Changing the paint on your home’s interior walls might be necessary for home beautification, but exterior walls need constant repainting because changing seasons can damage your paint job and make your house look ugly. You might need a fresh coat of paint to freshen up the look of the building, especially if it shows considerable signs of wear.
Stucco is an exterior finish for homes created by layering materials such as cement, sand, and lime. This combination creates a rough appearance of walls. If you're planning to paint the stucco walls of your home or office building, you need careful consideration.
Here are some steps that you should examine before you hire a crew to paint your exterior stucco walls.
Consider the entire surface and check for the areas which need the most attention, such as peeling paint, rust stains, or cracks on the wall. Peeling paint is caused by water damage and might require a closer look before painting.
Aside from the usual damages, efflorescence deposits can also be present in stucco exterior walls. These deposits are from the water which travels through stucco walls, picking up alkaline salts and depositing it on the surface or behind the layer of paint. You need to use a masonry cleaner for heavy efflorescence deposits.
Pressure washing must be carried out carefully in to clean the stucco wall before painting. Keep the spray tip a foot away from the wall and begin the process from the top of the wall to the bottom. Keep the pressure on a moderate level. Too low pressure will not remove loose paint and dirt from the wall. Too high pressure can remove portions of the stucco wall and damage your exterior wall.
Do not apply anything on the stucco wall if the wall is still wet. Allow the wall to dry before proceeding with the next step. Drying the wall can take up to one day or more, depending on the weather and level of humidity.
Seal all the cracks before painting the stucco wall. The paint job will not look good if the paint is uneven in some areas. Caulks and sealants can be used to seal wall cracks. You can use Elastomeric caulk as a sealant.
Aside from cracks, loose stucco can also damage stucco walls. Loose stucco should be removed and must be filled in with the same texture of patching compound as the original stucco wall. After removing the loose stucco with a putty knife, rinse the area of remaining small pieces or powder. When dry, apply the patching compound twice.
Choose the best primer for your walls. You can choose between an acrylic masonry primer or an exterior all-purpose acrylic primer.
Stucco painting requires the best paint if you want a good finish. When choosing the type of paint for your exterior wall, go for high-quality paint. Some paint brands are more durable but more expensive than others. A recommended category for stucco painting is the acrylic-latex category.
Assess how many coats of paint you need for your exterior wall. Stucco absorbs paint in the same way that it absorbs moisture. To achieve the sufficient coverage for your wall, prepare enough paint for multiple coats, even if it ends up being more expensive.
Choose the best materials to ensure good, quality painting. You can use a lambswool roller cover for the first layer of painting on stucco walls. Apply two coats of paint when using the roller because this will fill in the pores of the stucco wall properly. As recommended by many, you can use an airless paint sprayer for the main painting of the stucco wall.
Choose the best weather for painting. If the weather forecast shows humid weather, consider rescheduling your wall painting. Stucco absorbs air humidity, and this will cause issues when painting over stucco exterior walls. The moisture will get trapped beneath the wet paint. When your paint dries, you'll find air bubbles with water on the surface which will ruin your stucco painting, and you'll have to repeat the process all over again.
Following the process above like checking the surface, examining for Efflorescence deposits, and using the best paint will ensure that your stucco paint will remain strong and can stand against harsh weather conditions. The paint will last longer, making your paint job a worthy investment.
Lisa Jones is a freelance writer with a passion for home beautification. It can be seen in her social media posts which exhibits her knowledge of practical and useful tips for home improvement.