Despite other popular exterior surfaces stucco is a well-known traditional exterior building material noted for its durability, versatility, economy and ease of application. Usually it takes some steps to ensure the sophisticated appearance and long life span of stucco.

Repair: Firstly, ensure that the stucco is in good repair. Use acrylic paint made to fill hairline stucco cracks. Nevertheless, stucco cracks from the width of a credit card up will require the application of a brushable elastomeric sealant. For instance, wider movement stucco cracks as well as other serious problems cannot be cured by simple patching and painting and require professional involvement that might include raking them and filling with a urethane sealant system or other treatment options.

When stucco patching is performed, do not allow the repair area to dry too quickly in order to prevent it from cracking. That’s why, it’s obvious to shade or even cover the newly stuccoed location in hot weather to keep the area damp. Stucco patching should be performed prior to painting; the moisture level must correspond to the level specified by the paint manufacturer. Conduct repairs prior to stucco cleaning to prevent water from entering the building.

Clean: The perfect coating require a perfect stucco cleaning, a neat and sound surface that is free from dust, chalk, mildew, grease, loose paint and other contamination. The light pressure washing, possibly with a chemical cleaning agent is the most common and effective method of stucco cleaning. The objective is to obtain a sound substrate without damaging the stucco surface. A masonry surface conditioner may help to consolidate the stucco if the surface became chalky, crumbly or sandy after cleaning. The last step in surface preparation is to caulk around windows, doors, flashing, exterior light fixtures and so on.

Repaint: A quality acrylic latex paint formulated for stucco is the best choice among other coatings. Acrylic latex provides excellent protection unless there are some substrate problems while elastomerics are a better choice when the need to protect against wind-driven rain is upfront. Thus elastomerics, that has been the popular choice in coastal area for years, are gaining popularity among owners in northern and interior locations as the heavier film build and elasticity of the material provide the highest degree of protection ever possible.