Tired of your plain walls and are start thinking of redecorating them, so why not consider stucco? Plus it’s not necessary to pay a contractor for making a beautiful stucco wall when you can easily do it on your own? All you need is to follow the given essential guidelines:

1. Mix only as much mortar as can be used within about one and a half hours. However, the actual time will depend on the weather. Generally, the stucco mix will dry out quicker in hot or dry conditions. Any remaining mortar should be discarded and never remixed.
2. Add cement coloring dye to the final layer of the stucco mix if colored stucco is required. Carefully note the measure used in order to achieve that identical proportions with each separate mix of mortar.
3. Be careful not to over-mix the stucco mortar – hand mix for only 10-15 minutes after adding the water. Usually over-mixing can cause the mortar to set too quickly that may cause cracks and poor bonding to the underlying surface.
4. Note that wooden laths and masonry sub-surfaces should be thoroughly damped before applying the stucco mortar thus preventing the sub-surface from drawing moisture out of the mortar.
5. In order to avoid cracking make sure that the stucco mortar does not dry out too fast. Do not apply stucco in direct midsummer sunshine or very hot and dry conditions. If that is the case keep the mortar damp for 48 to 72 hours after application. At the same time, stucco mix should not be applied in cold weather or if there is a danger of frost during the ‘drying’ period.

After the stucco has hardened for two hours or so, apply a texture to the final layer if desired. A wide range of stucco texture can be used; the only limitation is the worker’s imagination. When choosing a stucco texture it’s important to make sure that the pattern can be easily repeated across the full area. Here is the list of some popular finishes:

-         Smooth texture: In order to achieve that kind of effect smooth the final layer with a steel float several times as the stucco mortar begins to go off. Plunging the float into water from time to time will keep the tool clean and prevent it from pulling mortar off the walls.

-         Swirl texture: Apply arching motions of the float on the mortar just once while it is still fairly damp, and then leave it to harden. Note that a wooden float often gives better swirls than a steel one.

-         Stippled texture: When the mortar has started to dry, hold a stiff broom at an angle to the wall and pat the bristles onto the surface. These simple strokes will give the desired pattern of the stucco texture.

-         Wavy, scratched texture: First of all smooth the final layer and allow it to dry slightly. Second, draw a brush lightly across the surface using a path to give the desired effect. Knocking the brush head after each pass across the surface in order to keep the bristles free from mortar build-up.  

Imprint texture: As simple as it can be: just smooth the final layer and use whatever you like to make the desired imprints, for example, hands, paws of pets, leaves, etc.