Stucco Repair

Question

I have to repair some stucco damage around the outside of the house due to water coming up behind the stucco. How can I get a good color match and how do I go about getting started?

Answer

Color match is a tough one, even for the pros. Color is dependent on the portland cement used, the color of aggregate and the texture of the finish. Try mixing some samples first to see how they dry to get a feel for it. In some areas, check with your local dealer, they have premixed quantities of stucco in the popular colors. Allow for fading of your color depending on its age.

If the damage is done to the sheeting, repair that, of course and apply any missing tar paper, a special vapour permeable, water resistant paper. There is stucco lath applied to the sheeting, over the paper, with furring nails or self furring lath with dimples. This keeps the lath about 1/4" away from the surface to allow the first coat—the scratch coat—good penetration and coverage of the metal lath protecting it from corrosion. This lath also acts as a reinforcment. The scratch coat is applied about 3/8" thick and left evenly sratched providing a good mechanical key for the next coat.

After 48 hours, the second coat or the brown coat which again is 3/8" thick is applied to a dampened scratch coat and is left with a rough surface for the final or finish coat which is colored and textured at least 1/8" thick. The three layers give a total of 7/8" minimum thickness. Each coat should be kept moist for at least 48 hours with a gentle fog mist sprayed on them, not soaked just damp, not allowing the coat to dry out. The brown coat should be left to cure for 7 days before the finish coat is applied. Dampen the brown coat before applying the finish.

Dave