Stucco is a like a thin layer of concrete. It typically contains reinforcement when it’s placed over framed construction, but may be direct-applied to solid substrates like concrete or concrete masonry.

What is a stucco cement?

Stucco is a cement-type mixture made of Portland cement, lime, sand and water. It is a thin finish coat that goes on the outermost layer of residential and commercial constructions.

Whats the difference between concrete and stucco?

Concrete is made of cement, water and sand. Stucco is made of these ingredients as well, plus lime. One big difference between these two home exteriors is that when dry, stucco is breathable — it has tiny pores that allow water to evaporate from behind it so that moisture doesn’t build up and cause rot.

Can I use concrete for stucco?

A stucco wall must be supported by some load-bearing material, such as wood or concrete. Stucco can be applied directly to any masonry-based wall, such as brick, concrete or cinder block.

Is stucco concrete waterproof?

Since stucco is a masonry product, it is often believed to be waterproof already. However, this isn’t totally true — stucco is indeed permeable and will let some water through.

Is stucco exterior expensive?

When it comes to cost, stucco siding is among the most expensive siding options. Stucco costs between $6 and $9 per square foot. Still, because of it’s longevity, durability, and energy efficiency, many find that stucco pays for itself over time.

What’s the difference between concrete and cement?

Although the terms cement and concrete often are used interchangeably, cement is actually an ingredient of concrete. Concrete is a mixture of aggregates and paste. The aggregates are sand and gravel or crushed stone; the paste is water and portland cement.

Which is stronger concrete or stucco?

Stucco will typically be used in vertical applications, such as for walls and borders. Concrete, on the other hand, is much tougher and heavier, and will typically be used to fill in cracks or act as a horizontal support.

How long does stucco last?

Stucco is a very durable finish material with a typical life span of 50-80 years or more. Although it is one of the most durable surfaces available, it also features the lowest annual maintenance cost when compared to other siding materials.

Can you apply stucco over stucco?

Stucco can be used on almost any type of surface to create a textured look, and is often used to cover unattractive or damaged walls. This material can even be applied over existing stucco to create a different texture or fresh look.

Can rain go through stucco?

During heavy wind driven rain the water will absorb through the stucco layers quickly and you will notice after rain storms that the weather sides of the house will take hours and sometimes even days to completely dry out (see picture of south exposure after rain).

Does stucco need sealing?

Stucco can and should be sealed properly to prevent moisture intrusion. If new, stucco can be sealed with a clear concrete/ masonry sealer, which will penetrate into the stucco and stop moisture entrance.

Can stucco be waterproofed?

Stucco itself is fairly waterproof on its own, but stucco walls and openings in those walls need to be correctly installed in order to achieve true waterproofing.

Can water get through stucco?

Despite what many people think about stucco walls, stucco walls are not water-resistant. As a matter of fact water actually absorbs into the stucco. In most cases, the problem with water leaking through stucco is that the building envelope has been breached.

What goes behind stucco walls?

Sheathing is basically the “backing material” that can be found underneath the various layers of stucco that form the backing of residential and commercial buildings. They can be made out of wood, cement, gypsum, fiberglass and other materials.

Will painting stucco make it waterproof?

In conclusion, when elastomeric-modified paints are used, painted stucco develops excellent weather resistance properties, which make it impervious to the elements.

Can you paint over mildew on stucco?

If you paint your stucco, at some point the paint WILL peel. No matter if you use the stain or paint, you absolutely must get rid of the black stains before applying either product. You don’t want to trap mold, mildew or algae behind either stain or paint.

Do you have to seal stucco before painting?

When Was The Stucco Applied: If the stucco is new, then you will want to wait at least 60 days before painting it, to allow it to fully cure and harden up before you seal the stucco with any kind of paint.