How to Install Two-Inch Styrofoam Stucco on a Block Wall

Dig out about 6 inches of dirt next to the wall if you are installing stucco on the lower part of the wall. Wash the wall using a pressure washer and a mild soap solution. Rinse the wall well and let it dry completely.

Cut the Styrofoam panels with a razor blade or knife so they fit the wall area. Lay the panels on the ground in the order you are going to secure them to the wall. Apply construction adhesive to the backside of the panels and secure them to the wall by pressing across the panels so the adhesive affixes to the wall.

Drill pilot holes through the panel and into the wall using a carbide drill bit that is one-quarter to one-half the diameter of the masonry bolt. Space the holes 12 inches apart.

Slide a button shank onto each bolt and drill the bolts into the wall through each pilot hole to secure the Styrofoam panels.

Unroll 1/2 inch of wire mesh and cut it into sections with a wire clippers so that it fits over the Styrofoam panels. Attach the wire mesh to the wall by placing staples about 12 inches apart.

Mix the powder stucco with water in a large bucket using the directions on the package. Place the hose for the stucco sprayer into the bucket and begin spraying in a back-and-forth motion across the block wall until the liquid stucco covers the wire mesh. Let the first layer dry.

Apply a second layer of stucco using the same technique to smooth out the surface and eliminate any uneven areas. Dampen a sponge and blot at the wet stucco to smooth and soften the surface. Let the second layer dry overnight.

Spray a third application of stucco onto the wall if the dried wall appears uneven. Use the same technique as the second layer, blotting the surface when finished spraying. Let the wall dry for at least 48 hours before proceeding.

Paint the stucco wall with a flat exterior paint to change the color of the wall.