How to stucco

Introduction

Wall and ceilings can be almost impossible to repair. Repairing cracks and other flaws in walls and ceilings can be very time consuming and also expensive, not to mention a lot of work. Hide those cracks and give the room a new look with stucco paint.

Tools needed:

• Bucket and a sponge
  
• Putty knife or paint scraper
  
• Paint roller with a loop-textured roller cover
  
• Stiff brush
  
• Metal comb
  
• Trowel
  
• Utility knife
  
• 3-inch paint roller
  
• Step ladder

Materials needed:

• Plastic drop cloths
  
• Masking tape
  
• Strong household detergent
  
• Textured or stucco paint
  
• Spackling compound
  
• Piece of scrap plywood
  
• Liquid detergent

Moderate level of difficulty.

Preparation:

1. Decide if you want to use textured or stucco paint. Light textured paints are more for walls and ceilings with minor flaws. This type of paint is mixed with sand and other small aggregates. Heavy stucco paints are for walls and ceilings that are really bad. This type of paint can be applied with a trowel roller. Read the paint can carefully, many times the worse the wall, means the more paint that will be needed. Some stucco covers only about 25 square feet per gallon can.

2. If you will be applying the stucco to the ceiling or if there are surfaces that will require preparation, you will need to move the furniture out of the room. If you are stuccoing just walls, with no large cracks, you can leave the furniture in the room. But all the drapes, pictures and rugs will need to be removed. Move the furniture, if there is any, to the middle of the room and cover it with plastic drop cloths, also cover the floor with plastic drop cloths. Use masking tape to protect light fixtures, woodwork and face plates. If the room is dirty, clean the surfaces with a strong household detergent and hot water, rinse and let dry completely. Use a putty knife or paint scraper to fill in large cracks with spackle compound. Let the areas dry completely for at least 8 hours. If the spackling compound shrinks or cracks, apply more compound to smooth the patched areas, and again let the areas dry completely. Sanding will not be necessary.

Choosing the effect:

3. With a roller spread the lightly textured paint, if you are using thick stucco paint, use a trowel or a special loop-text roller cover. Use a piece of scrap plywood to experiment with the paint until you know what effect you want. Use a trowel to get a random texture, use a roller for a uniform stippled effect. Depending on the humidity, the paint can start to set up in as little as fifteen minutes. To produce further effects, apply more paint. You can brush it into waves with a stiff brush or use a metal comb to make random cross-hatching. A sponge can be used to blob it, or wind a sturdy cord around a roller and roll up and down to already applied paint to get a bark texture. Experiment with paint until you find the effect you want. Also make sure you have mastered the technique used to get that effect.

Applying the paint:

4. After deciding on a texture, apply paint to surfaces, ceiling should be done first. Paint corners and edges first and then fill in the main areas. Paint walls by starting at a corner and working around the room, spreading and texturing as you go.

5. Let paint dry at least 8 hours, after the stucco is dry remove masking tape. Water and liquid detergent can be used if there is any clean up that is needed.