Stucco is often the finishing material of choice for various architectural styles. When it comes to finishing a stucco exterior, you can choose from several different types of finishes. The finish you choose will depend on your vision for the look of your home. Whether you want to mimic wood timbers, bricks, metal, or granite, there’s a variety of finishes available for you to choose from. Read on Santa Barbara Finish Stucco to learn more about stucco finishing.
Stucco is a durable finish that can be applied over many materials and substrates. It is made of cement, sand, water, fiber, and pigments. A smooth stucco finish is often preferred for its clean look and can be executed in synthetic or traditional stucco. It is typically sprayed but can be hand applied as well.
Another texture option is the knockdown dash finish, which gives a unique, rough look to the surface. It is commonly used with synthetic stucco and comes in fine, medium, or heavy patterns.
This is a common stucco finish on new construction buildings. It’s a popular choice for a variety of reasons, including its low maintenance and ease of patching. It can be sprayed or hand applied, and is a budget-friendly option. The finish also tends to crack less than other stucco finishes.
Stucco is a highly customizable material that gives you the ability to mold your home’s exterior. With a variety of texture options, you can create a surface that truly reflects your aesthetic and personal taste.
A stucco finish can look raked, swirled, pebbled, laced, combed or webbed in any number of ways. It’s also a great way to add surface color.
Cat Face is a popular type of stucco finish. It is also known as Montalvo or California finish and it consists of a smooth surface with small patches of rough areas scattered throughout the wall.
The texture of a cat face stucco is achieved by applying two coats to the exterior of the wall. The first coat is a rough base coat and it should be left to dry before the second coat is applied and smoothed using a trowel.
Then the workmen apply a second smooth layer with breaks in it that let the first textured layer peek through. This allows the cat faces to show through. This is what makes this a unique stucco finish.
Float/Sand applications can create a beautiful finish with a variety of color options. These finishes can be colored, mottled or just plain, while still offering the durability of stucco.
The best float jobs knock off minor variations in the plane, like clinkers or darby marks, and fill small holes and indentations. They also open up the surface to allow for an even base to finish.
With cement stucco, floats can be hard rubber or soft sponge. The hand pressure used is minimal and a circular motion is best for the job.
The key to a successful float job is having enough workers to keep a wet edge. Smooth trowelled walls, for example, need sufficient workers to scratch and double back and apply a skim coat into which the second coat of aggregate can be compressed. This minimizes stress cracking, a performance characteristic that is sometimes called “alligator cracking” on smooth stucco surfaces.
Stucco Finishing, or the final coat of stucco, determines the appearance and protection of your home’s exterior walls. Its elastomeric nature prevents moisture absorption and helps to avoid deterioration.
It can be applied over a variety of surfaces including stucco, concrete and brick. Generally, it requires three coats to achieve a complete finish.
The first is the textured brown coat that’s hand troweled or sprayed on. This is a unique texture that’s more rugged than the smooth coating, and can add character and elegance to your home.
Another type of texture is the dash texture, which has peaks of stucco stuck out. It’s sprayable and can be applied light, medium or heavy in volume to create a unique look on your home.
The third option is a synthetic color coat, which is made from acrylic and aggregate. This is similar to paint, but it’s more waterproof and has a thicker consistency. It’s usually used for commercial applications and can be applied to different types of surfaces, such as stucco or concrete.