How to Apply Stucco to a Wood Exterior

Stucco is one of many materials we can choose to cover our homes with. It is durable and needs repainting rarely unlike wood. It certainly is prettier than vinyl and almost as carefree. Often you can apply stucco yourself. The method of application depends on what the existing wall is made of. If it is wood, let's find out how to apply stucco over it.

Things You'll Need

• 15-pound roofing felt
• 17-gauge metal netting
• Mortar mix
• Plasterer's rake
• Finishing trowel

Instructions

1. Start by nailing 15-pound roofing felt over the wall. Start at the bottom and overlap the top edge as you continue up the wall.

2. Cover the felt with 17-gauge metal netting. You can usually find the netting at big-box stores like Home Depot in 150-foot rolls. Attach it to the wood and over the roofing felt with galvanized roofing nails. Trim any excess netting with tin snips.

3. Using a trowel, apply a scratch coat of mortar. Spread a 1/4- to 1/2-inch layer of mortar, forcing the mortar into the netting. Let the mortar stick out through the netting and hold the coating in place.

4. Allow the scratch coat to harden slightly before proceeding. After the mortar has slightly hardened, use a plasterer's rake to scratch the entire mortar coat to a depth of at least 1/8-inch. Complete one wall before starting another one.

5. Allowed the scratch coat to cure for at least 36 to 48 hours before proceeding. Mist the new wall periodically to keep the area damp. If the weather is hot and dry, mist more frequently.

6. After the scratch coat has cured, the finish coat can be applied. Use a flat finishing trowel to apply a finish coat between 1/8" and 1/4" thick to the scratch coat. If you want to use a powdered pigment, add water to it mix completely before adding to the stucco. Finish to the desired texture and allow to cure for several more days. Mist it periodically to prevent it from drying out. If you are going to paint the stucco, wait at least six weeks and use a special stucco paint.