![]() The traditional application of stucco and lath occurs in three coats-the scratch coat, the brown coat and the finish coat. The lath added support for the wet plaster and tensile strength to the brittle, cured stucco while the increased thickness and number of layers helped control cracking. Then with the introduction and development of heavy timber and light wood-framed construction methods, stucco was adapted for this new use by adding a reinforcement lattice, or lath, attached to and spanning between the structural supports and by increasing the thickness and number of layers of the total system. The finish coat usually contained an integral color and was typically textured for appearance. It was traditionally used as both an interior and exterior finish applied in one or two thin layers directly over a solid masonry, brick, or stone surface. Other materials such as stone and glass chips are sometimes "dashed" onto the finish coat before drying, with the finished product commonly known as "rock dash", "pebble dash", or also as roughcast if the stones are incorporated directly into the stucco, used mainly from the early 20th through the early 21st centuries.Īs a building material, stucco is a durable, attractive, and weather-resistant wall covering. Today's stucco manufacturers offer a very wide range of colors that can be mixed integrally in the finish coat. Typically its color was gray, from the innate color of most Portland cement, but white Portland cement is also used. Portland cement stucco is very hard and brittle and can easily crack if the base on which it is applied is not stable. Lime stucco has the property of being self-healing to a limited degree because of the slight water solubility of lime (which in solution can be deposited in cracks, where it solidifies). The lime itself is usually white color comes from the aggregate or any added pigments. Lime stucco is a relatively hard material that can be broken or chipped by hand without too much difficulty. This is usually done with what is considered a one-coat stucco system, as opposed to the traditional three-coat method. Sometimes additives such as acrylics and glass fibers are added to improve the structural properties of the stucco. Lime is added to increase the permeability and workability of modern stucco. Modern stucco is made of Portland cement, sand, and water. Traditional stucco is made of lime, sand, and water. At the same time, traditional lime plasters were being replaced by gypsum plaster. In the latter nineteenth century, Portland cement was added with increasing frequency in an attempt to improve the durability of stucco. Animal or plant fibers were often added for additional strength. Until the latter part of the nineteenth century, it was common that plaster, which was used inside a building, and stucco, which was used outside, would consist of the same primary materials: lime and sand (which are also used in mortar). The difference in nomenclature between stucco, plaster, and mortar is based more on use than composition. The basic composition of stucco is cement, water, and sand. ![]() The chips of quartz, stone, and colored glass measure approx. In fact, there are many reasons why DIY stucco repair isn’t the best solution, so contact us by calling 21 and avoid potentially serious problems.Rock dash stucco used as an exterior coating on a house on Canada's west coast. Patching stucco cracks usually isn’t going to worsen the problem, but it certainly isn’t the answer. If your patchwork isn’t done seamlessly by a professional, you may be allowing moisture to enter your home, unbeknownst to you!įorget Patching Stucco Cracks, Call A Professional Stucco Craftsman! Cracks present a real problem because they allow moisture to seep through and cause damage behind walls. Moisture could be seeping through – Stucco’s greatest enemy is moisture.The problem is, underneath the damage could be worsening without you even knowing it. Damage may be worsening – When you patch stucco cracks, on the surface your stucco may appear to be in top shape.And only a trained professional will know how to tell the two apart. Not all cracks are the same – Some cracks may hold up with a simple patch, but others are going to keep growing and the patch won’t do it any good. ![]() In this blog, we’ll tell you a bit about the realities of patching stucco cracks and why it’s important to do more than just cover up the problem: It’s better to call in a professional to fully repair the patched stucco cracks as soon as possible!Īi Restoration is a stucco repair company outside of Philadelphia, and we know stucco inside and out! Our skilled craftsmen have been working with residential and commercial stucco buildings for years. When your stucco cracks from normal wear and tear, you might patch it up at first, but it’s important to know that patchwork usually isn’t enough. ![]()
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