Stucco is one of the most misunderstood exterior applications available in today’s market.
History has been kind to stucco and has documented it as one of the all time premier building materials! It still adorns the early 19th century town homes of Charleston, S. C… It drapes the 600 year old ruins of ancient Siam. Vestiges of its maintenance free nature are evident in the ruins of 6,500 year old Qasr-e Shirlm in modern Iran.
Stucco is simply composed of cement, sand, lime, and water. It can be hand mixed with a cement-hoe, or machine mixed. Historically stucco has been directly hand-applied to sound, unpainted CMU or Brick surfaces. However, now days it is frequently applied to wood-frame partitions, after a weather resistant barrier & galvanized metal lath are first installed.
The cost of a new stucco application is similar to that of brick or stone, so it certainly isn’t the least-expensive exterior cladding option. But, like brick and stone it is lasting, versatile and virtually maintenance free.
Natural stucco breathes & even has autogenous healing properties! When introduced to moisture, the cement in the stucco mix extrudes calcium hydroxide. When calcium hydroxide is exposed to the atmosphere, it is converted to calcium carbonate (limestone) which seals the crack. In fact these cracks, when healed autogenously, are actually stronger than the original cement lining. Amazing stuff, isn’t it?
Our firm specializes in new stucco application, as well as stucco restoration & repair. When others may recommend a complete overhaul of your stucco exterior, or masking the problem with a cheap siding installation, we offer solutions that can repair, or restore your stucco to its original condition.