How to Make Cheap Stucco

Making the stucco in a wheelbarrow allows for a large mixing basin.

Dry stucco mix bags are relatively inexpensive, but depending on the size of the area requiring coverage the total price can add up quickly. For large mixtures it is often cheaper to make your own stucco mixture and buy the individual ingredients in bulk to make as much as needed. Stucco mix consists of sand, powdered lime, cement and water combined into a thick paste. Depending on the amount needed, it takes approximately 15 minutes to mix a batch of stucco.

Things You'll Need

• Fine-grain sand
• Wheelbarrow
• Hydrated lime
• Gallon bucket
• Portland cement
• Scrap lumber
• Garden hoe
• Shovel
• Garden hose
• Masonry trowel

Instructions

1. Pour a 2-pound bag of fine-grain sand into a wheelbarrow. Stucco uses sand as a binding material.

2. Add 1 gallon of dried and hydrated lime to the sand. This is commonly used in gardening and landscaping applications.

3. Fill a gallon bucket with Portland cement and place it into the wheelbarrow with the other two ingredients.

4. Mix the three dry materials with a scrap of lumber, hoe or shovel. Get them as well combined as possible for the best stucco mixture once the water is added.

5. Place a garden hose into the gallon bucket and fill it to the full line. Pour the water into the wheelbarrow slowly to avoid splashing it around. Repeat the process with a second gallon bucket. Stir the mixture to completely wet the dry substances.

6. Add 1/2 gallon more water if the stucco mixture is too thick. Proper stucco has the consistency of peanut butter and should stick to an inverted masonry trowel and not drip easily back into the wheelbarrow.

Tips & Warnings

• Add another 1/2 gallon of water if the stucco begins to solidify in the wheelbarrow too quickly.

• Wear a face mask and safety goggles when working with the dry ingredients to avoid inhaling dust or getting any in your eyes.

References

• "Guide to Concrete: Masonry & Stucco Projects"; Phil Schmidt; 2008
• "Black & Decker: The Complete Guide to Masonry & Stonework"; Editors of Creative Publishing; 2010