How to Apply Stucco Over Brick

Stucco is a material made of water and sand or limestone. It is used for finishing the exterior of a building, and can be applied over almost any surface. Stucco is a great material to work with because it's cheap, versatile and can be found in almost every color. Applying this material over existing brick walls is a great way to deal with damaged or deteriorating brick, and can really improve the appearance of your home.

Things You'll Need

• Paint Brush
• Concrete Bonding Agent
• Stucco Mix
• Water
• Bucket or Wheelbarrow
• Plasterer's Rake
• Trowel

Instructions

1. Prepare your brick walls for stucco application by applying a layer of concrete bonding agent. Use a paintbrush to cover the entire wall with the bonding agent. This gives the stucco something to stick to.

2. Allow the bonding agent to dry. This will take approximately 30 to 40 minutes.

3. Mix your stucco. Measure the amount of water per the instructions on the stucco mix package. Blend the water and stucco in a bucket or wheelbarrow.

4. Use a trowel to apply a 1/4-inch coat of stucco to your brick surface. This coat is known as your scratch coat, because once this stucco layer is halfway hardened, you will use your plasterer's rake to scratch lines through the material. Allow this scratch coat to dry for 48 hours.

5. Apply your finish coat. Use your trowel to apply another 1/4-inch coat, varying your pressure and angle to create texture. Allow this coat another 48 hours to dry properly, but mist it with water periodically for best results.

Tips & Warnings

• Buying pre-mixed bags of stucco is much easier for the average homeowner than trying to make stucco from scratch, and will lead to fewer complications.

• Wait at least four weeks before painting your finished stucco walls.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• More Details on Applying Stucco