Stucco-ing

[horrocks007]

I just talked to a contracter who came up in google as a stucco supply company. He made it sound like a DYI'er could not do the stucco themselves because of texture blah, clolor blah, blah, here's a phone number to a guy, run-around.

I have never stuccoed before, do think I will have a problem?

I am having a hard time finding places that sell stucco, should I just use cement and paint it?

Any insight here would be appreciated!

[dbhansen]

If you're doing it after constructing the rest of the oven, it's pretty easy (i.e., once you've gained experience mixing and applying mortar, etc.). I was a complete stucco newbie but mine turned out good enough for me (with a few hairline cracks here and there). I used Quikwall surface bonding cement. The hardest part for me was keeping it wet while it cured (thus the cracks). You can paint the surface or (better yet) incorporate the color in the top layer. I left mine white.

[stonylake]

i used STO products, and got great application advice from the local distributor... used a couple of hard plastic floats and it turned out great.

[Cheesesteak]

Originally Posted by horrocks007

I just talked to a contracter who came up in google as a stucco supply company. He made it sound like a DYI'er could not do the stucco themselves because of texture blah, clolor blah, blah, here's a phone number to a guy, run-around.

I have never stuccoed before, do think I will have a problem?

I am having a hard time finding places that sell stucco, should I just use cement and paint it?

Any insight here would be appreciated!

You can get stucco at your local big-box hardware stores. Alternatively - Type S Mortar (also called Type S Mortar / Stucco) can be used - at least for the scratch and brown coats.

Stucco is just sand/cement/lime, in different proportions depending on what type of finish you're looking for.

[Tscarborough]

You can do stucco yourself, but you need to educate yourself a little first.

[horrocks007]

If I use the stucco from the hardware store, how to I color it? Or should I paint it?

[Cheesesteak]

You can get stucco color - probably from that same hardware store:

QUIKRETE® - Stucco & Mortar Color (Liquid)

http://www.sakrete.com/products/deta...co-Color-Packs

or paint it. I prefer to put the color in the stucco - that way the color is all the way through . . .

[Mike D]

How do you get the stucco to have a smooth finish (no texture)? I am planning on putting a stucco around the base and want to give it a simple smooth kind of modern look.

Mike

[horrocks007]

Hey, your pirating my thread!

But good question too. I am looking for a rough texture, like sand paper.

Those who are in the know- How do you get the different types of textures?

[Tscarborough]

Stucco is simple. It is also very hard. Anyone can slap mud (cement/sand/water) onto a structure, but to do it right is not so simple. Done wrong, it will crack, it will fade, and will look like hammered dogchit. If you want to stucco an igloo shape, you will have to accept cracking and allow for a path for water to exit the wall and not soak your insulation.

Personally, I know how to design, detail, and apply stucco, and I would never do it for an igloo shape. I have not been able to noodle out suitable detailing to prevent water infiltration, although I have only been thinking about it for a year or so.

First, do not use emulsified colors. They are not colorfast. Use powdered iron oxides (or rare earth minerals if you want blue or green (not recommended for exterior use)).

Second, accept that it is going to crack and plan accordingly.

Finally, realize that asking something like, "how do I stucco" is akin to asking, "how do I fix a car". In either case, you need to educate yourself a lot more so that you will have the knowledge to ask specific questions on things you do not understand.