How To Repair Stucco On Block Wall

How-To Repair Outside Cinderblock Walls with Stucco

By Scott Arnold on How To

Ohio Power Tool - Buy. Rent. Repair

How-To Repair Exterior Cinderblock Walls with Stucco

Since the early 19th century Stucco has been used to cover less appealing construction materials such as concrete, metal and cinder block. Designed for outside utilise, it wasn't until late 19th century that builders started to use it on interior applications as well.

One-time decomposable walls can actually be an centre sore. By and large they become the focal betoken of your thou, even if y'all have the nicest property in your neighborhood. It is like driving by an accident on the highway, you lot know you don't want to stare, but we always do!

Recently I had a customer who had some serious issues with some patio walls in their backyard. They love to entertain but shied away from barbeques and parties due to a couple ugly cinderblock walls. With their son's birthday coming up they decided to stucco over the walls to brand them more appealing.

old cinderblock wall

Pace 1 – Prep

The outset step in stuccoing walls is to prep them correctly. Yous need to brand sure you remove any aging blocks and loose debris. Flake away and slice that may stick out farther then others to ensure you lot accept a nice flat service. Clean off the walls with a brush removing all the dust and clay. In cases like mine the walls had some pieces of block that were completely missing due to poor drainage. Fill up them in with some mortar and allow it dry. You want to make sure you are as close to level / flat equally possible before you commencement applying the Stucco.

When applying new stucco to an existing physical you need to apply a bonding amanuensis. In our case we used Quikrete Bonding Agent that we picked upward at the local Home Depot. Instead of roughing up the pre-existing concrete, you simply curl or brush on the agent. The directions indicated to utilize new stucco inside three hours of applying.

Step 2 – Mixing Stucco

Now that your walls are prepped and bonding agent is drying, y'all need to start mixing your stucco. Stucco is made of four major components: Portland Cement, sand, lime and water. The mixing ratio may vary depending on who you inquire. For our walls we used three parts sand, one role lime and one part Portland cement. We add together water until information technology is the consistency of brick mortar.

You want to be care when mixing mortar equally it tin dry out out chop-chop. My rule of thumb is only mix about 90 minutes worth. Annihilation more that dries out as well quickly and you are constantly adding more materials to information technology to get information technology dorsum to workable consistency. Some other thing to consider is the temperature. Hot and humid days will speed upward the drying process and typically slows downwardly your work speed. On hot boiling days, I typically will just mix small a amount at a fourth dimension.

stucco mixing

Step three – Applying the Stucco

First Coat

Typically I like to apply ii coats of stucco on the walls I am roofing. First coat is my filler or skim coat and the second coat is my finished coat. Work your stucco over the big cracks and gaps first filling them in earlier you start applying the stucco to the whole wall. If you only beginning applying it and ignoring the big gaps or cracks y'all are going to take an event when you trowel over them. The stucco volition not stick well. So I recommend hitting those outset.

Once you have your first glaze applied, take a Stucco Float and knock down the rough edges. It doesn't have to exist perfect. Save that for your finished coat. Be sure to clean upward your work area in one case your first glaze is complete. Stuccoing is a messy job, exist sure to clean up while the stucco is still moisture, it will avoid a lot of scraping later.

Finished Coat

Afterwards the stucco is dry, you are ready to apply your finishing glaze. With this glaze, you want to pay attention to making information technology as smooth as possible. I find working from the bottom up works best for me.

Once I get the stucco applied, I let it to set just a bit before I use my sponge float to smooth it out. With the sponge bladder, use enough of water, smooth out the stucco making sure you pay close attention to your seems if yous have whatsoever. The seems are going to show if you do not feather them properly. Just like mud and tape on drywall, your seams are critical and usually the offset place that fails.

DIY or Not?

Is Stucco easy enough for the DIY'er to tackle? Absolutely! There is little you need to know when stuccoing. Make sure you have the correct materials and the right tools and y'all should be all gear up. Besides, can you brand the wall whatsoever uglier than it already is, right?!?!

Stucco tin can be done in a weekend, or if you are really expert, you tin smash it in a solar day. Take your time, brand sure your mix is perfect, your seams are polish and your area is kept clean and you will be a Stucco pro before you know information technology!