Stucco Repair Baltimore
Everything you need to get going on your stucco projects
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Stucco is a ubiquitous material found on residential and commercial buildings around any city. It’s one of the more popular surfacing options because it’s low-cost, low-maintenance, and high function. It’s mostly used to cover up blemishes or unpleasing building materials like concrete, brick, nails and screws.
In addition, it’s also a great way of adding another protective barrier to your home or commercial property that can be finished and painted to satisfy your personal tastes. Now, you may be asking yourself: “What are the best stucco companies near me?” Charm City Masonry has you covered. In this article, we’ll discuss the types of stucco you can expect to find on the market, what their advantages and disadvantages are, and how you can go about installing and repairing your stucco. 
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What Are the Types of Stucco?
Traditional and Synthetic
There are two main types of stucco you’ll find on the market:
Traditional Stucco
Traditional stucco is created from a mixture of sand, lime, cement and water. The added cement makes traditional stucco very durable. Its simplicity makes it the cheaper and more popular option. Traditional stucco comes in powder form and in a variety of colours.
Synthetic Stucco
Synthetic or acrylic stucco doesn’t use cement or lime. Instead, acrylic resins and polymers are combined to create a glue-like consistency that works just as well as traditional stucco. However, unlike traditional stucco, synthetics are harder to find on the market and are more expensive. Synthetic stucco comes in a wet mixture and in a variety of colours.
Traditional Stucco
Traditional stucco is created from a mixture of sand, lime, cement and water. The added cement makes traditional stucco very durable. Its simplicity makes it the cheaper and more popular option. Traditional stucco comes in powder form and in a variety of colours.
Synthetic Stucco
Synthetic or acrylic stucco doesn’t use cement or lime. Instead, acrylic resins and polymers are combined to create a glue-like consistency that works just as well as traditional stucco. However, unlike traditional stucco, synthetics are harder to find on the market and are more expensive. Synthetic stucco comes in a wet mixture and in a variety of colours.
What are the Benefits of Stucco?
A great way to add protection
Stucco isn’t just used to cover blemishes. Since it can be applied externally, it’s been engineered to act as a protective barrier for your property. There are many benefits of stucco, these include:
- Durable against weather and debris
- Low-maintenance
- Fire-resistant
- Insect-resistant
- Sound insulating
- Thermal insulating
- Costs less than brick and stone siding
- Lasts up to 50 years
What are the Disadvantages of Stucco?
It’s a low-maintenance material, but does have its flaws
No matter which stucco you may be looking to add to your home or commercial building, installing stucco is considered a very difficult job. The stucco mixture and application must be perfect — especially if you want special finishes. And if you’re using the synthetic option, the job needs to be completed promptly because it does dry quickly.
In addition to installation challenges, stucco:
In addition to installation challenges, stucco:
- May crack easily as the wall expands and contracts with temperature changes — depending on the severity of the cracks, you may need professional stucco repair contractors to reseal your surface
- Will trap moisture between layers which can lead to rot and mould formation
Can I Paint My Stucco?
Customize your stucco
Despite what you may hear, it is possible to paint stucco walls. In fact, one of the benefits of painting stucco is you don’t have to worry about painting your cement, stone, or wood surfaces. It has to be done perfectly, though, since any moisture caught between the walls will breed mould and rot.
Before you paint stucco, you need to make sure the surface is free of dirt, cracks, and moisture. If there are any cracks, fill them with any good acrylic caulk before proceeding. If your stucco surface is textured, it might be difficult to clean the deep ridges, you’ll need to power wash and dry the wall. After the surface is properly sealed and cleaned, it is safe to paint.
Before you paint stucco, you need to make sure the surface is free of dirt, cracks, and moisture. If there are any cracks, fill them with any good acrylic caulk before proceeding. If your stucco surface is textured, it might be difficult to clean the deep ridges, you’ll need to power wash and dry the wall. After the surface is properly sealed and cleaned, it is safe to paint.
How to Install Stucco?
Leave it the professionals
Stucco installation can be very difficult as it involves several layers of application, needs to spread evenly, and depending on the type, needs to be applied quickly. Installing stucco is best left to professionals. Incomplete or inferior bonding can lead to bulging, separating, and cracking which can lead to mould and rot and will ultimately end up costing you a lot more money.
How to Repair Stucco?
The small cracks are easy to patch
Repairing stucco is a lot easier compared to its installation. Inspect the surface for any cracks or holes and fill them with acrylic or any other masonry-compatible caulking.
