Repairing Stucco

Stucco is an excellent choice for your home exterior. Made of Portland cement, lime, sand and water, stucco provides a hard, durable, weather-resistant outer surface to protect your home from the elements. However, over time, stucco exteriors can suffer small chips, fractures, stains and fading and may need repair. You can repair minor cracks on your own or contact us to assist you in repairing major cracks. Watch this video or follow these instructions for repairing your stucco.

1  Chip away the edges of the loose or damaged stucco with a mason’s chisel and hammer. Continue chipping the areas all the way down to the wire mesh. Clean the area with a wire-bristle brush to remove any loose dust and debris. Wipe the entire area with a damp rag to pick up any remaining dust.
2  Cut a new piece of wire mesh if the old mesh is damaged or rusty. Nail the new piece of mesh into the repair area, using galvanized roofing nails. Spray the patch area with water from the spray bottle.
3  Mix a small amount of the stucco mixture according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Do not mix more than you can use in 20 minutes as it will begin dry out and won’t adhere to the wall properly.
4  Color-match older stucco by having a professional mix the stucco for you. Alternatively, take a chip of the old stucco to your local paint supply store and ask a sales representative to match the color and tint a gallon of paint for you. For newer homes, check to see if the color mix for your stucco is still being sold at your local building supply store.
5  Spread a 1/4-inch layer of the mixture into the hole, using a brick trowel. Do not get the mixture on the existing stucco and immediately wipe away any drips. Scrape the patched area with the edge of the trowel in a cross-hatched pattern. Keep the mixture moist while it cures for 24 hours.
6  Mix another small batch of the stucco and apply a second 1/4-inch coat in the same manner. Allow it to cure another 24 hours. Keep the patched area moist during the curing process. In some instances, two coats are enough to fully repair the wall. If not, mix and apply a third coat.
7  Match the finish on the new patch to the finished texture on the existing stucco while the final coat is still wet. Use the trowel to create a smooth surface or blot a damp sponge against the wet mixture to mimic stippling. Use a wadded piece of cloth to achieve a random and gentler stipple pattern. Alternatively, use a broom for matching swept or stippled patterns.