Cement Stucco Foundation Finish

Can I cover-over existing foundation stucco and be oK?

Just,
The answer is maybe...... There are several variables that might cause a failure. Be sure the existing is clean and damp before you start.

Hi..
I live part time in Nicaragua which is a very poor country. I am construction oriented but not much experience with concrete, stucco or block work. I want to do some volunteer work on my own to help some families build block houses to be able to move out of their bamboo or wood shacks. Can you recommend a good book that would contain all the basics for masonry work and all the formulas for various cement and concret mixes. I also need info for strengthing the walls for protection against earthquakes and tremors. They don't pour foundations there since there is no frost. Work starts right from the tamped ground. Thanks in advance for you help.

Jack,
Get the Concrete Masonry Handbook from the Portland Cement Association.

restuccoing vs painting house
hi.....
i just purchased a home that has unfinished stucco work,meaning no paint ,is it worth having stucco with dye put on or just have it painted,new stucco work was on the front only ,sides and rear has slight cracks but not to big,heard paint is better cause it "acts like a sealer on house",dont know which way to go any info will help

thanks

Hamik,
I would never paint stucco. Then it becomes a maintenance issue.

Hi,

Just wonering how I can create the texture in the stucco that is in the picture above, that you say is almost 80 years old, and what tools I need?

Thanks, Mike

Mike,
I was not even a glimmer in my Dad's eye when that stucco was applied. It looks to me that it was done with a wood float. Remember that the cement paste on the surface has long ago been eroded by weather. You may have to do some accelerated weathering after the stucco has been cured for 90 days. I urge you to make some test panels on cement backer board until you get the technique mastered.

I have an exterior wall which is stuccoed and I am going to put brick on. Can I leave the stucco, and fasten wall ties through it, or should I tear off the stucco. What are the pros and cons?

Glenn,
You can leave the stucco if you want, but I would take it off to make sure I had a fantastic water membrane in place, perfect base flashings and the proper reveal around windows and doors.

I have a textured stuccoed wall in an enclosed patio that I want to smooth out (like a plastered wall) and paint to match the patio. I have some experience with stucco and drywall compounds. What material should I use and what should I do to prep the existing wall?

Thanks

Patrick,
Read all of my stucco columns. I tell you what to mix it them.

Hi,
I'm just now learning stucco work, have done some research on the internet, and that's the first time I've read that technique of 'painting' the portland-water solution prior to applying the stucco. Does that make it adhere better to the concrete?

The project I'm about to start on is applying stucco to very smooth concrete, and I'm a little concerned that the smoothness might cause problems with adhesion.

Good article. Thank you.

Don,
You bet it makes it stick better! Make sure the concrete is clean and wet it before applying the cement paint. Then cover the cement paint with stucco before it dries.

I have read in other articles that you should attach wire mesh to the brick wall before applying stucco. In your opinion, is this necessary?

Is a bonding agent necessary?

Steve,
Mesh will help but you better hope you attach it permanently. If it were me and the brick was solid, I would not do mesh. You want a bonding agent? Go read every past column of mine where I mention cement paint.

I have stucco applied to the house, but there is a part that was applied by a different person and looks different (too bumpy). Can the shape of the stucco be repaired after it dried?

Tinting the stucco finish.
Hi,
In reference to applying the finish to a foundation, is there a tint that can be added during the mixing process to add color that will blend in with the house?

Thanks for you input.........
Graham

Hi Tim,
In reference to applying the stucco finish to my exposed foundation, is there a tint that can be mixed in with the stucco to give some color to the finish that will more closely match the house color?

Thanks,
Graham

Can I stucco over painted concrete if the surface is very rough and uneven?

I am looking for a spray stucco that I can reapply to my exsisting foundation. It looks like it has worn away by either animals scratching at it or the house settling. Do you know where I can get this?

Thanks for your help.

Is there a more user friendly way to do this? I have 4 feet showing of foundation and would like to put a coat on there that looks like a light stucco touch. Does anyone make premaid stucco paint? I live in a very damp area, near the ocean, and i wonder about the hardiness of such products as well.

My current foundation has many issues. The mortar is eroding, especially around the corners. My house is over 100 years old, therefore it has the "added" basement. It seems the basement used to only extend half the length of the house and they dug the rest out later. You can tell where the old bricks and new bricks meet, and the mortar is deteriorating there as well. I wanted to know if I could fill those spaces with mortar without worrying about the cosmetic appeal; then, come behind and do the stucco? Or what would your advice be?

Thanks!

We currently have a house that is about 50+ years old and it has "rough" stucco on it, can you restucco a "smooth" stucco on it and if so, how hard is that to do. Do you have to take off the old stucco?

Dear ATB:

Our neighbors built a cement "fence" 40 feet long and 6 feet high. It's ugly gray plain cement (go figure). So we are thinking of applying paint-colored stucco to the whole thing. Do you think it would work? What kind of pigments can we use?

Thanks for sharing your good ideas with all of us.

Leila

What are your thoughts about applying stucco to interior basement walls (cinder blocks)?

We are building a new house and our concrete walls just came out of the forms. I am wondering where our concrete sub's job ends. Is he suppose to put on a finish coat so the walls don't look like the concrete forms? Is he suppose to attach the window wells? And how about all those little metal brackets sticking out, is he suppose to break those of before he's finished or do they always leave these for the homeowner to do. Thanks for any insight.





Is our concrete sub suppose to finish do this or do we need to hire someone else to do this? Is this something we could do ourselves?

I have a room that has sheet rock on two walls and the ceiling and cinder block on the other two. I would like to apply the same stucco finish on all four walls. Will this work? Thanks,
Tom

I have a cedar sided 1929 home; with add ons/update room additions. Would one take off the cedar before doing stucco? Advise, please. Looking for less maintance in later years as well as possbile selling point.
Thanks...
Judy

We bought a house that has been partially constructed with an all stucco finish. Can we brick over the stucco?

I have a stucco wall with a crack line. The texture is similar to light dash or medium sand float shown in "Plaster textures in Technical Service Information Bureau" web site. To fix the crack line I filled the crack with stucco paste. Unfortunately too much stucco was put on and when I tried to remove it, a thin layer of stucco residue covered the adjacent existing stucco pattern. How can I remove this residue to show the underlying texture pattern? I think a light sand blast will do but I do not have a sand blast machine. Can I use a steel brush patch attached to a driller?