How to Build a Stucco Exterior

Stucco is a type of plaster used for exterior coating on walls or other surfaces. Stucco can give a wall a finished look. Applying a stucco exterior involves preparing the stucco material and applying it to the surface evenly. The job can be performed in one day, and applying the stucco yourself will save you the cash it would take to have the work done professionally.

Trowel
Stucco mix
Drill with paddle attachment
Wheelbarrow
Plasterer's rake
Garden hose with misting attachment

Instructions

- 1
  Combine stucco mix with water in a wheelbarrow, according to the manufacturer’s directions. Mix the stucco with a drill equipped with a paddle attachment until it is the consistency of a thick paste.
- 2
  Use the flat end of a finishing trowel to apply a 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick coating of stucco on the surface. Make sure the ambient air temperature is over 39 degrees Fahrenheit. This coat, referred to as the scratch coat, will help the next coat adhere to the wall. Let the stucco coat harden slightly.
- 3
  Use a plasterer’s rake to go over the scratch coat. Scratch the coat by dragging or pulling the rake across the coat horizontally, creating 1/8-inch thick scratches. Let the coat dry for 36 to 48 hours.
- 4
  Mist the stucco coating with a garden hose equipped with a mister attachment daily, during the drying process, to keep the stucco slightly moist.
- 5
  Apply a second, 1/8- to 1/4-inch thick coating of stucco to the surface with the trowel. Let the coat cure over a period two weeks. The stucco will cure faster in a humid climate and require less wetting. Otherwise, mist the coating daily during the curing process.

How to Get Paneling to Stick to Blocks

How to Replace Brick Foundations

Walls