Traditionally, historic stucco mixes differed from region to region, depending on the availability of local materials. There are probably almost as many stucco mixes as there are historic stucco buildings. For this very reason it is highly recommended to carry out at least a basic analysis of the existing historic stucco. The analysis will help to determine general proportions and primary ingredients of the stucco tested. 

Today there are a number of contemporary stucco products on the market. But many of them are not either physically or visually compatible with historic stucco buildings. However, some of these prepackaged tinted stucco coatings may be suitable to use on stucco buildings, as long as the color and texture are appropriate for the style and period of the building. 

For those who want to retain the vanity look of the house should not replace the historic stucco with contemporary one, but on the opposite to restore the old one till its perfect appearance. A skilled professional contractor will be familiar with the properties of materials involved in stucco repair and will be able to avoid some of the missteps that would hinder someone less experienced. However, the following principles are important to remember:

-         Always mix only as much stucco mortar as can be used in one to two hours (this will depend on the weather). Generally, mortar hardens faster under hot dry and sunny conditions. Any remaining mortar should be discarded and don’t try to bring it to life.

-         Do not over-mix stucco mortar. Over-mixing causes crazing and discoloration, especially in tinted mortars. It also tends to make the mortar set too fast, which will end up in cracking and poor bonding or keying to the lath or masonry substrate.

-         Wood lath or a masonry substrate must be thoroughly wetted before applying stucco patches so that it does not draw moisture out of the stucco mortar too rapidly.

-         Do not let the stucco to dry too fast to prevent it from cracking. That’s why shade the area to be stuccoed or even cover it if possible, particularly in hot and dry weather. When the weather is hot it’s necessary to keep the newly stuccoed area damp, by misting it systematically.

There are a few things to pay attention to when you mix the stucco by yourself. First of all, more lime will make the mixture more plastic. However, stucco mortar with a very large proportion of lime to sand is more likely to crack because of greater shrinkage, besides it is also weaker and slower to set.