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The short answer to “can stucco be painted” is a resounding yes. However, you need to approach the project properly and choose the suitable materials for painting stucco to get a remarkable stucco repair result.
In this article, we’ll outline some of the reasons why it’s not just possible but necessary to paint stucco from time to time. We’ll also look at several options for painting over stucco as well as tackling the very real issue of preparing your home’s exterior before painting can begin.
Reasons Why You Should Paint Stucco
Stucco is an interesting material when it comes to exteriors and stucco repairs. It’s traditional in many ways, which means there are good reasons why homeowners have used it on their homes since ancient times.
For example, stucco is porous, which means it can be an excellent form of weatherproofing. The tiny pores in the material allow moisture to drain from the surface while also letting some air get through. This allows for natural ventilation that can help keep your home’s interior from getting too stuffy and hot during the warm summer months.
However, this ability to breathe means that water seepage will always be an issue with stucco homes. Whether you live in an area where humidity and rainfall levels are low or high, there’s always a risk of deterioration when it comes to painting stucco exteriors. Moisture may not damage your exterior paint immediately, but it will make your paint job look less appealing over time.
At the same time, both stucco and exterior paint are known for having a relatively short shelf life when it comes to weathering harsh UV rays from the sun.
Over time this kind of exposure will cause your paint to fade while also affecting the appearance of your stucco, which can lead to cracks forming in even well-maintained homes, which leads to a stucco repair.
The good news is that you have various options for painting over stucco exteriors. The bad news is that you need to choose one carefully to not put yourself at risk again down the road. Using an inferior product or attempting an overly ambitious project could result in future problems if left unfixed for too long.
What are Your Options for Painting Stucco?
One of the most challenging things about painting stucco is considering your exterior paint, primer, and topcoat separately.
While it’s possible to purchase a product that promises all three functions in one container, there are two significant reasons why this isn’t always practical for homeowners looking to tackle the task on their own.
For starters, painting over stucco can be extremely time-consuming. You need to work very carefully using several different primer applications before applying multiple coats of exterior paint and some protective finish coat.
A product that does everything at once will almost certainly end up costing more than you would pay if you purchased each item individually at the local home improvement store.
Secondly, it’s essential to understand that the exterior of your house is not like a wall in a home with standard drywall construction. Paint and primer, and even topcoats made for one kind of material, cannot protect another in the same way without coming up short in some ways.
When you want to paint stucco, you need to use products designed specifically for this purpose to avoid damage down the road.
This means choosing an exterior primer specially formulated for porous surfaces such as stucco and picking paints that use high-quality ingredients, including strong adhesive agents that help them stick better than lower quality products would.
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What Makes for a Good Primer?
Primer serves two separate functions when it comes to painting stucco. It acts as a base coat that can help your exterior paint stick better and last longer.
It is vital if you want the finished product to have a higher chance of lasting several years without requiring stucco repair or replacement.
What Makes for a Good Top Coat?
The topcoat should be relatively thick compared to other paints while remaining thin enough not to clog up your exterior paint sprayer or put too much weight on the surface below it once applied.
You need the finished product to be thin enough that it doesn’t interfere with the primer’s ability to protect the surface below but thick enough that it has a chance to do its job.
How Many Coats Should You Apply?
Multiple coats of exterior paint are required to get a professional-looking finish on your stucco walls. Like most painting projects, this will require at least two coats and sometimes as many as four or more if you have some bare spots or other problems which need special attention when applying the topcoat.
In general, the more time you put into painting your exterior wall starts with better planning and finishes with more time spent working on the project from start to finish.
Stucco Contractors
If you don’t have the time or desire to paint stucco yourself, you can always hire professional stucco contractors to get the job done for you.
Click the following link to check out the website of trusted and reliable stucco contractors: www.goldentrowelstucco.com/stucco-repair-calgary.
