how to repair stucco
How to Repair Stucco
Stucco is an important material strengthening the walls usually made of concrete. It is used for decoration purposes and to coat the walls. Here are some tips for stucco repair.
- Portland cement
- Polyvinyl acetate (PVA) boarding agents
- Dampened rags
- Soft-bristled brush
- Latex paint
- Bitumen
- Some garden hoses and attachments
- Paint rollers
- Primer
- Hammer
- Cold chisel
- Caulk
- Bucket
- Fiberglass cloth
- Builder's sand
- The first step in repairing exterior stucco is to completely soak the crack area with the help of a hose. By doing so, the stucco would not separate water from the new mortar and thus would prevent crumbling.
- The next step is to prepare the mortar by mixing some water to one part of Portland cement and about four parts of builder's sand. Ensure that the mortar has become thick enough to be used for the work.
- Further, take the polyvinyl acetate bonding agent and cover the cracked area.
- The bond would remain a little sticky for some time, so apply the mortar to the crack at this time itself. This would fix the bond-and-mortar mix properly to the crack.
- Now, cover the cracked area with the help of bitumen-coated fiberglass. Further, the fiberglass needs to be fixed in its place. You can do this by pressing a paint roller over it.
- Apply bitumen to the crack area and let it dry. On drying the first coat, apply the second coat and spread it uniformly with the help of a soft-bristled brush so that the coat does not stand out as an odd spot on the wall
- Painting a stucco is not difficult. Use the primer to paint the patched area and let it dry. Apply another coat of primer and take care that the newly painted area should look a part of the rest of the wall.
- If you ever find vertical cracks from the bottom of the wall to the window or from the roof of the wall to the door, have these cracks repaired from a professional. As such, cracks indicate a fault in the foundation of the wall.
- Very tiny cracks that are less than ⅛ inch can be stuffed with a superior quality caulk. Prefer using a caulk that allows painting on it post application.
- For painting a stucco, always prefer an acrylic-based paint which prevents moisture from accumulating in the paint.