How To Repair Stucco

Irrespective of the paint you use or the amount of money you spend on the various treatments for your building walls, the exterior of your house is bound to get affected by weather conditions. Cracks on the walls, seeping edges and changing colors are common in old buildings. One of the simplest ways to deal with these problems and at the same time provide a decorative look is by using good quality stucco. Stucco is a binding material and a construction aggregate which is used as a strengthening material because of its durability and weatherproof features. Stucco is mainly of two types, the traditional and the modern stucco. The traditional stucco comprises of water with sand and lime, whereas the modern one consists of sand, water, lime and Portland cement. It is the modern stucco that is more widely used today to strengthen the walls and furniture. Mentioned below are few tips to repair stucco that will help repair your damaged walls and furniture.

Tips On Repairing Stucco Cracks

Things Required

Portland cement
PVA bonding agent
Damp rags
Paint rollers
Bitumen
Builder’s sand
Soft bristles brush
Latex paints
Garden house and attachments
Primers
Fiberglass cloth
Caulks
Shallow buckets
Cold chisels
Mallets

Procedure

The first thing you will have to do is to examine the direction of the crack you need to deal with. Vertical cracks from the base to the window or roof to the door indicates a problem with the foundation. It is therefore advisable to call a foundation expert to determine the condition of the foundation before fixing the crack.
Once you have got the foundation examined, fix the small cracks first by filling them up with high-quality caulk, preferably one that can be painted over. Press the caulk well with the help of your fingers and use a damp cloth to clean up the mess.
Make use of a cold chisel or an old screwdriver to clean wider cracks and then soak the area completely with a hose. This will prevent the stucco from leaching water from the new mortar thereby causing it to crumble.
Mix the mortar in a shallow bucket along with a part of Portland cement, four parts of builder’s sand and a little bit of water to make the perfect solution.
Cover the cracked area to be patched with a polyvinyl acetate bonding agent that is made especially for masonry. Fill in the crack with the mortar mix, when the bond is slightly sticky.
Now, cover the patched area with a piece of bitumen coated fiberglass. Make use of the paint roller to secure the bitumen coated fiberglass and then apply another coat of bitumen over the patch.
Let the bitumen dry and then apply another coat with the help of a soft bristle brush to match the rest of the wall. Paint the area with primer made for stucco or bitumen patching.
Allow the primer to dry and then repaint the area. You might even have to repaint the entire wall to get rid of the repaired patch.

Points To Remember

If you come across vertical cracks from the bottom of the wall to the window or from the roof of the wall to the door, have them repaired by a professional.
Cracks that are less than 1/8 inch can be stuffed with a superior quality caulk. It is better to use a caulk that allows painting over its surface.
It is advisable to make use of an acrylic based paint when painting over stucco. This prevents moisture from accumulating in the stucco paint.

Restore the beauty and strength of your walls and furniture by learning how to repair stucco. Abiding by the above mentioned simple steps will help you maintain the beauty of your abode’s exterior.

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