TOOLS: Wire brush, putty knife,
whisk broom, wire brush, paintbrush
MATERIALS: Bonding adhesive, masonry paint, premixed stucco
or caulk
If you live in a home with stucco
exterior walls, you will find that, sooner or later, you will have
to deal with some cracks, and even holes, as time goes by. Such
flaws in the surface of stucco are fairly easy to remedy, and can
take from just moments to several hours or so to repair, depending
on the flaw and necessary drying time.
Before repairing cracks or holes or
chips in stucco, you'll need some stucco patch or caulk, as well
as some pigment if desired, or paint to match the repaired area
to existing décor. You'll also need a wire brush, as well
as a putty knife or trowel, and a caulking gun, depending on which
method of repair you have chosen.
Before you begin, realize that your
patch job will not match perfectly with existing stucco surfaces,
but you can make it less noticeable if you take your time and use
a little creativity on finishing touches. Because cracks and holes
allow moisture and water into walls, it's important to spot them,
repair them and keep them filled before more severe damage occurs.
For damage to corners of walls you
may need to first insert corner fittings, which you may be able
to easily slide under existing stucco. If not, patch one side of
the wall at a time, then finish and 'fine tune' the edge to the
corner on the last application.
Below are some general guidelines
to follow for various types of exterior stucco wall fixes:
Minor Cracks
Minor surface cracks less than ½ inch in width can be filled
with stucco caulk, using a caulking gun. Stucco caulking will dry
to a rubbery texture and will expand and contract with weather,
while providing a sealed bond between sides of the crack.
Small Holes
You can use stucco paste or mix your own stucco according to
directions from a bag of stucco mix for small to moderately sized
holes. Then:
- Brush loose stucco, dirt and debris
from hole or gap.
- Fill hole with a pre-mixed stucco
patch and a trowel or putty knife, applying the patch in several
thin layers. Allow each layer to dry completely before applying
next layer. Extend patch over sides of hole and onto existing
stucco for stronger bonding.
- After the last layer has been applied,
using a broom, or bunched up cloth or other object to dab gently
at the surface, try to mimic the texture of the existing stucco
to create a less than obvious patch job.
