The condition of your stucco exterior can be assessed by looking for cracks, performing a probe test, checking for moisture and mold, and considering a professional assessment. To redo your stucco exterior, prepare the surface by cleaning, repairing damaged areas, applying a bonding agent, and protecting surrounding areas.
To update your stucco exterior, you should scrub it, as low maintenance doesn’t necessarily mean it is ineffective. Pressure wash the side of your home to remove dirt and debris, and consider adding modern design elements like metal accents, sleek light fixtures, and geometric shapes.
To properly update your stucco exterior, use different methods and products to wash, clean, and preserve your stucco walls. Remove stains, mildew, mold, and other problems from the finish. If your stucco has dulled and started flaking, consider updating the look of your exterior.
An alternative to retexturing your stucco is to wash, patch, and paint it. A professional painter can power-wash the stucco, then apply new paint. One way to update your stucco exterior is by replacing old siding with new siding.
To change the color of stucco, inspect the stucco for major cracks and issues, pressure wash the stucco, repair small holes and cracks with mud, and apply the base coat. Stucco is both functional and visually appealing, and updating yours with a fresh coat of designer-approved paint is a smart move.
In summary, updating your stucco exterior requires assessing its condition, using the right building materials and techniques, and choosing a neutral primary color.
📹 How to Install Stucco
This video shows you how to install exterior stucco walls using QUIKRETE. For centuries, Stucco has proven to be one of the most …
What is the alternative to painting stucco?
Fog coat is a cement-based coating material that provides a stronger and longer-lasting bond than paint, making it an economical and natural way to revive aging stucco. It has been around for over 70 years and is made by all stucco manufacturers, including Lahabra Stucco, the largest manufacturer of stucco and the only one to manufacture Allgro Cement Coating (upgraded top of the line Fog Coat).
Fog coat does not change the look of the stucco texture because it soaks into the pours of the stucco, not just a top coat susceptible to ultraviolet rays that will break down as can happen with regular paint. It is important to patch where the stucco is peeling, cracked, or chipped off, known as detailing the stucco. The cost of fog coating is comparable to painting stucco, as it offers the natural look and beauty of natural stucco.
All stucco will receive two coats of fog coat, a company policy that has been in place for many years. Painters will most likely put one coat on the stucco, which can cause imcomplete coverage, showing holidays, and sometimes bleed through the old color. Fog coat can breathe and has a better permiability rating than paint, making it more affordable. Pressure washing is another important part of the process, as it removes contaminants that can reduce the bonding of a new coating.
Fog coating makes stucco look like it did when it was brand new, making it look shiny and filling the texture in the process. It also breathes like natural stucco does, preventing moisture from trapping behind the coating. Fog coat does not peel or crack when applied to natural un-painted stucco.
Altregro Cement Coating is an upgraded fog coat made by La Habra Stucco, introduced about 15 years ago. It is one of the best stucco products to come out in decades and is not as thick as tex-coat or simular products that claim they are 28 times thicker than paint and will last a lifetime.
The cost of having Allegro Cement Coating will not increase the cost of restoring the stucco color, as the longevity of cement-based products gives you a natural stucco look.
There are several reasons to choose fog coat over painting:
- It is licensed;
- It keeps your property clean;
- It helps with color selection;
- It covers stucco cracks.
In summary, fog coat is a cost-effective and natural way to enhance the look of stucco, providing a stronger and longer-lasting bond than paint. It is not only a cost-effective alternative to painting but also a more environmentally friendly option for those looking to restore their home’s natural beauty.
What is the most serious problem with exterior stucco?
Cracks in stucco walls can cause water seepage, a serious issue that requires immediate attention. Replacing stucco with an alternative material like siding can prevent this issue. Staining from poorly installed stucco can ruin the home’s appearance, and it is best to protect it from water. Windblown rain can pound stucco from all directions, making it difficult to withstand moisture from any angle.
Mold is another issue that can lead to water infiltration, and stucco is the worst offender. Preventing mold growth is crucial for a homeowner’s health, and improperly installed stucco makes this difficult.
Can you recoat stucco?
Once any issues with the existing stucco have been resolved, a new finish coat should be applied, with the texture and color of the new material selected according to preference. To ensure a strong bond between the existing stucco and the new material, a bonder should be used.
What is the best way to change the color of stucco?
Stucco is a naturally porous material that allows water to evaporate quickly and easily, making it a breathable and porous option for coloring. To maintain this breathability, it is best to add pigments to the stucco and change the color before applying it. There are two main types of stucco bases: traditional stucco (made with portland cement) and acrylic/synthetic stucco finishes. Traditional stucco is mixed with dry ingredients and water, resulting in a gray/white color when no pigments are added. Acrylic/synthetic stucco finishes come in a white liquid base form that is ready for colorants to be added.
Powder and liquid colorants are used to add color to the base of stucco to achieve different colors. Traditional stucco requires adding dry colorants before adding water, while acrylic/synthetic stucco requires mixing in liquid colorant to the base. Both methods are essential for maintaining the breathable and porous quality of stucco.
