It\’s Not Your Mama\’s Stucco Anymore

Stucco is basically a sticky material that is used for covering less appealing construction, both indoors and out. Applied in its wet and sticky form, it dries to a very hard surface. In years past, traditional stucco was used on exteriors only and plaster used on the inside.

The main difference between the two materials was its use, being made of almost the same ingredients. Lime, sand and water were found to be the traditional plaster-like stuff. Today the addition of a quick drying type cement to the mix, is said to help its durability and strength.

In the application of this material, there is most often found three layers. The first one is of cement and sand, applied in a criss crossed pattern, providing a base on which to add the next layer. It is allowed to dry thoroughly before the second addition, which is sand, cement and lime. This is said to make the best base for the final layer, which can have color added for decorative purposes.

Often used in Spanish styles of homes, stucco can be copied sometimes successfully by the use of paint or whitewashing materials, but these \”fakes\” only adhere to the construction for two or three years. This will require constant re-application. If one desires to change this to real stucco, it must be sand-blasted off.

The real stuff can last for hundreds of years. It can be applied over almost any other material such as concrete, mesh over a wood frame, and brick. If the color has been added to the mixture before being troweled on, painting will not usually be a necessity.

Stucco is not only a material but an architectural style as well. Spanish or Mexican styles are found in this plastering material, and even just one or two rooms in a home can be done in this way. Luxurious homes and hotels are being constructed of this material, so it is not what many folks think of as the poor man\’s plaster, used only by people not able to afford better. These styles of Tuscan or Spanish origins are most often found in dry arid places in the world, such as the southwest of the United States.

If it becomes necessary to make a repair on your walls, it can easily be done by the home owner. Remember to remove any loose debris, keep edges ragged, not smooth, and apply your mixture a layer at a time. Trying to do it all in one whack will result in an unstable area that may be prone to further damage. Using a pre-mixed solution is acceptable but for added strength in these days, add some of the quick-drying type of cement to your mix.

Not only is stucco used on walls but can also be used to add another dimension to artwork, on canvas. Applying it to the canvas as background and letting it dry thoroughly before adding any other layers or paints to the piece. Murals and hanging art are also often created in this medium, for a touch of distinction to any room or building.

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Category: Home Management
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