myself. Are stop and next day continue creat any crack problems. My question. Do you have any articles, and if so please refer them to me, on doing that skip coat that you use and how you do it? Just like this article, and maybe the variations that you do, if you do more than one? Also is substrate to be considered? What if going over bare block? Over styrofoam insulation? (Blue color (polystyrene )and also the higher R value with aluminum like cover (polyiso), and then your zip system R insulated sheathing (my most likely covering). I am a home builder in OH so temp changes are something I have no idea about on a skip texture system that I am going to “attempt” to do. I”ll get it done but the only thing stopping me is possible cracks, and not what you refer to as hairlines, but big cracks. Sorry for long post but man I really like how you do your articles. Anything you can say in guiding me from improper application would be appreciated and I take all responsibility. Thanks.
Kirk, so glad I found your articles. Up till now, I’ve been soooo confused about stucco. However, I’vbe “almost” got a full understanding but I need some fine tuning from you. I plan to build a back yard fireplace with cinder block.. I later intend to trim it off with faux half bricks. But, after applying the wire trim on the corners/edges, do I just pretty much begin by applying a “scratch coat” directly on the moistened block? Also, I understand I let it cure for 48 hours, then apply a “brown coat” material and trowel it to desired look, let it cure for 28 days, then it’s ready for paint? Is that all there is to it? Oh…last question…is “skim coat” and Scratch coat” the same thing, or is that a 3rd application. Thanks Kirk.
Good day Kirk, I’ve been following for some time now and enjoying putting all this into practice. All understood regarding the cracking. QUESTION! Whilst the 3 finishes (light, heavy and rubber float) are breathable. I imagine painting it or bridging/flooding it after curing will seal it? I’m about to undertake this on my place in the UK where the conditions are generally wet .
Great article. Thank you. Question for you: do you always have to wait 48 hours between the first coat scratch and the second brown coat in a 2 coat system? The reason why I’m wondering, I saw some stucco company come in and do the neighbors house, and they did a first coat scratch, then waited a few hours and did the second brown, then in a hour or so did a orange peel knock down. They did all this in one day. If it can be done in one day, I think I’ll want to try it.If not, I’ll gladly wait the 48 hours.
Kirk I’ve been Plastering 28 years and your Dead on what you said on Your article about Stucco Cracks..People need to know about it ..Hairline Cracks are normal Paint might flood them after a good cure ..as Long as you Cannot put a Nickel in the Crack your in tolerance in stucco specs..I always tell everyone there’s two types of Stucco..(.Stucco that Cracks)..& (Stucco that Hasn’t Cracked Yet)!!!…Thanks Kirk keep them article’s Popping 👍
I’m a DIYer homeowner and didn’t know about the steel trowel finish resulting in hairline cracks. (or being more precise, didn’t know the OTHER finishes DO NOT crack (!) ) I was putting 1 coat of bagged mortar mix on terra cotta block on my foundation and got those hairline cracks. I then thought I’d put some long fibers in the mortar and while yes, I got fuzz, NO cracks. In fact, with the fibers, I could feel the mud setting up faster. After that lesson, I don’t think I’d ever do anything without fibers. RE: Horse hair: This is in my interior lath and plaster. It is amazing how few fibers are used (same with the modern fibers, basically a pinch for a bag.) And then I wonder how or where horse hair was purchased.
Great articles all. QUESTION! How do I get a journeyman stucco finisher to emulate the look of European exterior plaster over old stone walls. So all the old stone walls in southern Europe sometimes get plastered over which results in a very mounded type look, does this look a name or system here in California? Cheers and thanks!
how long do you let the second coat sit before doing the heavy float (Wet) (bottom left)? I have some concrete block columns I want to apply this finish onto. Scratch coat was applied years ago. I’m finally getting to it. Do I need to add an adhesion additive or anything? Also, can I get any of these coatings at the box stores?Love your articles. very informative.
Thank you very much for the article and clarification at the end. I want to plaster a 3′ high concrete wall I poured last year, with a smooth finish. I was concerned until the end of the article, now realize I can steel trowel to get the finish I want. Thank you also for the article on shaping the tops and corners to get the rounded finish with a straight edge to build the corner material out.. I would not be doing my little stucco jobs nearly as well, without your website and excellent teaching !
hey Kirk I have a home with block foundation and was covered with a mortar texture in the past and painted, I have a few flaked areas that I scraped the loose areas that power washed clean, can I stucco over that painted textured wall and repaint and get a lasting result without having to scrape down to the block
Kirk. Are you familiar with stamping and carving lightweight mixes. Seems like all places are trying to see us overpriced additives and specialty mixes. Is this justified? I’m specifically interested in the following stamping technique. The stamp system sells for over 1k. youtube.com/watch?v=stHQ1npCWuc&list=PLosx1VJYPRvHjv1l1YTaBrVrQVpYh3A3F
hi a concrete block pool the inside have not done plastering or render before how do i go about doing this .do I need to put any adhesive or anything on the concrete block first what mix would you suggest I suppose a water proofer added any suggestions,This pool is having a liner inside it.The concrete block will be to rough to just drop the liner into.also if i just put large pieces of foam board and they slip then the liner could start rubbing against the concrete block.its half in the ground and half out of the ground.4 feet deep as its for kids so did not want it to deep.Its more like the depth of a above ground pool.