What can I replace my stucco with?
Improper stucco application can lead to water damage and mold, necessitating a siding material change. Popular options include fiber cement and vinyl, but vinyl is less durable and thin. Hardie Board Siding Installation offers benefits over stucco repair, providing a warm, inviting look without the high maintenance and repairs required. HardiePanel Vertical Siding Stucco offers the same strength and durability as Hardie Board siding, available in baked on ColorPlus colors in the Statement or Dream Collection. It is also primed and ready to paint. James Hardie siding is also available primed and ready to paint.
What material can you put over stucco?
The most effective types of siding to install over stucco are wood, hardwood board, vinyl, and metal. These materials can effectively modernize the appearance of a residence. Stucco siding is an aesthetically pleasing feature that can be replaced with siding to impart a new appearance to the house.
Can you spray stucco over existing stucco?
In order to improve the quality of an existing stucco finish, it is possible to apply a new coat of acrylic stucco, dependent on the condition of the existing stucco. Synthetic or elastomeric stucco, which is also referred to as acrylic stucco, is composed of acrylic resin, sand, and crushed quartz. The product is available in a range of vibrant colors to suit different finishing requirements, and the application process is carried out in a series of steps.
How do you modernize a stucco exterior?
Stucco is a popular building material used for exterior coverings, and can be changed without replacing it. To do this, inspect the stucco for major cracks and issues, pressure wash the stucco, repair small holes and cracks with acrylic caulk, use a waterproofer to seal and protect the cleaned and repaired stucco, and apply the chosen paint. Stucco is made from an aggregate, a binder, and water, with the binder typically being Portland cement, lime, or gypsum.
The curing process begins when water is added, and the mixture changes from a thick paste to a solid surface. This article provides step-by-step instructions on how to achieve a professional finish on stucco walls, ensuring a smooth and durable finish.
What to do with old stucco exterior?
Painting old stucco can transform its exterior and is recommended every 5-10 years for traditional stucco. EIFS doesn’t need to be repainted, but updating the finish coat can be done. Painting over any stucco finish, such as cement or EIFS, can be a great way to modernize an old stucco home. However, as stucco has a texture, multiple coats may be needed. Modernizing old stucco without removing it is possible as there are always popular styles that need updating as styles change. By following trends and updating the exterior of your home, you can create a unique and stylish look that will last for years to come.
How to make a stucco house look nice?
To modernize a stucco home, use neutral paint colors like white, beige, brown, or gray, install contemporary light fixtures, house numbers, and doormats, and add modern landscaping. For example, the Mallorca new build from Fantastic Frank uses deep orange to channel the Spanish island setting and add vibrant color to the minimalist facade. Rustic green can transform a modern beachy home into a vintage-inspired, mysterious abode, making it stand out in a home.
Is it better to paint stucco or re stucco?
Two recent contractors specializing in stucco construction advise against painting stucco, citing the potential for moisture trapping and structural rot as primary concerns. As an alternative, they propose a methodology comprising sandblasting, the application of a new rough coat, and the addition of a new skim coat. Some individuals maintain that painting stucco is an acceptable practice, provided that the coating is breathable. One contractor proposed the use of a new spray-on coating, but did not provide a follow-up response.
📹 What’s New In Siding 2022? Hardie’s New Stucco & Modern Exteriors
To sponsor a video or advertise with us visit: www.buildproductions.com Want to learn more about building?
Matt: I’m an architect in multiple states and I can tell you that there’s no way that those massive panels should ever be applied tight onto the WRB like they’d shown. You nailed it when you said that best practice would be to implement a rain screen although I would go so far as to say it’s the only practice for panels that large. Keep up the great work Matt.
This product is very interesting. James Hardie is not a novice in this industry and I assume that intensive test has been done in advance. But I can’t help but have two concerns for this product. The first is the air gap for drainage that everyone else keeps mentioning. The second is expansion and contraction. Even without the threat of water, materials will expand and contract due to temperature changes. A wood framed house with expand and contract at a different rate than the exterior cementitious siding, which can pose a problem if they’re fuse together.
Nice stuff.. I’m curious, are all of these James Hardie products still cement-based, or did they transition to a polyash base like Boral’s TrueExterior product? Am also curious as to a price, durability, ease-of-install, and breath-safety comparison of Hardie vs Boral. I know I’m asking a lot, but maybe a good idea for a future article.
As an EIFS specialist here in Canada and someone who’s installed Hardie Shake/Long Board, this is exciting. With our climate we are lucky to get 5-6 months of decent EIFS/stucco installation weather. Siding products really do lend themselves to easier weather tolerances, even if I still like the EIFS envelope from STO better. I can’t wait to see this come our way.
Does anyone know a competing stucco look a like panel? One they actually manufacture and stock? I’ve had 4 contractors to the house, not one has used or can source this mythical hardie stucco panel until November earliest. It’s not even a big job, just need a dozen panels to cover a small area, but Hardie apparently can’t deliver.