If you neglect to patch any cracks, depending on how long you’ve let the problem persist, you may need to hire professionals. Prolonged cracks can lead to rot and mould from moisture buildup and at that point, you’ll need contractors that specialize in stucco repair in Baltimore to properly assess any damages.
If you neglect to patch any cracks, depending on how long you’ve let the problem persist, you may need to hire professionals. Prolonged cracks can lead to rot and mould from moisture buildup and at that point, you’ll need contractors that specialize in stucco repair in Baltimore to properly assess any damages.
What Are the Different Stucco Finishes?
You can customize it to fit your tastes
After a traditional or synthetic coat of stucco has been installed, there are many types of finishes that can be applied, mainly for aesthetic reasons. Here are a few of them:
Float or Sand
This is the most common finish for commercial buildings. It’s a versatile finish that comes in coarse, fine, and medium blends and can be used on both traditional and synthetic surfaces. It’s a great option for those looking for a quick job as it only needs to be applied once and can be spread using a trowel or spray gun.
Dash
Dash finishes have a unique look that comes in light, medium, and heavy blends. This finish can take 1-3 coats on traditional or synthetic surfaces and is a great option for property owners who are concerned with cracking.
Lace and Skip
Lace and skip finishes are the rougher finishes that most people associate with stucco. Because of its rougher finish, lace is a great option for property owners looking to hide imperfections. It can be applied to both commercial and residential buildings with either a trowel or spray gun.
Float or Sand
This is the most common finish for commercial buildings. It’s a versatile finish that comes in coarse, fine, and medium blends and can be used on both traditional and synthetic surfaces. It’s a great option for those looking for a quick job as it only needs to be applied once and can be spread using a trowel or spray gun.
Dash
Dash finishes have a unique look that comes in light, medium, and heavy blends. This finish can take 1-3 coats on traditional or synthetic surfaces and is a great option for property owners who are concerned with cracking.
Lace and Skip
Lace and skip finishes are the rougher finishes that most people associate with stucco. Because of its rougher finish, lace is a great option for property owners looking to hide imperfections. It can be applied to both commercial and residential buildings with either a trowel or spray gun.
What is EIFS Stucco?
A different solution for your stucco needs
An EIFS or Exterior Insulation and Finish System is another synthetic stucco solution. It’s a multi-layered cladding designed to be a substitute for traditional cement stucco. Because of how it’s manufactured, EIFS cladding is 80% lighter, more flexible, and more water-resistant than its concrete counterpart. And like traditional stucco, you should rely on EIFS contractors in Baltimore to properly install it.
There are 6 layers that combine to form an EIFS:
Just like traditional and synthetic stucco, EIFS cladding can have a finishing administered to boost up presentation. Typically the finish is made up of an acrylic material but may need a different type of acrylic than ones used for hard cement stucco.
If you’ve been busy searching online for “exterior stucco contractors near me” then look no further. At Charm City Masonry, we recruit only the most qualified EIFS contractors to deliver top-quality exterior stucco repairs and other Baltimore masonry residential services.
There are 6 layers that combine to form an EIFS:
- Water-resistant barrier
- Adhesives to connect the substrate and the insulation
- Insulation board
- Mesh reinforcement
- Base coat
- Finishing coat
Just like traditional and synthetic stucco, EIFS cladding can have a finishing administered to boost up presentation. Typically the finish is made up of an acrylic material but may need a different type of acrylic than ones used for hard cement stucco.
If you’ve been busy searching online for “exterior stucco contractors near me” then look no further. At Charm City Masonry, we recruit only the most qualified EIFS contractors to deliver top-quality exterior stucco repairs and other Baltimore masonry residential services.
Stucco Repair Baltimore
Charm City Masonry — Your Trusted Baltimore Masonry Residential and Commercial Services
Stucco is an extremely versatile material that doesn’t just come in a variety of colours and textures but adds protective properties to any home or commercial building. It’s popular for a reason: it’s low-cost, low-maintenance and extremely functional.
But if you need help with your stucco repair in Baltimore, finding the right experts can be tricky.
Luckily, Charm City Masonry is trained to provide all of your stucco needs. Whether you’re looking for new stucco installations or assistance with your EIFS stucco repair, we’re always here to help.
If you’ve already taken the plunge and need stucco repair contractors to perform work on your home, our specialists are ready to go.
But if you need help with your stucco repair in Baltimore, finding the right experts can be tricky.
Luckily, Charm City Masonry is trained to provide all of your stucco needs. Whether you’re looking for new stucco installations or assistance with your EIFS stucco repair, we’re always here to help.
If you’ve already taken the plunge and need stucco repair contractors to perform work on your home, our specialists are ready to go.