In the Dallas – Fort Worth area, stucco is growing as a popular choice for many residential and commercial buildings. Many people enjoy the natural look of this durable service, but also consider concrete and brick as an option for the natural (non-siding) look.
In this post we’re going to take a look at three key things to consider with stucco as a building material.
Stucco or E.I.F.S.?
EIFS (Exterior Insulation Finishing System) is commonly referred to as stucco, but it is actually different. EIFS is made from several layers of material designed to insulate and moisture-protect the wall.
Traditional stucco, in contrast, uses 3 coats of material and can be almost an 1″ thick (whereas EIFS is typically a 1/4 of an inch). When you knock on the wall of a suspected stucco/EIFS building, EIFS will have a hollow sound whereas the traditional stucco will be more solid sounding.
Should I Choose Brick or Stucco?
We have a whole post dedicated to brick vs. stucco, but people attracted to brick homes tend to like how uniform and structured they look whereas stucco lovers enjoy their unique look and customization with colors that can be utilized.
When it comes to repairs, stucco offers cheaper and more options than brick…so that consideration should be noted for long-term care of a building.
Stucco Color Options
As previously mentioned, one of the main benefits to stucco is the many choices in colors. For guidance in color selection, see out post on stucco colors, but note that when selecting a color for your building, you should always view it under as many different light sources as possible.
The look of your home’s stucco color may look drastically different when lit with fluorescent lighting at night versus the direct sunlight you see during the day.
Also considering the surrounding elements and trim color of your home, and even the foliage, can help make that color selection process more accurate…ensuring you select the right color.
