Since 1989, Sterling Custom Homes has been building fabulous Austin luxury homes. Many of the homes we build have at least a portion of the exterior finished with stucco. Today’s discussion will familiarize you with the process we use to apply the stucco to your home and the recommended maintenance required to insure that the product is performing properly over time.
It’s important to understand how your stucco has been installed. There are many application processes, some of them involve shortcuts that result in an inferior finished product. At Sterling Custom Homes we perform this multi-step stucco application process that provides the most durable, attractive stucco finish available.
Step 1 is the installation of the building tape and wire mesh/corner metal to the exterior surface of the home. The wire mesh/corner metal is the surface that the stucco will adhere to when applied.
Step 2 is the scratch coat of stucco. Remember, stucco is a cement product so it is applied wet.
Step 3 is the application of the brown coat and finish coat of stucco. The finish coat will be more decorative and will be applied according to the desired finish specified by our client.
The final step, step 4, is the application of an elastomeric paint. This important step is not only cosmetic, it prevents water from penetrating the stucco where moisture could be trapped causing damage. The elastomeric paint has qualities designed to bridge the hairline cracks that naturally occur as the stucco cures.
Maintaining your exterior stucco surfaces over time is important to prevent the damage that can be caused by water penetration. We recommend that you visually inspect your stucco surfaces annually, taking special notice of areas that have the most exposure to the summer sun. West and Northwest facing exterior surfaces will fade more quickly and lose their protective properties sooner than areas with less sun exposure. Depending on conditions, your exterior stucco may need to be repainted with an elastomeric paint every 4-6 years.