Hey Kirk I gotta client who needs patch at her house and it’s a smooth finish (not sure the terminology for it buts it’s like a smooth drywall feel) Is there a recommendation or article you may have on how to patch plaster and stucco to a smooth finish? It’s not perfect but it’s always tough trying to match them. Thanks in advance
I had to scrape off a 1/8″ thick layer of stucco (1’X4′ section on my porch columns) as algae was separating that finish coat from the brown coat. So, I’m looking at what looks like your heavy float finish (no scratch coat lines but pretty rough texture) Can I just trowel a coating of ?? stucco brown coat on top of that surface or will it fall off? I understand there are additives to help bond cement/stucco. Thank you
Good information! As a tile guy I use your tips when I am floating walls, I’m assuming our mud is similar, I use a BMI wall float, scratch and brown then rub down with cedar wood float, I get some cracks and sometimes to many, steel trowel I get less cracks but I very lightly go over it, I try not to over trowel it with steel . But after perusal this I will try the sponge float and see what works best. Thanks
Love yer vids and watched alot for my job. Im a painter at a hotel that was asked to patch some stucco. Never done stucco. My boss thinks its as simple as patching drywall. So im tasked to handle it and im doing my best. We bought a box of concrete surface refinisher but its very gummy. Its Rapidset. I can tell its not the same consistency as yer stucco. So what should i buy that i just add water to? Keep it simple please since i have no knowledge really. I did most the job and am just not happy is all. So i redid the entire wall from corner to corner where able. But some parts had to have a patch dead center so had to blend. Our stucco is very smooth as if it were just drywall. No texture. I was told to stucco the wall and paint it all in one day… So can you give me times that i should allow minimum. The walls were already painted so not sure i needed a scratch coat. I just put a half inch of mud on the wall after a bonding agent. let it dry a little then foam floated it then painted it in one day (as in 6 hours). So can you tell me how long i should wait for each step of stucco, if i need two that is. And how long to paint before it is actually cured? Thanks.
Hey Kirk, I have a heavy spray texture on my house that looks like it has that vermiculite in it. I tried to use the OMEG Flex texture in a hopper to match it but I couldn’t get it heavy enough before it started to run down the wall. I’m also using a cheap plastic sprayer made my Homax (maybe that’s the problem but I don’t think it is). Any suggestions?
Hi Kirk, stupid question moment. Is there a difference between stucco and mortar finishes? I’m remodeling a house, long term project, and just starting to think about what the finish on the external will be after I pull the aluminum sheeting that is currently covering it off. I want to convert it to something that is a “solid” finish, fire resistant. I found your stucco articles, and I have seen others that mention mortar or concrete finishes, and I”m curious if these are just the same thing with different terms from different parts of the world? Many thanks.
Excellent article, and I am installing new windows in my house. The house is built 1965 and it has a float finish. It is hard to tell whether it was color coat, or two coat with a green float. It looks really similar to the one at the bottom left of your board. I plan on painting the house when done, and was wondering if I did a two coat would the one at the left bottom be best suited for windows.
Hi Kirk, You mention painting at the end of this article. I had been considering painting the stucco on my house, but through research I read that you shouldn’t paint stucco since it’s a water-permeable system. Painting, I’m told, can actually damage the underlying water barrier and then the stucco in the long run. So is it possible to paint, and if so, what kind of pain can one use on stucco? Thank you for all your articles, such great information and such a pleasure to watch a craftsman at work. You make it look so easy, but I know first-hand it isn’t! Marc
Hey kirk…im new to this stucco concrete thing,but will be moving to florida from va where most of the homes are stucco and im trying to learn about this stuff in preparation for doing work to my home when i get it, so pardon my simple or dumb question. If i i scratch coat a wall or something how long does that have to dry before i can do my brown coat…and then my texture?…thanks man…love the informative articles,im learning alot. Its great having such a pro help out us diy homeowners…keep up the awesome articles!
Hi Kirk, I really enjoy your articles. I am currently doing a stucco job and am suddenly wondering if I might have screwed up. I decided to go with a fiberglass enriched scratch and brown coat mix. I could only get 5/8′ casing bead, so I did one coat at 5/8″ and plan on doing a color coat over that. The area which I am doing is really cut up with windows and small margins ( as small as 6″) between windows, corners, and soffits. Hardly any room to move! The laying on the heavy coat took some time, with my having to use a margin trowel for many of the areas…Anyway, I ended up finishing with a steel trowel finish. Thankfully I cured it well and there are really no hairlines to speak of. My question is, is it going to be hard to get the color coat to stick to the steel trowel finish since it seems very well sealed? and also, how heavy can the cement-based color coat be applied? Thanks in advance for your expert advice! Jim Nichols
What float should be used to keep the most “grit” for texturing? I see the float that seems best is a wet (lots of water), rough sponge, rough and heavy float. The application is a horizontal foam trim piece, 3″-4″ crack, and the stucco is very rough and trying to match when I float. For material I was planning to use Rapid Set stucco patch 16-20 grit.
hi kirk, brian the painter here, just to to say a big hey howya doing bud, from scotland. really enjoyed your articles, going to do some articles on how to decorate, efficiently etc, and had a thought that this media, will probably be in existence for eternity lol. anyway something to ponder whilst you graft mate. really enjoy seeing other tradesman’s skill on article. keep up the good work. all the best to you and your family.
I watch your articles obsessively because we are trying to figure out how to change the stucco on the exterior of our house. It is a textured blue stucco right now (not my taste) and we want the smoothest of the smooth stucco. We keep buying stucco or plaster (whats the difference?) that is too sandy and coarse. Can you advise us? We would be so grateful!