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Why should I use stucco over other products?

Stucco is the leading all around exterior finish. Stucco is very efficient and gives you the best value, dollar for dollar, that you can apply on your home or commercial building. Just think a sandblast and re-stucco job will cover all the exterior of your home for just a few thousand dollars. While doing so, we can remove all those old window patches, nicks, dings, stains, scratches, holes, discolorations, you name it. We can even change the texture. Stucco is a tried and true finish with a proven long-term and well documented history. Stucco provides countless textures, beauty, durability, and it also has a one hour fire rating. The fire resistance properties of Portland cement stucco must be an obvious choice for your home or commercial building. After all the California wild fires we experienced in the last few years, new building codes are requiring closed in eaves with cement stucco. This is because the week point on many of the houses that caught fire was under the wood eaves and not through the stucco.

Does stucco fade over time?

Cement stucco uses iron oxide pigments to achieve its color. These inorganic minerals give the colors a rich and natural look. Integral colored exterior stucco is a mechanically blended compound of Portland cement, hydrated lime, sand aggregates, and iron oxide pigments. Since the stucco is internally colored, it never needs painting. If you think about it, all stucco is made up of dirt, and dirt never fades. Red bricks and tile roofs also use the same minerals to make their colors. They also have a very low fade factor. Stucco cement products fade approximately 1% to 3% in 20 years. Depending on the color most paint products will fade about 50% in 5 to 8 years. Stucco is very durable when applied correctly, cement stucco is a tough fire resistant material that will not peal and resists fading.

How do I maintain my new stucco job?

Minimal care will keep your stucco looking attractive for many years. With simple maintenance, stucco will last for nearly a life time, just the act of washing with water once every six months will keep the surface clean and colors bright. A few fundamental precautions should be considered to improve the long term performance of your stucco. First, do not allow spray from your lawn and garden sprinkler system to come into contact with your stucco walls. Constant dampness and the spray pattern will deteriorate the stucco system. Second, minerals carried in the water may also be left behind and can discolor the stucco when the water evaporates. Third, your gardener’s weed whip, if your grass grows up to the base of your stucco wall and your gardener weed whips the base of the wall every week, you’ll soon have stucco problems.

Cement Stucco FAQ

As stucco cures, some of the water it contains evaporates. This causes the stucco to shrink slightly. As it shrinks, small cracks called “check cracking” might appear. Applying stucco finishes in hot, dry weather tends to increase check cracking in stucco. Some check cracking in stucco is normal. And is not the fault of the stucco installer.

Usually, spotty or “blotchy” stucco color is a result of variations in the thickness of the cement “basecoat” beneath the stucco finish. Slightly thicker areas can retain moisture longer. This drying pattern can cause the slower-drying areas to appear darker. Color variations can also be caused by patching of windows or other areas that there is a change in the underlying cement. Typically, this happens more during winter months and on shaded surfaces. An application of Fog coat can even out color variations, including those caused by cold or wet weather.

This is probably “efflorescence,” also known as “alkali.” Efflorescence or alkali consists of salts leached from the soil at the base of your walls that are exposed too excessive, saturating moisture. It appears as a whitish powdery “bloom” on the surface of the wall. This efflorescence is not the cause of the stucco installer. It is a condition of your soil. A wash down with white vinegar or another approved dilute acid solution, followed by a thorough flush with clear water will usually remove efflorescence. Taking care to direct sprinklers, irrigation systems or other sources of water away from stucco walls will help prevent it. Lemon Grove Recommends installing a brick or stone Vanier over the efflorescence areas.

This sounds like colonies of mildew. These microscopic organisms are part of the natural life cycle of organic matter, including decay and composting of landscaping plants and mulches. Excessive moisture in flower beds, shrubs, mulch and other organic materials create ideal growing conditions for these organisms Wood shingle and tile roofs also create ideal growing conditions for these organisms. Prevent, or minimize, it by eliminating the excess moisture: be sure irrigation systems are not directed against walls and keep plants trimmed back to allow ample light and air circulation. Remove these discolorations from stucco and roof surfaces with household bleach followed by a thorough flush with clear water.

REMEMBER: Always keep bleaches and other chemicals away from children, and ALWAYS use the proper safety equipment – including eye protection – when working with any hazardous substance!

Most stucco colors darken slightly over time because they contain natural all-mineral ingredients. Unlike painted surfaces that have only a thin layer of paint that can fade, chip and/ or peel, stucco color is “integral.” This means stucco color extends through the entire stucco layer instead of only on the surface. Properly maintained exterior stucco can remain attractive for many years with only minimal changes. However, exposure to dust, dirt and air pollution over time can slightly change its color. An application of Fog coat is the best way to revitalize stucco. Fog coat is made specifically for stucco; therefore, it does not peel, fade or break down like paint. It is also economical to apply.

