Stucco finishes are durable and beautiful.
Portland cement stucco (also called Portland cement plaster) is a versatile finish material for both indoor and outdoor applications in wet, dry, cold and hot climates. It is durable, low-cost and requires little maintenance, as well as being fire-resistant. Because it is breathable and does not trap moisture, it is rot- and fungus-resistant. Portland cement stucco can be installed on curved or straight walls by hand or by machine. The finish coat can be colored and textured in patterns.
Instructions
1. Clean the surface to which you will apply the stucco thoroughly to remove any loose material, dirt, oil or grease that could affect how the stucco adheres. Mix one-half cup trisodium phosphate into two gallons of hot water. Put on protective gloves. Scrub the surface of the concrete block with a sponge dipped into the solution. Allow the concrete to dry. Regular concrete block and brick will accept the stucco with no further preparation. If your concrete wall is smooth, you will need to first install metal lathe to the concrete so the stucco will have something to hold on to.
2. Mix a batch of Portland cement stucco by combining one part Portland cement and three-to-four parts plaster (not masonry) sand by volume. Put on safety goggles, as well as protective gloves. Pour water into a small cement mixer and add part of the sand. Add the Portland cement. Add more water and then the balance of the sand. Keep adding water a little at a time until you have a workable mixture. Beware of adding too much water, which would weaken the plaster. Mix the stucco in the mixer for four-to-five minutes. This formula works for the base coat of stucco. For the second coat, you can use up to five parts sand to one part Portland cement. Put the mixture into a wheelbarrow and take it to the job site.
3. Apply the base coat of stucco by lifting a trowel half full of stucco to the wall and spreading it with a sweeping motion onto the wall. Press the mixture into the wall so it bonds to the surface. For the base, or scratch, coat, the stucco should be one-half inch thick. Allow the stucco to dry.
4. Mix a batch of brown stucco (the second coat, which can consist of five parts sand to one part Portland cement by volume). Apply the brown coat the same way you applied the scratch coat, but up the thickness of the stucco to three-quarters of an inch. Allow the stucco to dry.
5. Mix a batch of manufactured stucco available at home improvement stores for the finish coat. Mix it in a wheelbarrow with a hoe. This is the time to add any coloring agent. Trowel the stucco mix onto the wall in a layer one-eighth-to-one-fourth inch thick. Allow the stucco to harden a little, then use a trowel, broom or texturing tool to apply texture to the stucco.
6. Allow the stucco to cure for several days, dampening it with water from a garden hose during a cooler time of day.
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