STUCCO
The outermost layer of a house is what we know as siding or cladding. There are many types of house siding, including fiber-cement panels, vinyl siding and custom home sidings. But another form of siding, used on houses for centuries, is called stucco. Once a definitive feature of Spanish and Mediterranean architecture, stucco is now used in houses across the country. Stucco’s farfetched resilience and refined application techniques make it an ideal siding for homes in different climates and styles.
WHAT IS STUCCO?
Stucco is a cement-type mixture made of Portland cement, lime, sand and water. It is a thin finish coat that goes on the outermost layer of residential and commercial constructions. Modern stucco has polymers and other agents for increased flexibility that improves its resilience. Stucco is very durable.
There are three types of stucco systems to choose from:
- 1-coat system:
Use a blend of Portland cement, sand, fibers, chemicals and water. This method only requires a single application and is typically applied over the rigid foam board and lath to provide durable siding.
- 2-coat system:
Use a traditional stucco mix, but it’s used for concrete, brick and block walls. Instead of using a metal lathe, a bonding adhesive is used on the wall before two coats of stucco are applied.
- 3-coat system:
Use a mixture of cement, sand, fiberglass, acrylic additives and water. This method uses three different layers, starting with an asphalt- infused paper, a layer of furred chicken wire and a base layer of stucco. Finally, a finish coat is added to create texture and choose the color.
BEFORE AND AFTER
