What Are My Options And Relative Costs To Improve The Appearance Of My Stucco?
- Power Washing:When the existing stucco and its related components are structurally stable and without substantial deterioration, a simple power washing can remove much of the accumulated dirt and organics. This is an inexpensive and quick fix for minor cosmetic issues. Cost ¢¢
- Fog Coat:When the existing stucco and its related components are structurally stable and without substantial deterioration, but the color has become blotched and faded, a power wash and “Fog Coat” can be applied to greatly improve the look. Fog Coat is a dilute mixture of actual stucco color coat – just like that used for final finish coat on conventional stucco projects. Fogging the surface improves the blotchiness and returns the richness of the original color to the structure. Fog coat can only be used on projects in which the original stucco finish coat was conventional integral color – not acrylic finish, and never painted. Cost $
- Restucco Without Sandblast:If, and only if, the existing stucco is structurally stable, has never been painted, and has a texture that will promote a good bond, the structure can be restuccoed by using a commercial bonding agent after a thorough power washing. The bond will never be as robust as the bond to a sandblasted surface, but this strategy can achieve an acceptable result when economics play a role in the decision process. Cost $$
- Sandblast And Restucco:Sandblasting before restucco is ideal because it prepares the surface for a perfect bond with the new stucco. The sandblasting insures the stability of the surface beneath the new stucco, and guarantees the optimum life of the finished product. Cost $$$
- Sandblast Mesh And Restucco:When a restucco project is going to be a smooth finish and the customer wants to minimize cracking potential, the restucco can be done with the application of fiberglass mesh embedded in the base coat that is applied prior to finish coat. This is the optimum strategy to reduce cracking. This process adds cost to the overall system, but will absolutely improve the resistance to cracking. Cost $$$½
- Restucco with Acrylic Based Finish Coat:New technologies in the industry have resulted in new acrylic based finish coat materials that can improve the performance of the stucco system. The material is highly resistant to water penetration and in-fact can be considered an additional moisture barrier of the system. Additionally the material will bridge cracks in the subsurface and flex rather than crack when exposed to minor structure movement. Also, the colors for acrylic finishes are unlimited and can be matched to virtually any color, though as always with stucco, darker colors tend to be a bit more problematic. Acrylic finishes have sometimes been described as “bullet-proof” because of long life that can be expected from these state-of-the-art products. Cost $$$½
- Complete Demolition Of Stucco And Lath:When the condition of the existing stucco is so poor that the metal lath and accessories along with the old building paper is completely deteriorated, there may be no choice but to completely remove the stucco along with the lath and old building paper. Following that removal, an entirely new stucco project including building paper, lath and stucco must take place. This is an expensive process that is required only when it is determined that there is no other choice. Cost $$$$
- Other Considerations:
- Paint:Paint can improve the look of old stucco, but we do not recommend painting of stucco. If stucco is painted once, it will have to be repainted again any time the paint begins to fail and thus can create an ongoing maintenance problem that can only be reversed by sandblasting. We prefer keeping the existing conventional color coat looking good by power washing and fog coating.
What Are My Options, And Relative Costs To Improve The Appearance Of My Stucco?
- Power Washing: When the existing stucco and its related components are structurally stable and without substantial deterioration, a simple power washing can remove much of the accumulated dirt and organics. This is an inexpensive and quick fix for minor cosmetic issues. Cost ¢¢
- Fog Coat: When the existing stucco and its related components are structurally stable and without substantial deterioration, but the color has become blotched and faded, a power wash and “Fog Coat” can be applied to greatly improve the look. Fog Coat is a dilute mixture of actual stucco color coat – just like that used for final finish coat on conventional stucco projects. Fogging the surface improves the blotchiness and returns the richness of the original color to the structure. Fog coat can only be used on projects in which the original stucco finish coat was conventional integral color – not acrylic finish, and never painted. Cost $
- Restucco Without Sandblast: If, and only if, the existing stucco is structurally stable, has never been painted, and has a texture that will promote a good bond, the structure can be restuccoed by using a commercial bonding agent after a thorough power washing. The bond will never be as robust as the bond to a sandblasted surface, but this strategy can achieve an acceptable result when economics play a role in the decision process. Cost $$
- Sandblast And Restucco: Sandblasting before restucco is ideal because it prepares the surface for a perfect bond with the new stucco. The sandblasting insures the stability of the surface beneath the new stucco, and guarantees the optimum life of the finished product. Cost $$$
- Sandblast Mesh And Restucco: When a restucco project is going to be a smooth finish and the customer wants to minimize cracking potential, the restucco can be done with the application of fiberglass mesh embedded in the base coat that is applied prior to finish coat. This is the optimum strategy to reduce cracking. This process adds cost to the overall system, but will absolutely improve the resistance to cracking. Cost $$$½
- Restucco with Acrylic Based Finish Coat: New technologies in the industry have resulted in new acrylic based finish coat materials that can improve the performance of the stucco system. The material is highly resistant to water penetration and in-fact can be considered an additional moisture barrier of the system. Additionally the material will bridge cracks in the subsurface and flex rather than crack when exposed to minor structure movement. Also, the colors for acrylic finishes are unlimited and can be matched to virtually any color, though as always with stucco, darker colors tend to be a bit more problematic. Acrylic finishes have sometimes been described as “bullet-proof” because of long life that can be expected from these state-of-the-art products. Cost $$$½
- Complete Demolition Of Stucco And Lath: When the condition of the existing stucco is so poor that the metal lath and accessories along with the old building paper is completely deteriorated, there may be no choice but to completely remove the stucco along with the lath and old building paper. Following that removal, an entirely new stucco project including building paper, lath and stucco must take place. This is an expensive process that is required only when it is determined that there is no other choice. Cost $$$$
- Other Considerations:
- Paint: Paint can
What Are My Options, And Relative Costs To Improve The Appearance Of My Stucco?
