How to Stucco

How to Stucco

Stucco, Stucco Repair and Stucco Patching. Easy, Step-by-Step Guide for Do-It-Yourself Stucco Projects.

Below is a list of items you may need to make your project to go smoothly. The items listed below are the items needed for the project being demonstrated.

Tools:

1. 13 x 5 Plaster Trowel

2. Hawk for your Mud

3. Green Float

4. Stucco Dash Brush

5. Razor Knife

6. Rapid Stapler with ¼ inch staples

7. Tape Measurer

8. Hammer

9. Wire Cutters

10. Wheel Barrel

11. Shovel

12. Hoe

13. Bucket

14. Red Float

Materials:

1. Roll of Black Stucco Paper

2. White 1 inch thick foam Board (2x8 or 4x8 ft sheets)

3. Stucco Wire

4. 1 ¾ inch nails

5. Red Duct Tape

6. Ultra Kote “Premix” Brown Coat

7. Exterior Color Coat such as Lahabra

8. 3” mesh tape

Step 1- Applying Black Paper

Begin by securely stapling your black paper onto the framed studs to cover the area being repaired. Starting at the bottom and working you way up, you will want to overlap your black paper a couple inches. Use a razor knife to cut and trim the black paper to fit the area so that no bare wood is showing. You want the paper to fit the inside area and not overlapping the existing stucco.

Step 2- Adding Foam Board

Use a razor knife to cut the foam board to fit into the area being repaired, starting your first piece from the bottom and working your way up. The foam board has a tongue and grove on it that fits together like a puzzle. Slide together before nailing you second foam piece to the wall. Use 1¾” nails to secure board onto the wall studs. Use 3” mesh tape to cover all foam joints.

Step 3- Adding Stucco Wire

Use a tape measurer to measure the length of your stucco wire. Then use wire cutters to cut the wire. Using 1¾”nails secure the stucco wire approximately 6” inches apart into all studs. Once again start you first piece across the bottom of the area being patched and work your way up. Continue adding stucco wire until the area is covered. Overlap the stucco wire approximately 2” for each piece added. Use wire cutters to trim the wire around edges, keeping the wire snug on the inside of the area being patched, without it overlapping the existing stucco.

Step 4- Prep Your Area for Your Brown Coat

Roll out black paper underneath the area you will be working. Secure the black paper with red duct tape. This will help protect the area where you are working from falling mud. Be sure to scrape off any lose stucco or adhesive around are area being patched before you begin mixing your mud. Then fill a bucket of water and place your green float in it.

Step 5- Preparing for Brown Coat

Pour a bag (or depending on the size of area you will be covering) of “Ultra Kote Premix” into your wheel barrel. Follow mixing instructions on bag. You want your mud to be wet but not soupy. Use a hoe or shovel for mixing. A hoe is easier and makes less of a mess.

Step 6- Spreading Your Brown Coat

Take your mud, trowel, hawk and bucket of water with green float to you working area to begin spreading your brown coat. When spreading the mud, it is easier to begin spreading around the edges first. Then pull your mud in an upward r-shaped motion. Be sure your coat fully covers the wire. You want to be sure your brown coat matches the thickness of the old stucco. (In this particular stucco patch, a second brown coat had to be added because the patch was so thick.) Follow next “Step 7” if you need to add a second coat, and “Step 8” for second coat application. (Skip to step 9 if only one coat is needed.)

NOTE: Because of the thickness of the area being patched was to thick to cover with one coat of brown, a second coat needed to be added. (If your brown coat is applied to thick, it will begin to sag and fall of the wall.) To prevent this from happening a second coat needs to be added.

Step 7- Use a Dash Brush ( Only If A Second Coat Will Be Added)

Use a dash brush to lightly go over the wet brown coat. Go right to left, instead of up and down. After drying a few hours this wall will be ready for a second coat. Remove black paper from area and immediately clean up any splashed mud on concrete or other areas that may stain. A hose works great.

Step 8- Adding a Second Coat

Prep your area again with black paper. If your wall is dry, use a hose to wet your wall so your second coat does take off to quick, making it hard to smooth out and float. Mix your mud and begin spreading your second coat. Again, you want to be sure the thickness matches the thickness of your old stucco.

Step 9- Smoothing Out Your Brown Coat

Use your green float and a bucket of water for finishing the brown coat. Hold you green float in a downward vertical position to drain the excess water. Begin rubbing your newly browned area in a circular motion to create a flat smooth surface. Be sure to smooth all edges out against old stucco. Continue to wet your float every couple minutes for best results. You want to be sure you smooth the surface out before it gets to hard to work with. Clean up your area once again when you are finished. Let the surface dry at least 24 hours

Step 10- Color Coat

Once again, prep the area where you will be working, with black paper and red duct tape. Then use a hose to wet brown coat. Begin to mix your exterior color coat as directed, in your wheel barrel. This time use your red float for spreading. Spread a thin even coat to make it look like a sandy, but smooth surface. Rub out any noticeable lines or defects and make sure all edges are rubbed into the existing stucco. Let the surface dry until you can touch it, and the color does not come off on your hand. But do not let it get to dry. Usually about 5 to 10 minutes.

Step 11- Final Color Coat

Add a small amount of color coat to the edge of your trowel. At an angle begin lightly skipping (skip trowel) your color onto the flat color coat surface, to give it the same look as the existing stucco texture. You may need to practice a couple times to match the existing stucco. If so, you can scrape the area back off, and use your red float to smooth the surface back out. Depending on the texture you may have to knock down the texture, meaning rubbing lightly with your trowel flat. Once you have created the look you want, you can let it dry and do your final clean up.

NOTE: A white color coat was used for this project because the house was being painted. You will want to use stucco samples to match your existing stucco color. If you are patching over existing painted stucco, you want to use a bonder to help your color coat stick.