How to Apply Stucco to a House

Applying stucco to the external wall of a house can dramatically improve its appearance, and add a layer of unique design and beauty overall. Although applying stucco is not an easy task, with the right tools and instructions it is possible to apply a layer that will look professional and well done. The instructions below are a guideline for those who wish to attempt to do this on one's own; follow these and the manufacturer's guide for whichever premixed stucco brand you choose exactly because failure to do so will result in cracking, denting, and punctures.

Things You'll Need

• Ladder Spirit leveler Building paper or 15 pound roofing felt (necessary only if applying to a wood framed surface; this should be waterproof) Tin snips (necessary only if using bulidng paper, as ths will be used to cut this) Concrete bonding agent (necessary only if applying to a concrete or brick surface) Base strip Work gloves Galvanized nails (at least ¾ of an inch long) Hammer Chalk Pencil Steel mesh (this should be made of galvanized wire of 18 gauge, and with a maximum two inch opening) Safety goggles Metals shears Remixed stucco (note: unless one is a professional plasterer one should not attempt to mix their own stucco from scratch) Professional stucco mixer Notched trowel Flat finishing trowel (necessary only if applying to a wood surface) Scratch tool (this can be made with a 1x2 or 2x2 wood block with nails driven through at one inch intervals) Tarp or sand (this will be used to prevent any dropped stucco from touching the ground) Ruler (compact and portable enough to be able to measure the thickness of the stucco layers) Stiff brush (if you plan to impart a texture onto the surface of the stucco)

Instructions

Apply Stucco to a House

1. Inspect the surface of the area where the stucco will be applied. If applying to brick, concrete or wood, make sure that there are no large cracks; also check that the surface is in good condition overall, is clean and dust free. If there are any water seepage problems, repair the flashing near the windows and doors

2. Put on the safety gloves and goggles.

3. Apply the tarp or sand to the base of the area where you will be applying the stucco, and to this surrounding area as well, to prevent any stucco from sticking to the ground. This will greatly facilitate the clean up process afterwards.

4. Apply the base strip if applying stucco to a wood framed base; cover the sheathing with building paper. Use the leveler to make even marks at the corners; snap a line in between these marks. Set the base strip on this line and nail it to the wall through the mesh portion using the galvanized nail. Nail the steel mesh. Above the base strip attach the mesh to the surface with the galvanized nails. The bottom sheet should be attached to the base strip with the nails.

5. Apply the concrete bonding agent with the brush if applying stucco to a brick or concrete surface; allow to dry.

6. Mix the stucco with the mixer; follow manufacturer's instructions exactly. Be sure to mix only enough that will be used in 1 1/2 hours, and will remain damp within this time period (take into account temperatures above 60 degrees as well).

7. Apply the first layer of stucco with the flat finishing trowel if applying to a wood surface; this layer should be 1/4 to1/2 inch thick. Use this trowel as well to apply a layer of the same thickness to the concrete or brick surface. This first layer of stucco over any surface is known as the scratch layer.

8. Scratch this layer with the scratching tool with lines 1/8 of an inch deep across the entire surface; wait until this layer has hardened only slightly before doing this (be sure not to wait until this layer has hardened completely).

9. Dampen this layer; keeping the stucco continuously moist will ensure a stronger wall and overall finish. Over the next 36 to 48 hours, while the scratch layer cures, keep this layer moist by misting repeatedly with a garden hose as needed. Take into account the current temperatures when determining how often to do this.

10. Mix an additional batch of stucco with the mixer for the second layer; this will be known as the brown layer. If creating a colored stucco wall, apply the color at this point.

11. Apply the second layer of stucco with the flat finish trowel to a 3/8 inch thickness; if no third layer will be applied (also known as the texture layer), apply this layer so that the total thickness of the stucco is 7/8 of an inch instead.

12. Dampen this layer continuously for the next 48 hours to damp cure; to do this follow the procedure as outlined in step 9.

13. Apply the third layer if you wish to give the stucco a definite texture (this step is for decorative purposes only); mix additional stucco and apply between 1/8 and 1/4 of an inch thick. Use the trowel to apply the design of your choice to this layer; some types of designs are swirled (achieved by troweling the stucco in an arch motion), stippled, imprinted, wavy, travertine and more. For further stucco textures see

Tips & Warnings

• Stucco should not be applied in extreme hot or cold temperatures; do not apply stucco if the temperature is less than 40 degrees or above 60 degrees, or if it is excessively dry or windy. The ideal conditions in which to apply stucco are within the 50 to 60 degree range with overcast cloudiness. One should always remember that the stucco should set and harden slowly overall; if one can not avoid applying stucco in hot dry weather, one should attempt to provide some sort of shading to shield it from the heat. Be sure not to over mix the stucco, as this may cause cracking and poor bonding to the underlying surface eventually; again, one must follow the manufacturer's instructions exactly.