If you want your home to have a beautiful, textured, and unique exterior, you need to consider the benefits stucco has to offer you. If your home is already covered with high-quality stucco, you’ll know just how wonderful the material looks. To ensure your stucco investment lasts for decades to come, however, you need to have a solid understanding of how to repair your stucco when it’s damaged. To assist you, here are seven professionally-inspired tips for repairing your home’s stucco:
1. Check for Damages
Before you take on the repairs and maintenance steps, you need to do a thorough check for any and all damages to your home’s existing stucco. Whether it be cracks, holes, water damage, or something else, you need to write down and document the damages you’re dealing with. For cracks and holes, you can easily repair them alongside the repairs you were already planning on. However, water damage and more complex issues will require a professional stucco remediation specialist’s touch to fix effectively.
2. Remove All Loose Stucco
Now that you’ve got a solid grasp over the damages that need to be repaired, it’s time to get down and dirty. First, you need to remove all loose stucco that you see on your wall. Chipping away at the edges, and getting smooth chunks of stucco in place for you to make your repairs around is critical. Cold chisels and hammers are perfect for getting this step done. However, as you remove and chip away at loose stucco, be extra careful to avoid damaging the underlying surface and structure of your stucco.
3. Use Building Paper and Mesh
Before you can get into the mixing and application processes, you’ll need to provide a new structure for the stucco you’ll be applying. Use grade-D building paper and metal mesh to ensure you’re ready for the mixing ahead of you. You should cut the paper and mesh to fit the exact area that needs to be patched. Be sure to have the paper and mesh touching the edges of the in-shape stucco for the best outcome. Using staples and roofing nails to secure the paper and mesh in place is highly recommended.
4. Mix Your Stucco the Right Way
Handling the mixing process for your stucco properly is perhaps one of the most important steps on this list. You’ll need to follow the instructions the manufacturer of your stucco product has provided exactly if you want a solid outcome. You should mix in a shaded area if possible for the best result. Once your stucco is mixed, you should start applying it immediately. Typically, you will have only a forty-five-minute window to apply the stucco you’ve mixed before it begins to become unusable (so be vigilant)!
5. Be Careful When Applying the Scratch Coat
Once you’ve handled the mixing it’s time to apply your scratch coat. Be patient with yourself during this step, as it’s the hardest one on the list. You’ll need to spray the edges of your application path with water (lightly), as this will help the new and old stucco bond effectively. Then, you should be applying fist-sized stucco patches to the metal lath. If the stucco sticks without any extra pressure, that means you’ve done a stellar job mixing the stucco. Repeat this process for the entire application area, and then wait two hours for the scratch coat to cure. Then, make some small scratches on the surface of the coat to ensure it settles correctly.
6. Perfecting the Final Coat
Typically, the mixture for the final coat of stucco will differ from the scratch coat’s material. You may add custom colors, or other materials to the mix during this step. However, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the final coat’s mix exactly. Once you’ve applied the final coat, you’ll have a beautifully repaired layer of stucco on your home’s exterior.
7. Planning for the Future
After you’ve completed your repairs, you should educate yourself further about stucco. Knowing the warning signs of damage, how to make quick repairs, and what jobs professionals need to handle, will give you the ability to care for your home’s stucco for decades to come, after all.
Feel Like a Pro with Your Stucco Repairs
By implementing these seven professionally-inspired repair tips, you can handle your stucco repairs like a pro. Just make sure you never overestimate your ability to handle more complex stucco repairs. If you mess up on any complex repairs, you may end up costing yourself a lot more money and frustration than if you’d hired a pro right now.