Stucco is a popular choice for building materials. This building material is popular because of its versatility and durability. You can customize the exterior texture of your stucco home and select from more vibrant colors than brick or siding.

Stucco Systems

There are three ways to apply stucco. Each system has its own unique look and durability. One-coat stucco is the most efficient method. It uses a base coat, followed by a finish coat, which is then sprayed on. A three-coat, also called hard coat, stucco system is more durable than a one-coat finish. It has two coats of base coat and a final coat. EIFS (or synthetic) stucco systems feature two coats of stucco over a foam insulation board. They are durable when installed with proper water drainage.

Common Finishes

You must choose a finish texture, regardless of the general stucco method that you use. There are four types of stucco textures available: float, lace, dash, and scraped. The smoothest finish is scraped stucco. This is achieved by using a steel tool to smoothen the stucco. A dash texture is a rough stucco finish that has small stucco peaks sticking out. Sand texture finishes look similar to grains of sand. The lace texture finishes are more visually appealing and look like a heavy lace fabric.

Decorative Finishes

To give your home a unique look, decorative finishes can also be applied. These are usually applied using a 3-coat stucco system. Stucco can be made to look brick-like or it can be given a wet grooved plaster treatment that looks like tiled walls. The trowel sweep finish features a repeating fan pattern, the combed finish features thin vertical lines, and the briar end features random lines created by running the trowel through the stucco.

Paint and colors

Stucco finishes give homeowners more options when choosing a home’s color. You can apply color to your home with colored stucco or acrylic paint. While colored stucco is susceptible to cracking and staining, it makes it much easier to add decorative finishing touches to the stucco. Paintable stucco is best used with synthetic stucco. It provides a brighter finish but will need to be repainted every few years. Acrylic stucco is more durable than the other two and doesn’t show cracks as often as colored stucco.