How to Make Your Own Stucco Batch

Stucco provides an attractive interior or exterior finish to a building. A stucco finish lasts for decades. Consider doing your own stucco work. You only need a few basic tools and materials to make your own stucco batch. Making your own stucco batch ensures that the mixture is made in proper proportions. Contractors might be tempted to skimp on materials. Mixing your own stucco batch ensures a quality finish that will last for years.

Things You'll Need

• Hose
• Shovel
• Portland cement
• Sand
• Hydrated lime
• Water

Instructions

1. Spray the inside wheelbarrow with the hose. This will help prevent the stucco batch from sticking to the wheelbarrow.

2. Put one shovel full of Portland cement into the wheelbarrow. Add three shovels full of sand to the mix. Put about one-half shovel full of hydrated lime into the wheelbarrow.

3. Add additional materials in this ratio, if necessary. Stop when the wheelbarrow is about half-full.

4. Add several gallons of water to the batch. The amount of water needed will vary. Mix the materials and the water together with the shovel. Move the shovel back and forth in the wheelbarrow until the batch is thoroughly mixed. Add more water if necessary. The batch should have a consistency similar to brick mortar.

Tips & Warnings

• Start out with a small amount of water and add more, as needed. Do not make the mix too wet. You want the stucco mix to stick to your trowel when you use it.

• The stucco batch mixture ratio is approximate. A little more or less of a material is okay.

References

• Ask the Builder: Cement Stucco Foundation Finish
• Mortar Sprayer.com: How to Stucco/Mixing Stucco

Resources

• Portland Cement Association: Stucco FAQ's