Stucco is a finishing material used primarily on exterior walls. Applied wet, stucco hardens to form a dense, solid material, commonly with a gritty texture. Stucco provides durability and weather resistance along with its aesthetic value. The material's relationship with paint is one of the major drawbacks of using stucco. Only certain types of paint adhere to stucco, and even these paints may experience certain problems.
Stucco and Paint
Ultimately, stucco requires no paint. In fact, stucco already contains paint -- it constitutes one of the ingredients in the wet version of the material and gives hardened stucco its coloring. Furthermore, painting stucco creates a number of problems. Stucco is an air-permeable material, meaning air moves freely through it. Air cannot move through most types of paint. Thus, if air moves through stucco and hits paint, the pressure can prove great enough to crack or mutate paint coverings.
Paint for Stucco
If you decide to paint stucco, using the right type of paint helps minimize the problems associated with painting stucco. The authors of "Home Improvement All-in-One" recommend using an acrylic latex paint for stucco. Acrylic paints allow some air to pass through them when dry. Robert Irwin, the author of "Find It, Buy It, Fix It: The Insider's Guide to Fixer-Uppers," recommends latex paints for stucco.
Painting Stucco
In addition to using the right paints, you should follow the correct procedures when painting stucco surfaces. Stucco absorbs enormous amounts of paint because it is porous. Two methods of preventing absorption are primer and water. Primers such as an alkali-resistant masonry primer keep the paint from sinking into stucco. A primer also protects paint from damage caused by moisture in stucco. Spraying water on stucco plugs the holes in the porous material because the pores absorb water. Wait for any water left on the surface of the stucco to dry before applying paint.
Additional Information
Other than changing the color of a wall, the only reason for painting stucco is for weather protection. Stucco proves resistant to all weather conditions other than rain. In areas with annual rainfall greater than 20 inches, stucco suffers serious damage if not protected by a roof overhang or other drainage system. Remember when purchasing paint that while all acrylic, acrylic latex or latex paints contain the same basic ingredients, numerous types of paint exist for myriad purposes. Always look for paints designed specifically for use with stucco -- read product descriptions and ask for assistance before purchasing paint.
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