Stucco is a famous decorative material used to conceal concrete, clay brick, cinder blocks and adobe, which are less appealing during construction. Traditionally, stucco was used as an exterior wall construction and ornamental material as opposed to plaster, which is used inside the building. Both of these materials were conventionally made of lime and sand. After the 19th century, stucco was added with Portland cement, which increased the sturdiness of the stucco.
Stucco Application
Stucco is added to a wall when it is still wet; as it hardens, it becomes more dense and solid. Though Stucco is a really powerful material, it can eventually deteriorate because of environmental issues, weather conditions, or accidents.
Stucco Restoration
In order to restore stucco to its former glory, the process of stucco repair is performed. How should one proceed with stucco repair? The very first thing that a homeowner or a building owner should do is to assess the damage that the stucco material has received. One of the most common reasons for stucco repair is water damage. When assessing for a stucco repair, a homeowner should check whether it was excessively exposed to water. Due to years and years of exposure to moisture, rust would eventually cover the metal that is connected to the stucco and that could be one of the causes as to why it has pulled away from its bond. If the stucco is connected to wood, moisture will eventually cause the wood to rot.
After assessing the damage that the stucco has sustained, the next thing to do is to check whether it can be repaired using only paint or if an expert should be asked to conduct a thorough stucco inspection. If a complete stucco repair and restoration were needed, it would be better having someone analyze the composition of the stucco in order to recreate the product. After the analysis, one can recreate the material in order to keep the integrity of the stucco wall or the stucco decorative fixture. Sometimes though, only a part of the stucco needs repair. When this happens, it is also necessary to assess the color of the stucco in order to copy the original material color.
If the damage is too much, it would be better relinquishing the stucco repair task to a knowledgeable person or an expert in order to ensure that the repair will be fruitful. This is done especially if one is trying to repair a historical place like a dome or a cathedral that used stucco as ceiling decorative fixture. Do-it-yourself repairs of stucco can be quite a large feat for those that don’t have hands-on experience. Consider all your options before tackling stucco repair or stucco restoration.