Understanding Stucco Application Products


Applying stucco is usually a multi-step process, and depending on the desired outcome may involve several products. If you're new to understanding how to use a stucco plaster mix or some of the other stucco products, it really helps to have a basic appreciation for the process, if only to sort out the options that will be presented to you for your job. Read this blog to find out more about using stucco.

What's in a Name

There are several different products and functions to understand:
  • Scratch and brown coat(s) - This refers to the different stucco coats, as the majority of stucco applications involve more than one coat. The scratch coat is the first coat, and is often finished with a rough, or scratched, finish to provide good adherence for the next coat. The brown coat is the second coat, and is finished more smoothly than the scratch coat. The brown coat is meant to be covered by the finish coat. The scratch coat will often be applied over lath, which usually consists of wire and paper, although it can be applied over cement blocks or brick.
  • A stucco mix - Stucco's will have different mixtures of materials, and often additional product added to improve performance. These will make them more waterproof, or water resistant; better as a scratch and base product, or a finish coat.

It Takes Time

All of these stucco's are mixed with water to a "batter" like consistency. This allows them to be applied more evenly, but it means they must dry thoroughly after each application. General rules suggest a scratch coat will need up to 5 days to dry, and a brown coat as long as four weeks. This is, as you would expect, greatly affected by temperature and humidity. In very hot weather, all concrete products must be dried more slowly, or they run the risk of cracking. There are also issues with cold weather. These challenges and others are one of the reasons application of stucco surfaces may not be a good DIY project but best left for professionals.

In Summary

As you launch your project, especially if it's one you haven't done before, you discover it may be more complicated than anticipated. Most times, you can't walk into your retailer and grab any old stucco plaster mix. But understanding how it all works is much better than being in the dark.

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