The same can be said for homes. Believe it or not, it actually used to be popular to put stucco on your indoor walls. You didn't want to be running through the halls as a kid and clip a close corner, or you'd be leaving a strip of flesh behind! Thankfully though, that fad came and left. But stucco hasn't left, and because of it's durability it actually became popular to use on exterior walls, and is still very much prefered today.
But how do you care for this stuff? It's always cracking, chipping, and flaking away! To better understand how to care for it, you must first understand what it consists of.
The Wire
Before you can apply your stucco, you need something for the stucco to adhere to this is made up of a few components: 1)the house-wrap, which serves as a moisture barrier; 2)Weep Screeds and Casing Beads, designed to direct water away from the wall openings and base of wall; 3)Building paper, gives the initial coat something to adhere to; 4) Metal Lath, acts as reinforcement for the initial coat; 5)While not common, control joints may also be used.
The Scratch Coat
The first coat of stucco is the scratch coat. This coat is simply a mixture of cement, sand and water, and is really the meat of the stucco layers. The wire layer is made to hold this layer up. The scratch coat is called the scratch coat because of how it is applied. This coat of stucco is applied thick enough to protrude through and hide the Wire layer, but before it sets, the surface is "scratched" with a grooved tool (it looks like a drywall knife that has been passed through a shredder) that creates horizontal slots on the scratch coat. This gives the next coat something to adhere to. After about 10-12 hours, depending on the climate, the surface must be gently sprayed with water to clean and clear the coat for the next layer, the water that stays behind actually helps to bong the two layers together.
The Brown Coat
After the scratch coat has been hydrated, the brown coat is applied directly to the scratch coat. The brown coat is also made of a sand, cement and water mixture, but more sand is added to create a weaker layer. The brown coat is actually the part of the stucco that gives it its shape. Any architectural patterns or textures are added during this coat, however not before the layer has been screeded. Screeding is done to ensure that the entire surface is level, and to maintain a proper thickness of the coat. The brown coat is hydrated just as the scratch coat, before the finish coat is added.
The Finish Coat
The finish coat is the layer that we all see, and also is made up of a mixture of sand, cement and water. Depending on the application, colorant may also be added to the stucco (and in my opinion, looks way better than painting the stucco). The finish coat is applied directly to the brown coat, this is the layer that has all the curb appeal! This layer is also the thinnest layer, at about 1/16"-1/8" This layer is also hydrated like the other layers.
Because it is made of cement, stucco does not flex with the typical movement of the home. Therefore cracks begin to develop. Properly sealed, these cracks are only cosmetic in nature and do not affect the habitability of the home. However, if left unkept, the cracks will grow, allowing moisture, pests and debris into the wall, causing dry rot, mildew, and even mold.
Proper Care
Through the years stucco will crack and get dirty. I recommend hosing down your home at least once a year, just to keep buildup from developing on the stucco.
Maintenance
As your stucco ages, you will notice hairline cracks around the corners of doors and windows, and along the large open areas. How do you deal with the cracks? Anything under 1/8" is generally normal and within tolerance. If you are unsure whether or not a crack is more than normal, or are concerned that it may be a structural issue, schedule an inspection as soon as possible.
- To repair cracks or chips, if your stucco is colored and not painted, I recommend buying a stucco patch kit at your local hardware store, as using stucco patch is less noticeable along the wall in most situations. This will require a steady hand and some practice, but remember, if you mess up, it's just sand and cement, you can rinse it off and start over if you need to. Whether or not you notice the patch will depend on how well you can match the original pattern. If it doesn't look perfect, don't feel bad, it requires a lot of practice and skill.
- If your stucco is painted, I recommend using caulk to repair cracks, and patching (above) to repair chips, but be sure that the caulk is not silicone based, as it will attract dirt like a magnet. The best way to apply caulk in my opinion is with your finger. Be sure to use a wet finger (keep a water source nearby), and just guide the caulk into the crack, removing any excess caulk. You can use an applicator if you don't want to get your hands messy, but I think it is worth getting your hands messy to achieve better results. The object is not to use a lot of caulk, just enough to fill the crack. Once the caulk has cured, you can paint the surface, If you did it right, you should not even notice the crack from 3 feet away.
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