Stucco Basics
Probably the best way to understand our options with restuccoing is to start with the basics.Traditional stucco as a construction technique that has been used for centuries. It is formed by troweling on layers of plaster over a framework. Over the years, different mixes of minerals have been used to create the plaster. Today, Portland cement is most often the key ingredient in a stucco exterior.
On a typical home, stucco plaster is troweled on in two or three layers, each at a thickness of about 3/8 inch, over metal lath attached to wood framing. A water-resistant building paper separates the plaster and lath from the framing. Plaster can also be applied directly to masonry or concrete walls. Stucco is finished with a 1/8-inch hard coat or cementitious mix that may have powder or acrylic color added as well as an aggregate for texture and variation.
Stucco’s Strength and Permeability
In its hardened state, stucco is permeable and can breathe, allowing water vapor to escape rather than getting trapped behind the surface. Thanks to this breathability, stucco is able to resist rot and fungus. To further keep stucco moisture free, perforated flashing called a weep screed is installed at the base of the exterior walls where the sill plate meets the foundation. This channels any water that enters through outlets or cracks down to the weep screed, and out and away from the surface.
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