Does Stucco Stick to Drywall?

Moistening

• The first step in applying stucco to drywall is ensuring that the surface of the drywall is slightly moistened so that the drywall itself does not instantly suck the moisture out of the plaster and cause it to crack or cure improperly. A light misting is sufficient as you do not want to actually wet the drywall down, only dampen the top layer to help protect the stucco during the curing process.

Scratch Coat

• The scratch coat is the first layer of stucco applied to drywall. This is a layer of stucco that is forcefully “burned into” the surface of the drywall. The scratch coat layer of stucco mud must be firmly applied with pressure in a thin layer across the entire surface of the drywall to act as a base foundation for the subsequent layers of stucco and ensure there is a proper bond with the drywall and the mud.

Float Layer

• After the scratch coat has been allowed to dry, another layer of misting is applied on top of this layer; then the actual building layer is applied. Known as the float level, the brown coat or the middle coat, it is roughly the same consistency as the scratch coat, but rather than a thin layer, this one is a substantial layer based upon your preference for thickness. It is applied directly on top of the scratch coat and needs to dry before the finish layer is applied.

Finish Layer

• The finish layer of stucco is the least important structurally but the most important visually. This layer has pigments in the stucco mixture, depending on your color selection, and is a different consistency since it must be hand-finished according to your design specifications. Popcorn stucco is sprayed on and is thin and runny, whereas textured finishes are a thicker type of stucco applied by hand and troweled onto the first two layers.