- Power Washing: When the existing stucco and its related components are structurally stable and without substantial deterioration, a simple power washing can remove much of the accumulated dirt and organics. This is an inexpensive and quick fix for minor cosmetic issues. Cost ¢¢
- Fog Coat: When the existing stucco and its related components are structurally stable and without substantial deterioration, but the color has become blotched and faded, a power wash and “Fog Coat” can be applied to greatly improve the look. Fog Coat is a dilute mixture of actual stucco color coat – just like that used for final finish coat on conventional stucco projects. Fogging the surface improves the blotchiness and returns the richness of the original color to the structure. Fog coat can only be used on projects in which the original stucco finish coat was conventional integral color – not acrylic finish, and never painted. Cost $
- Restucco Without Sandblast: If, and only if, the existing stucco is structurally stable, has never been painted, and has a texture that will promote a good bond, the structure can be restuccoed by using a commercial bonding agent after a thorough power washing. The bond will never be as robust as the bond to a sandblasted surface, but this strategy can achieve an acceptable result when economics play a role in the decision process. Cost $$
- Sandblast And Restucco: Sandblasting before restucco is ideal because it prepares the surface for a perfect bond with the new stucco. The sandblasting insures the stability of the surface beneath the new stucco, and guarantees the optimum life of the finished product. Cost $$$
- Sandblast Mesh And Restucco: When a restucco project is going to be a smooth finish and the customer wants to minimize cracking potential, the restucco can be done with the application of fiberglass mesh embedded in the base coat that is applied prior to finish coat. This is the optimum strategy to reduce cracking. This process adds cost to the overall system, but will absolutely improve the resistance to cracking. Cost $$$½
- Restucco with Acrylic Based Finish Coat: New technologies in the industry have resulted in new acrylic based finish coat materials that can improve the performance of the stucco system. The material is highly resistant to water penetration and in-fact can be considered an additional moisture barrier of the system. Additionally the material will bridge cracks in the subsurface and flex rather than crack when exposed to minor structure movement. Also, the colors for acrylic finishes are unlimited and can be matched to virtually any color, though as always with stucco, darker colors tend to be a bit more problematic. Acrylic finishes have sometimes been described as “bullet-proof” because of long life that can be expected from these state-of-the-art products. Cost $$$½
- Complete Demolition Of Stucco And Lath: When the condition of the existing stucco is so poor that the metal lath and accessories along with the old building paper is completely deteriorated, there may be no choice but to completely remove the stucco along with the lath and old building paper. Following that removal, an entirely new stucco project including building paper, lath and stucco must take place. This is an expensive process that is required only when it is determined that there is no other choice. Cost $$$$
- Other Considerations:
- Paint: Paint can improve the look of old stucco, but we do not recommend painting of stucco. If stucco is painted once, it will have to be repainted again any time the paint begins to fail and thus can create an ongoing maintenance problem that can only be reversed by sandblasting. We prefer keeping the existing conventional color coat looking good by power washing and fog coating.
- improve the look of old stucco, but we do not recommend painting of stucco. If stucco is painted once, it will have to be repainted again any time the paint begins to fail and thus can create an ongoing maintenance problem that can only be reversed by sandblasting. We prefer keeping the existing conventional color coat looking good by power washing and fog coating.