Experts claim that stucco makes a very good exterior wall finish. It is applied over lath that allows the stucco coating to go into the openings and adhere well to become stronger. Besides, the wire needs to be galvanized to help protect against rust. The lath is kept away from the house frame that allows the stucco coating to be strongly imbedded.

Generally, there are commercially prepared stucco exterior and interior mixes, but you can make up your own by using three parts sand, one part cement and hydrated lime. Once the three layers have been applied the stucco will have to be kept wet to prevent a too fast dry time. The general rule is that the slower the stucco coating dries the stronger it will become. If the stucco is in a very hot sunny area it should be shaded just to keep it out of the heat. Any commercially prepared stucco that you buy should be applied by the manufacturer’s instructions.

As the stucco is a plaster type material it has to be applied in thin coats. The first coat needs to be forced into the lath and worked well with a trowel so all points of the mesh are embedded within the plaster. On the whole, in order to achieve total thickness of the finish three coats should be applied.

At the same time, before applying stucco, you need to prepare the sheathing and the house walls for that kind of application. The more joints there are in the framing, the more chance there is that the do-it-yourself stucco project will result in cracks. It happens because of the movement of the sills and plates. That’s why make sure the framing is for a stucco exterior. If possible, the backing paper behind the lath should be waterproof. Nails used specifically for stucco mesh should easily go deep into the wood. This keeps the stucco wall attached safely to the house. Use galvanized furring nails, metal furring strips or self-furring lath for proper spacing of the lath away from the house wall. However, as stucco wall finish is very heavy, so make do-it-yourself stucco plans accordingly when framing and building the house.

For the perfect do-it-yourself stucco project watch someone else apply the material before attempting it yourself. If you feel like you can leave stucco the natural cement color or mix in any color you prefer. Sunset colors like yellow or a pink orange are a good choice for stucco exterior and interior. Beige is also popular with house owners. Of course, white is always good for any home.