9 steps to professional-looking stucco repair
May 12, 2011
Stucco is a cement or lime-based plaster that can protect your
home for 100 years or more. But, when you spot the first signs of
cracking, blistering, or buckling, immediate repair is the only way
to ensure your small stucco problem doesn't turn into a much bigger
one.
Step-by-step stucco repair
Ready to repair the stucco damage? Here's
how:
- Hammer away the old stucco: Start where the
stucco is buckling or cracked, and work your way up. Use a hammer
and chisel to remove the old stucco, down to the wood lath. Remove
any metal mesh with snips.
- Cover the lath: Using builder's paper and
roofing nails, cover the lath completely. Use a second layer of
paper over the first, and make sure it's as even as you can make
it.
- Cover the paper: Cover the area with
galvanized metal lath. Trim it with snips to fit tightly against
the area being repaired. Use more roofing nails to hold the metal
lath to the paper and wood lath.
- Mix the stucco: Mix the stucco according to
manufacturer's directions. Keep in mind, the stucco can contain
acids that burn your skin, so always wear gloves. Work quickly, as
the stucco begins to dry and harden in as little as 30
minutes.
- Cover it: Wet the edges of the stucco where it
meets the section you're repairing. Using a brick trowel, pick up
wet stucco and toss it gently against the wire lath until the
entire area is covered. Smooth it down, and pack it until the lath
is covered and the new stucco is about 1/2 inch lower than the
existing stucco.
- Score it: Wait until the stucco has lost the
wet sheen. Then, score it with the tip of a trowel. This helps the
additional layers adhere better. Cover the section with a plastic
sheet to keep it from drying out. Give the stucco about a week to
cure.
- Add another layer: Mix up more stucco, remove
the plastic, and mist the existing stucco with water. Build up the
layer to just below the level of the original stucco. Smooth it out
when the wet sheen dies away, and cover it with plastic.
- The final layer: After three days, go through
the entire process again. This is your top layer, so take care to
make it look exactly like the older stucco on either side of
it.
- Paint the stucco: After one more week of
curing, use appropriate stucco paints to make the patch virtually
invisible.
Good stucco repair takes time,
but if done correctly, your work can last a lifetime.
About the Author:
Shannon Dauphin is a journalist and occasional novelist with a
serious weakness for real estate. Her current home was built in
1901, so home repair and renovation have become her necessary
hobbies.
Latest Articles
-
Create a stunning focal point in your bathroom with one of these vanity options....
-
Remodeling Ideas at ReliableRemodeler.com is your online magazine, resource, and guide for home improvement, design, decorating, landscaping, painting, and renovation projects....
-
If you have a pond in your yard, special preparation is needed before freezing winter weather sets in. These tips should keep your pond looking good come spring....
-
One way you to avoid high heating bills is to keep the cold air out in the first place. Here are 6 ways to plug up the drafts....
-
Air flow is a key ingredient in cooling your house. Here are 5 basic points about home ventilation you should know....
-
Want your tootsies to stay toasty when they hit the floor? How about installing radiant floor heat?...
Check out some of these popular projects in your neighborhood: