Stucco or render is a cement-based siding that adds texture to a wall. It is composed of cement, lime, sand, and water. If you’re considering applying stucco to your home’s exterior, you might wonder how long it will last. We’ve researched this to find an answer for you.
It can last for 50-80 years or more, with proper maintenance. Ideally, stucco should be painted every five to ten years for optimal longevity.
If you want to know more about stucco and how to lengthen its lifespan keep on reading. We’ve compiled information that can help you with the application and maintenance of your stucco.
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How can you prolong the life of stucco?
You can prolong the lifespan of stucco with proper care and preservation to avoid substantial structural damage and avoid costly repair. Here are some tips to keep your exterior stucco in good condition.
- Check for cracks, bubbles, and peeling: Keep an eye on your walls at least twice a year, to detect early paint failure and to keep away from bigger mess.
- Inspect outer walls under different weather conditions: Even if it’s hot or cold weather, perform a regular inspection to detect unexpected problems.
- Repair cracks and holes immediately: Whether it’s a minor or major crack, it has to be restored right away. To fill cracks and holes, use a high-quality waterproof and paintable acrylic caulk.
- Prevent stucco paint failure: Never apply the paint when too hot, damp, or atop dirty surfaces or throughout the time of very hot, cold, dirty, humid, and/or windy weather.
- Choose the right product: Opting for a top-quality primer and paint can extend the life of your exterior walls. Acrylic latex paint is best on stucco, offering excellent coverage and color retention.
- Wash your walls: To prevent dirt and dust, wash your home’s exterior at least twice a year.
- Remove molds: Molds can grow weeks after applying the stucco paint. You can use a soft brush or sponge to apply an anti-mold solution to the affected area. To make sure to get a better result, reapply the solution after 24 hours. Once the covered area has dried, repaint the absolute wall for its finest appearance.
How often should you re-stucco a house?
Stucco is a decorative coating for walls. It can be applied to construction materials like metals, concrete blocks, or bricks for decorative and structural purposes. But do you know when you should re-apply your stucco?
It is recommended that stucco should be painted every 5-10 years, depending on its present condition. Each stucco could have some different conditions when it will need repairs. It is important to perform the proper maintenance to keep your home looking great.
Does stucco need maintenance?
To conserve the image and extend the lifespan of stucco, you need to have appropriate maintenance. Infrequent cleaning may be necessary, but with the proper combination of products and tools, any householder may get a job well done.
To properly maintain your stucco, be sure to put proper care to it by simply cleaning it with water and a soft clean rag. Also, always check for hairline cracks so that you can immediately repair or prevent them from bigger problems.
Does stucco fade over time?
Yes, like any other interior and exterior paint, stucco paint fades over time. Stucco is somehow vulnerable to some weather conditions, shifting, and settling that may result in fading, cracking, peeling, and other minor problems.
That is why you should also consider choosing the right product and high-quality stucco to coat on your exterior home. With the proper preparation and maintenance, this exterior stucco painting can give some benefits to your home.
Here are some of the benefits and advantages that you can get from having a stucco coating finished:
Seals Out Moisture
When the rain stops, you may notice that your stucco absorbs the water and the paint is getting darker until it dries. That’s why when you paint stucco, it completely covers the paint and locks-in the moisture. This gives you color to remain and same even on a rainy day.
Covers the Stains
Most likely you’ll see the water and rust dirty flowing in the line of your stucco. This may block and cover the dirt by painting or putting stucco on it.
Fills Hairline Cracks
Do you have a lot of cracks in your stucco paint? If not treated properly this may cause a bigger problem in the future. Use high-quality thick paint to fill these hairline cracks.
Choose an Experienced and Professional Stucco Painter
If you want to achieve a well and proper outcome, you should choose your painter. An expert stucco painter will not just help you to achieve your good-looking home but also help you with what and how to choose proper and high-quality materials. Because they know exactly what your home needs to ensure the quality and good outcome of your painted wall that may result to last for years.
Can you power wash stucco?
Yes, you may use a power washer or pressure washer to clean your stucco. You just have to make sure to maintain a good distance between the nozzle and the wall or surface. Use a 1,500 PSI and one 25- or 40- degree nozzle. Although, given the intensity of a power washer, asking for help from a professional is always the best choice.
As a consequence of the texture of the stucco and also to its porosity, a lot of dirt and mold may accumulate on your walls. That’s why you need to regularly clean the surface to maintain the good appearance of your home. Preferably, it needs to be cleaned twice to three times a year.
But in some cases, some homes don’t have a power washer or pressure washer, thereby, you can also use a large bucket and soft clean cloth or rug. Just make a mixture of the right cleaning product and scrub firmly to clean the surface without damaging it.
Conclusion
Having a nice home is every homeowner’s goal, so we need to take care of it properly whether inside or outside. Such as putting stucco on our walls, if we know how to take care of it and maintain it, this will last and we can use and benefit from it for several years.
If you found this interesting, you might also be interested to read these related posts:
Stucco Vs Siding – What You Need To Know
