Stucco is a great material for the outside of your house, and a lot of people utilize this popular building material. It’s classy, hard-wearing, and attractive, but like all building materials, it won’t look good indefinitely. Instead of paying to have all the stucco on your house redone, you might be wondering whether you can just freshen it up with paint.
The outside of your house is an important thing to consider, as it’s the first thing that visitors to your home will see. Since first impressions are important, assessing the stucco and checking whether it needs some care and attention is a key part of keeping your home in its best possible condition.
Can you paint stucco? Paint is a great way to make your stucco look bright and new again, although you should be aware that new stucco needs to dry completely before it can be painted. If you paint stucco that is still wet, or when there’s too much moisture in the air, you can trap moisture in the stucco, which will cause problems.
Can Stucco Be Painted?
Stucco can be painted in many cases, but you need to make sure it’s clean and dry first. Don’t paint stucco that is still wet (it should cure for around 2 weeks first), and don’t paint stucco when the air is extremely humid. However, in general, you can paint stucco, and doing so has multiple advantages. It’s a great way to make your home look better!
Most people choose to paint their stucco to make it look better, but there are other advantages associated with painting. Paint can help to seal moisture out of the stucco, which will make it last better. The paint essentially works like sealant, as long as you keep it in good condition.
Furthermore, paint can seal cracks in your stucco, although you shouldn’t use this for large cracks. These need to be professionally sealed before you can paint the wall, or they may let moisture into the wall. Always repair any damage before painting if you want your paint to last well and look good.
Paint will also help to reduce the damage that UV does to your stucco, and may again improve its longevity. You do need to replace the paint eventually, as it will break down under UV, but this will help the more expensive wall to last for longer.
Finally, painting stucco is a great solution if you don’t like the color of your home. You can easily lighten or darken the wall using paint, and this will be significantly cheaper than changing the stucco.
What Kind of Paint Do You Need for Stucco?
Because stucco is an exterior material, you need to use an exterior paint. This is resistant to water, sun, cold, heat, etc. and it should last for several years. Interior paint will quickly bubble, peel, crack, and come off. In most cases, you should use an acrylic latex exterior paint.
Acrylic latex paints offer the best moisture resistance, meaning that they will last particularly well on your wall. Some people also choose elastomeric paints, as these are excellent at providing an even coat on a textured surface. That makes them particularly well suited to painting stucco. Masonry paints may also work well.
It’s important to be aware that most exterior paints emit toxic fumes when they are first applied. You need to wear a mask and work in a well-ventilated space – which you are likely to be doing if you are painting stucco. If you are going to be using a spray to apply the paint, you need to be particularly careful about having an appropriate mask.
How Do You Paint Stucco?
Before painting stucco, make sure you have allowed it to cure for at least 2 weeks after it is applied to your wall. If you’re painting older stucco, it needs to be repaired and cleaned first. Fill any cracks with an appropriate substance, and thoroughly wash the stucco, preferably with a power washer, to remove any debris from it.
Next, use a masonry primer to prepare the surface for paint. It is usually easiest to use a sprayer when applying primer or paint to stucco, as its textured surface isn’t suitable for brushes or rollers. Once the primer coat is dry, spray on your exterior paint, and allow the first coat to dry before adding a second.
Two coats may be enough, or you might need more if you are changing the color of the stucco. Remember to let each coat dry thoroughly before you add the next coat.
How Often Do You Need to Paint Stucco?
One of the drawbacks of painting stucco is that you then have to repaint it frequently to ensure its appearance is maintained. The paint will gradually crack and peel, and will need to be reapplied. How frequently this is necessary will depend heavily on your environment and how harsh the elements are.
You should inspect your stucco paint annually to determine whether it needs repainting. Check for signs of bubbling and peeling, especially in areas where the paint is exposed to moisture or a lot of sun.
Some people say that stucco should not be painted because this introduces the need to repaint it every few years. However, the paint will extend the lifespan of the stucco.
You will have to decide whether you are prepared to do regular maintenance to reduce the bigger costs and projects, or whether you would rather replace the stucco when it begins to wear out. This will help you to determine whether painting it is a good idea for you or not.
Final Thoughts
Stucco walls can be painted once the stucco has fully cured, although you need to do this during dry weather so there’s no risk of trapping moisture against the stucco. Done properly, a paint job will protect your stucco from moisture and UV damage, and help it to last for much longer. It’s a great way to revitalize old stucco and to change the aesthetic of your home.
