This is a decorative stucco wall, with color embedded.
Stucco is an ancient decorating material. It was used in early Rome and Greece and in ancient Persia.Original stucco was made with lime, but since the 1800s its components have been mainly Portland cement and fine sand. Lime sometimes still is added, as are gypsum and other components. Stucco is closely related to interior plaster and to concrete, which also are based on cement. Exterior stucco is more durable than interior plaster and lighter and easier to use than concrete, which makes it ideal for decoration.
Instructions
1. Start exterior decoration with traditional stucco, using trowels to apply a base or "scratch" coat with ridges to hold additional coats, then a second or "brown" coat put over the base but smoothed over, and a finish coat to provide the final texture and color. The most basic stucco decoration is color; pigment can be added to the finish coat to change stucco from a basic white to yellow, tan, brown, pink or almost any other color. Because the color is implanted in the material it is longer lasting than paint.
2. Add decorative texture to give exterior stucco a different look. Apply the finish coat with ridges, swirls or other touches, in a pattern or random variations. Vary the depth of the finish coat. Use a thin coat for a smooth finish, a thicker one to hold swirls or other forms. Make textures with a trowel, using either a flat or a ridged edge, or with such techniques as brushing the surface with a broom. Make a "popcorn" effect by pulling stucco up with the flat plate or a trowel, then smoothing it slightly with a flat edge.
3. Paint stucco for special effects. While color can be implanted, stucco also takes paint well. Some early Mediterranean and Persian paintings were applied to stucco walls. Create a mural if your house and talent support that, or just use paint to add highlights to stucco. Paint a wall inset a different shade or outline it in a contrasting color, for instance.
4. Mold stucco into interesting shapes. Some Persian stuccos incorporated figures and similar elements, which might look out of place in today's suburbia. But you can cast or shape stucco to make decorative tops for posts or columns. Carve stucco as another decorative option; once dried it can be cut or shaped with a knife, plane or file.
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