stucco wallThere are numerous ways to attractively decorate the interior or exterior of your home. Many people choose to go with a natural design, leaving the building material (such as brick or concrete) as the key design element. On the other hand, some may find that the aesthetic attraction of stucco may be better suited on top of that plain concrete surface. So with that said, let’s look at the difference between stucco and concrete.

Stucco

A wall that has a stucco surface is meant to be decorative, as stucco by itself has no strength for supporting and is not meant to hold up the weight of the home. Typically, the material is made up of a combination of an aggregate, water, and a binding agent. Beneath the material, another type of masonry based structure must be present, such as brick or wood, or even cement. Typically, after the material has been applied to the wall, it will be given a coarse or rough finish.

Concrete

Concrete, on the other hand, is an extremely sturdy and reliable material that is made out of a combination of cement and water, with addition stone aggregate added to the mix for strength. Typically, sand and gravel are used as an aggregate, though carefully measuring the water is the most important part of the process. Too much much water will weaken the strength of the cement, while too little will keep it from being easily molded and applied.

Which is Better?

While both of these materials can be applied to the surfaces of your home for aesthetic appeal, one is better suited to the task than the other. Stucco is specially designed to have the rough and tumble, almost rustic or urban decorative appeal of concrete without all of the weight and difficulty in application.

Concrete, on the other hand, is almost entirely used for functional purposes, such as laying down the structural framework of a home. Concrete will typically be laid in places that will need to resist wear and tear and large amounts of stress.

Stucco will typically be used in vertical applications, such as for walls and borders. Concrete, on the other hand, is much tougher and heavier, and will typically be used to fill in cracks or act as a horizontal support. Both of these materials are used regularly in construction projects, and play different roles in bringing a building together.

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