Although stucco, like other masonry surfaces, can be painted this is neither the best nor the most economical way to change color. Over time, paint tends to fade, chip and peel away from stucco walls. Painted wall will re quire sand blasting for best trade practice. Because Cement fog coat is specifically formulated to be compatible with stucco surfaces and resist peeling and other problems associated with paint, we recommend using Fog Coat for all color change and revitalization projects. When changing stucco color and textures it is recommended that you re stucco the entire house or building. Always contact a reputable stucco contractor like Lemon Grove Stucco @ 619 482 0022

Lemon Grove Stucco keeps job speck records on all our jobs so we can always provide you with the color information. we will be more than happy to assist you. Remember, stucco colors darken slightly as they age. Be sure to consider this when purchasing new stucco to match an existing finish. You might need a slightly darker shade of the same color for older stucco. We recommend conducting a color test to compare the new color with the old before applying stucco to the entire addition. Lemon Grove Stucco recommends re stuccoing the entire wall.

Taking Care of Your Cement Re-Stucco

Stucco is one of the most durable finishes you will find on buildings. It is made from all-natural mineral materials; painting will never be necessary if cared for properly. Over time, stucco benefits from an occasional cleaning to remove airborne dust or other atmospheric matter. Occasionally, a lawn mower or garden tool might chip a corner, or some other minor repair might be needed. The following information will help you to take care of your stucco finish

Like any building material, stucco needs occasional care to keep its appearance fresh and clean. Here are a few simple things you can and should do to keep it looking its best

Be sure to keep irrigation systems directed away from your stucco wall.

Stucco walls are expected to get wet and hold up to our local weather conditions. But stucco walls are expected to dry out after our local rains. Constant wetting of the wall due to sprinklers wetting them every few days will not dry out causing the cement and stucco to detreated. Over time, sprinkler systems could discolor your wall and might cause mildew (a fungus), or efflorescence (a whitish powdery “bloom”) to form. Lemon Grove Stucco recommends that you adjust your sprinkler system so no water hits the walls.

Weed whips and lawn equipment are a very big problem.

You or your Gardner need to take great care not to hit the base of your stucco walls. Hitting the walls every week with lawn equipment is Shure to cause you stucco damage that is not covered by Lemon Grove Stucco’s guarantee or anybody else’s guarantee.

Wash your exterior stucco a few times a year to keep its surface clean and its color bright.

#1. HERE’S HOW: Pre-Wet: Use a garden hose with a jet nozzle to prewet the wall over its entire surface. Pre-wetting will overcome absorption, preventing the stucco finish from absorbing dirty wash water. Set your hose nozzle to a medium to coarse spray. Start at the bottom and wet the surface all the way to the top.

#2. Wash: When the surface has been pre-wet, adjust the hose nozzle to a “pressure stream” and direct the stream of water against the wall to loosen dirt and dust. This time, start at the top and work down to the bottom. “Caked-on” dirt, if present might require loosening with a brush. To avoid eroding some finishes, do NOT hold the nozzle too close to the surface

#3. Use Cleanser if Necessary: Sometimes, a mild cleanser might be needed to remove stains. We recommend a mild solution of trisodium phosphate, also known as “TSP,” available from most paint and/or hardware stores. If you use a different product, be sure it is water-soluble (dissolves completely in water) and is safe for Portland cement, lime and oxide pigment colors. Do NOT use soap or dish washing liquid. Always test the cleaning solution on a small, inconspicuous area first to be sure it is safe for your wall.

#4. Rinse: Flush the wall thoroughly with clean water to remove loosened dirt and cleansers.

#5. If you find mildew: Wash the affected area with a mild solution of household bleach. Always observe proper safety precautions when using any chemical or cleanser. Never allow children access to household chemicals or cleansers.

#6. If you find efflorescence: Spray the affected area with white vinegar. This should neutralize the alkaline efflorescence. After a few minutes – and before the vinegar dries – rinse the area with clean water. Efflorescence is usually caused by Soils Laden with salts. Or a combination of cool weather and excessive moisture including fog and the ambient air temperature.

NEVER Use harsh detergents or cleansers that can damage portland cement, lime or oxide pigment colors.

NEVER Hold the hose nozzle too close to the stucco surface. A forceful, high-pressure jet of water held too close could damage certain stucco finishes.

NEVER Place ladders against the walls.

NEVER Weed whip against the stucco walls.

NEVER Allow standing water at the base of your walls.

RELATED HELPFUL PRODUCTS… Eventually every homeowner has to make a small repair or “spruce up” an aging wall. Here are some specialty products owners of stucco homes might find useful.

To repair chipped corners and small spalls use Exterior Color Coat Patch. The Patch material is available in 30 standard colors. If you do not have a standard color on your home, choose the standard color that is the closest match to your stucco. After the patch has dried, if it does not match use a fog coat in the color that was applied to your home.

To renew older, faded stucco surfaces, or to repair stubborn stains on newer surfaces, use Fog coat. Fog coat is available at all stucco supply companies. If walls show a lot of imperfections like old window patches or old repairs, Old layers of pealing and fading paint. Lemon Grove Stucco recommends re stuccoing your home. Call us at 619-482-0022.