For centuries many builders and artists expressed their imagination and creativity through the versatility and aesthetic appeal of stucco. Stucco is a unique material as it can be applied to almost any flat or curved surface with a minimum of preparation or hustle. Each application becomes a new masterpiece that shows skills and personality of the owner, allowing any project to be individualized. Besides, it’s a surprisingly inexpensive and durable wall finish. This article provides information on how to conduct effective stucco application to any exterior wall.

Masonry or concrete walls:

-        Brush a concrete bonding agent onto the wall to prepare the surface. Then leave it for a full day to dry.

-        Apply the scratch coat. Smear a thick layer of stucco mixture onto the wall directly from the trowel evenly covering the surface.

-        Leave the coat to harden for a few hours and then scratch it down evenly so that the stucco finish is about half as thick as it was.

-        Allow the layer to harden for about two full days moistening the wall every few hours with a water spray bottle.

-        Apply the finalizing coat of the stucco finish with the trowel; be careful to smooth the edges with a putty knife. 

-        Smooth and texture the stucco wall using the finishing trowel. Lose your creativity and let it work at full speed.

-        Let the wall cure for another two full days, misting the wall evenly every few hours.

Wood walls:

-        Covering the wall with roofing felt and using short wood nails to hold it in place will help you to prepare the surface. 

-        Hide the felt with metal netting and fit it to the wall, remove the excess with the wire cutters then nail the mesh in place.

-        Smear the stucco mixture onto the mesh forcing it the through the holes of the netting. The stucco finish on the other side of the mesh will help the whole mass adhere to the wall when it dries.

-        Now simply follow the instructions described in the stucco application guide for masonry or concrete walls.

With stucco you can let your imagination go wild. Besides, stucco mixture comes in many different colors and you can experiment with tints and shades. Specific scenes, textures or designs can be etched into wet stucco with any tool at hand: sponges, cutouts, and dry brushes of any size. However, remember that high levels of humidity or rain can ruin the stucco’s curing process. That’s why stucco your walls only during a dry time of the year.