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Sheathing is the material used to cover a structure's floor, wall, and roof framing. Wood-sheathed homes have sheets of wood products forming the exterior walls, which can then be covered with siding. House wrap and external insulation are often placed between the sheathing and the siding. If you already own one of these stucco homes, pay attention to its maintenance needs to get the most from this exterior. Then there’s looks, and those appealing hues—from soft shades to deep earthy tones—achieved by adding dyes to the mix.
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One prime place to install a stucco finish is over concrete masonry. Concrete masonry is stable and less prone to expansion, contraction, and other movements that may crack the stucco. While a stucco finish can be applied to a wood-sheathed home, additional reinforcement is needed.
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You or a pro can apply stucco directly onto the existing wood siding. It’s typically $8 to $9 per square foot, depending on the project’s size and complexity. Applying a stucco layer to the wood siding can create an easy-to-maintain exterior finish. Mackenzie has been writing for brick&batten for three years, and most of her exterior design knowledge comes from renovating her own home. She purchased a log home that was stuck in the '90s and the previous owners were unable to keep up with exterior maintenance.
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Pressure washing brittle or crumbling stucco causes chips and cracks and can result in water damage inside the home. Stucco siding is worth it if you live in a dry climate because it lasts longer and costs less to repair than average. Stucco is fire-resistant and versatile but does not perform well in humid environments. The cost to re-stucco a house is $8 to $21 per square foot if you remove the old stucco and replace it. If your stucco is in good condition, it may not need to be removed before applying a new coat.
Stucco house siding is a hand-troweled masonry plaster made of cement, water, and sand. It is a popular choice for homeowners as it is durable and versatile. Stucco homes have exteriors with various textures, ranging from smooth finishes to rough and sandy textures. This type of siding provides a long-lasting and attractive exterior for residential properties. Moreover, stucco also offers excellent protection against the elements, making it a reliable option for homeowners seeking a siding material that can withstand harsh weather conditions.
Stucco on Masonry vs. Wood-Sheathed Homes
According to the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC), stucco was the most popular siding type of newly constructed homes in 2019, sitting at 29% over more traditional vinyl siding at 25%. Traditional stucco is simply a variety of concrete, applied in several layers to create a strong bond to the wall. Stucco is popular for many reasons, including its low cost, earthquake resistance, and breathability in humid climates.
Some of the most amusing hate mail I’ve ever gotten was from choleric New Yorkers in 1998. Timed to the last episode of “Seinfeld,” my column was about the fact that the exterior of Jerry’s apartment building was not in Manhattan but was a building in L.A.’s Koreatown. Was L.A., the Tongva built “kiys,” willow-and-reed domed huts that were built to last only a season or so.
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Stucco is strong, rock hard, resistant to weathering, provides impressive fire resistance, and comes in various colors and styles. Stucco finishes can be smooth and professional, rough and textured, or sandy and coarse. It’s no coincidence that stucco houses have been around for centuries. The material — a mixture of sand, Portland cement, lime, and water — is incredibly durable and can withstand most weather conditions. On top of that, this aesthetically pleasing siding option can beautifully transform the exterior of your home and increase your curb appeal.
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The application process also depends on the house’s structure, with wood-framed walls requiring more coats than block or concrete walls. It is vital to hire experienced professionals to ensure proper application and avoid costly mistakes. Similarly, stucco repairs should only be conducted by professionals with specific training and the necessary tools.
After repairing cracks, clean stucco walls once or twice a year to remove dirt and dust with a garden hose sprayer. Stains or algae can be removed with a dish soap solution or bleach-based cleaner. Refrain from using a power washer unless you use it on a low-pressure setting; too much pressure can introduce cracks and cause problems. You can use CLR (calcium, lime, rust) cleaner on unpainted stucco; refrain from using CLR on stucco that has been painted over. Stucco is appealing for a number of reasons, chief among them its fire resistance. A 1-inch coating of stucco provides a one-hour firewall rating, which means it will prevent the spread of fire from one side of the wall to the other side for at least one hour.
An average 3-person crew takes 3 to 5 days to install stucco on a house. Stucco takes 30 to 90 days to fully dry or cure, depending on weather and stucco type. The recommended thickness for the scratch coat for either masonry or wood-sheathed buildings is 3/8-inch minimum.
You can get rid of mildew with chlorine bleach and then use a hose or (if especially dirty) a power-washer to clean the surface you want to paint. While stucco is known for its durability, it is still a good idea to inspect it regularly for cracks and rot (rot is uncommon on stucco applied in the past three decades, but you never know). That way, you can tackle minor fixes right away instead of letting things languish until something small turns into something costly. Stucco is a little more finicky than some other types of siding when it comes to the ideal time for installation. To calculate, just multiply the average cost per square foot by the total number of square feet involved in the project. For example, at an average of $8 per square foot, the overall cost for a 12×9 footwall (108-square-feet) is $864.
Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 13 years.
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(Never use caulk; it flexes differently than stucco and can wind up causing damage, not alleviating it.) For larger repairs, chip away any loose portions of the material and re-plaster. Usually, it’s a mixture of Portland cement, sand, and either lime or gypsum. Combined, these ingredients form a plaster that protects and beautifies home exteriors. Britteny has worked as a professional writer and editor for more than a decade. She launched her career as a features writer in New York City, covering fashion, food & beverage, and hospitality.
Stucco has a rich history dating back to ancient Greece, where it was used as a decorative plaster for buildings. The Spaniards introduced stucco to Mexico and the American Southwest, where it gained popularity and became a prominent feature in the architectural styles of these regions. Its popularity particularly surged with the mass production of dry cement in the early 1900s. Today, stucco is a growing choice throughout the United States, especially in Southwestern states like Texas, Utah, California, and New Mexico. The rule of thumb with stucco is to inspect your home's exterior for cracks regularly. The beautiful thing about stucco is it's easy to patch, using paintable acrylic caulk to seal any fissures.
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