Any recommendation for airgaps in a coastal/beach environment. I see water damage constantly – lots of workmanship issues but also I see subs off the street just applying the fully waterproof membrane all over the OSB paneling on the oceanside (hurricane alley, North Carolina). If you were building a beachhouse today, what product/application would you choice and why – keeping cost reasonably close to the traditional osb/wrap/hardie planks, of course.
Alright! What an ingenious idea! Thank you Matt for sharing. Eventually this house will need the fiberboard siding replaced, front and partly wrapping around the sides are Hardie clapboards in great shape (no sense impacting the environment by landfilling material with significant life left). I see a big advantage over the board versus traditional stucco: replacing the bad siding without increasing thickness so where the material changes in the field there isn’t an award transition due to traditional stucco’s thickness. Oddly, the product does not seem to be on the website, though available at the big box stores.
You have to have an air matrix material or ice & water shield that seal seals and penetrations like 1X3″ strapping. A failure at a window, door, or roof connection in driving rain or humidity that forms condensation behind it during temperature changes has to breathe while giving moisture a means to escape & dry out. Moisture intrusion into a house is an expensive failure that can lead quickly to structural issues. Just ask Mike Holmes in Canada with his show on HGTV! Mushrooms growing behind James Hardy board on a 3 year old house with incorrectly installed doors and cheap windows. Siding maybe perfect, but what about the other trades and the products and methods they used. It is only part of the exterior system.
I’d be very interested in something like that Hardie siding on my project in the next few years, but the seams look a bit off. Maybe its lighting or just the limits of the time they had to install the demo? The edges are wavy and casting an uneven shadow and it really sticks out. What’s going on there? At @2:01 you can see the waist-high seam has a deep shadow on the very left portion of the wall vs the rest of the width of the wall. Likewise, the shoulder high seam to the left of the window has a deeper shadow in the middle, and a shallower shadow line near the edges. It is very distracting to the look. It appears this particular product is intended to not have battens over the seams, correct?
From an installers point of view this looks gimmicky. One chipped corner and your entire panels ruined. Anyone that has hung Hardy sheets knows how difficult it is to nail properly. At minimal you have to use a coil nailer not a trim nailer for their sheet goods. Good luck hiding that nail with putty or caulk.
What is the lawsuit for LP siding? Why Is LP Siding Bad? – cant trust them after this!!! Louisiana Pacific ended up paying out nearly one billion dollars to over 129,000 different claims. There was a massive recall and the LP itself has referred to the event as “one of the largest class-action lawsuits in the history of the siding industry.
Matt, what can you do when you already have Hardie Siding that was installed BEFORE the water lessons were learned to get EXISTING Hardie Siding to not website water INSIDE YOUR HOME, WALLS, CEILING? Please don’t tell me to contact Hardie. I have done that. They don’t care & won’t advise you what needs to be done to correct this problem. In fact, it’s getting to the point where legal action against Hardie seems like the only way I might find an answer to this problem. That said, buyer beware! Be VERY careful about the exterior you choose and make completely certain that whatever upkeep is needed is even an attainable service in your area!
Don’t get overly excited – pretty much all of these types of JM products are not available except in climates that don’t reach freezing. Think Ca, and coastal PNW. For most of the Country, you’ll need to use the standard, or possibly architectural siding (you can miter the corners)…Furthermore, even if you wanted the siding, you would need to purchase it in a distant location, and coordinate shipping with a trucking company. I know, because, I did this with the JH “matrix.”
We own a home in Santa Monica Mountains that has siding. It’s a pain in the. The house was built in 1984. Very modern look that isn’t dated at all with outstanding angles. It was one of the first projects of a well known local architect. But when it was built, they decided to go for cedar siding rather than stucco. I think they should have gone with a Santa Barbara stucco finish and some steel frame windows – but no it’s not what they did. We bought the house in 2012 and did a full paint job and replaced a lot of boards and now we’re doing that for a second time – most of the original wood was held up shockingly well. But next go around? This kind of product would be outstanding. For what its worth I have to agree that there is no way you should put that kind of product directly over a weather barrier. Great advice on your part.
Made in the US & founded in Australia, now dual listed on the ASX & NYSE but to pay less tax everything is owned via an holding company in the Netherlands. While their products may be great, their history around asbestos compensation & having had directors convicted of misleading the Australian stock exchange make using their products a difficult.
Huh. I live in the southwest and the idea of paying more money for panels that look like stucco is funny. If I want an ugly stucco house I’ll just pay less money for regular stucco, which with modern EIFS systems are a pretty good wall system and will easily last 50 years with almost no real maintenance in the proper climate. I guess I’m missing the appeal. Those seagrass panels would be cool as a backsplash in a bathroom or shower though. Or a 1970’s porno film.
Can you adhere those panels with something like thinset? I’m thinking if building a cmu house, (fire proof), and would like to use laticrete’s hydroban product for exterior waterproofing. They make a proprietary “thinset” for adhering that precast faux stone stuff. Could these panels be substituted? Also, how are they cut? I would like to install the panels in smaller sizes, possibly on the diagonal. Would a track saw be the most accurate way to accomplish this?