Our Services

Stucco can be applied over standard, wood frame walls in a three-coat process and over masonry and poured concrete walls in a two-coat application.

- Before starting each project we check local building codes for wall assembly and moisture barrier requirements in your area. Weather-resistant stucco walls require the use of two layers of grade D waterproof building paper over the wall sheeting including plywood, OSB, exterior gypsum board and concrete board, before the application of the base coat. We attach the waterproof building paper, overlapping vertical and horizontal seams by specific lengths and extending the paper around corners typically up to 16 inches.

- Once this is in place we install all trim accessories, before installing weep screeds along the bottom edges to allow any water that has entered the wall to escape.

- Casing beads are typically installed to terminate stucco neatly at the end of the wall and to act as a guide to help maintain a consistent stucco thickness.

- We then install galvanized expanded metal lath or wire stucco netting over the entire surface, overlapping horizontal and vertical seams typically by 1-2 inches, held in place using galvanized nails or staples applied to a depth of at least one inch into the studs.

- Where necessary, we place control joints to create wall panels no larger than 144 square feet, keeping the panels as square as possible. Stucco will shrink as it hardens and cures. Control joints help reduce the potential for shrinkage cracking.

- We use expansion joints anywhere there are existing wall expansion joints and at inside corners and changes in substrate. Expansion joints are designed to allow for the expansion and contraction of the stucco wall panels with changes in temperature.

- We install corner trim on all outside edges to protect the exposed stucco and to provide clean finished lines.

- Once the substrate is properly prepared we can move on to the base coat stucco application. Where available, our product of choice is QUIKRETE Base Coat Stucco and QUIKRETE Base Coat Stucco with Water-Stop in a traditional three coats system over wood sheeting and as the base for a two-coat application over masonry or concrete. These pre-blended stuccos are highly workable for hand-applied stucco applications and have the high bond strength required for a successful project.

First we mix the base coat stucco to a workable consistency, which is achieved when the stucco hangs on a trowel held at a 90-degree angle. Stucco that is mixed too wet will sag. Stucco that is mixed too dry will not adhere properly to the metal lath.

Using a square trowel, we apply the base coat stucco using firm trowel pressure to force the stucco into the lath. Working from the bottom of the wall up, we apply the stucco at a thickness of about three-eighths of an inch over the entire area. Then, using a straight edge or darby, we screed the stucco to a uniform depth of 3/8 of an inch thick.

- Once the stucco is thumb print hard, we scratch 1/8" deep horizontal grooves into the base coat across the entire area with a raking tool. This step is commonly referred to as the 'scratch' coat, which is then left to cure for 24-48 hours, keeping the surface of the stucco damp with a fine water mist. This helps to reduce shrinkage cracking, especially in hot dry conditions which are common in Florida from November through May.

- We then mix and apply another 3/8 inch layer of base coat stucco directly to the scratch coat. This step is called the brown coat. Using a straight board or darby, we screed the brown coat surface to a true even 3/8 inch thickness. The total combined base coat depth should be three-quarters of an inch thick.

- As soon as the stucco has lost its sheen, we float the surface uniformly, and then cure the base coat with a fine water mist for 24 to 48 hours. For two-coat applications over masonry block walls and poured concrete walls, the scratch coat step is eliminated from the process. We simply dampen the wall, apply the brown coat and then screed and float the surface to a uniform 3/8 inch thickness.

- Now that the base coat is complete, we use a finish coat stucco to provide numerous decorative color and texture options for your stucco wall. Popular textures include heavy lace, light lace, dash, sand float and smooth finishes. Working from the bottom of the wall to the top, we apply a consistent 1/8" thick coating of finish coat stucco. We then use a whisk brush to lightly dash finish coat stucco onto the wall. Then, we use a trowel to knock down and flatten the stucco. For a heavier texture, we first spread the finish coat stucco in a thin application to achieve good color coverage and then double back with a heavier uneven application. Once the heavy coat begins to harden, we knock the finish down with a trowel creating a heavy lace finish. If a smooth finish is your preference, we will use a trowel or sponge float in a circular motion.

- We make sure to complete the entire wall in one application as this helps to limit any color inconsistencies from batch to batch. We then keep the surface damp for several days by applying a fine water mist.