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Stucco FAQ Can I paint stucco to get the color I want? Stucco can be painted. Portland cement-based paints are very compatible with stucco because they are made of the same material. These paints should be scrubbed into the surface and fully cured. Alternatively, you could consider a colored stucco finish. These finish coats are often made with white cement and pigments, providing the widest range of colors. Premixed materials are color matched from batch to batch and are most consistent. Additionally, the fact that you are placing a finish coat with a nominal thickness of 1/8 in. instead of a paint layer usually gives more assurance of complete coverage. It is possible to paint with other types of paint, though these are usually not as long lasting as cement-based paint. Acrylic paints are long lasting and durable but change the permeability of the stucco (make it non-breathable) which in some climates may have adverse effects on the long-term performance of the system. What is a fog coat? A fog coat is a light application of a cement-based slurry, the same proportions of cement, lime (if any), and water as used in the original application minus the sand, used to even out a surfaces appearance. It is typically sprayed or rolled onto the surface, similar to painting with a cement-based paint. Fog coating improves the look of stucco without changing its ability to transmit moisture vapor. Where can I buy stucco? You dont really buy stucco so much as you buy the materials to mix stucco onsite or hire a contractor to do the work. You can purchase materials to make stucco throughout the country at material supply houses and home improvement centers. There are a variety of acceptable mixture proportions for stucco, and the proportions of each successive coat vary. The individual materials may include Portland, masonry, or plastic cement, lime or other plasticizers, sand, and water. The following documents contain tables of mixture proportioning recommendations: What is the proper spacing for contraction/expansion joints in Portland cement plaster/stucco applications? The proper use of contraction joints in stucco systems will depend on a number of variables, including: the type of construction materials to which the stucco will be applied; the orientation of the construction—vertical (walls) or horizontal (ceilings); and whether the surface is curved or angular. Stucco may be direct-applied to concrete or masonry substrates; however, if these materials are used together, as in the case of a concrete framework of beams and columns with masonry block infill, a joint may be required at the transition of one material to another. Stucco that is direct-applied to concrete or masonry requires contraction joints only where there is a change in material or where there are joints in the concrete or masonry structure. Metal lath may be used over concrete or masonry construction and should be used in sheathed frame and open frame construction. When stucco is applied to any construction using metal lath, joint spacing recommendations should be implemented. The recommendations found in the Portland Cement Plaster/Stucco Manual, EB049, are based on ASTM C1063, Standard Specification for the Installation of Lathing and Furring to Receive Interior and Exterior Portland-Cement Based Plaster. Applications that use metal lath require three layers of plaster: scratch, brown, and finish coats. The joint spacing should meet the following criteria:
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