As a homeowner, you must know that house exteriors are generally built out of multiple layers that work together in tandem with each other. However, the most important and visible layer of them all, which directly affects the home’s lifespan, is simply the outermost layer – otherwise known as cladding or siding.
When it comes to some of the sought-after cladding materials or types, they include:
- Vinyl Siding
- Fibre Cement Panels
- Plywood
- Stucco Finish
What Do You Mean By A Stucco Finish?
Professional home inspection in Georgetown states that stucco is a typical cement-type mixture that is created out of water, sand, lime and Portland cement. This classification of finish is considered to be a thin coating and can be painted too.
If you want to make stucco finish work, you’ll need to ensure that the underneath layers or structures are providing an adequate base for the same. In the present-day market, you don’t need to create stucco finish from raw materials anymore because you’ll have the option to purchase ready-made ones from the market. These ready-made ones only require the addition of water.
What Are The Merits Of Using A Stucco Finish?
It should be perceived that stucco can not only be painted with regular exterior home paints but also can be tinted to add colour, rather than directly painting, leading to colour fastness. Since stucco is created by hand, the texture can be changed in a variety of methods. Such is the reason why stucco can be used to decorate creative establishments.
Apart from the above-mentioned advantages, stucco is also considered to be considerably cheaper than other types of siding. This is because stucco doesn’t use any expensive materials for the same. Furthermore, stucco also creates brilliant coverage against snow and rain on your home walls because of its seamless coverage.
What Are The Demerits Of Using A Stucco Finish?
One of the significant disadvantages of using stucco is that – it can be easily damaged over time. Case in point, if your home is surrounded by trees, and the tree branches hit your house’s exterior wall, then the crust will quickly flake off.
Moreover, repairing damaged stucco finished walls is also difficult. Compared to other siding types where the damaged area is simply replaced with another intact one, stucco must be re-applied by creating a mixture and using a trowel. Once done, the finish must be left to dry or cure for almost a full day.
Since stucco is installed generally by professionals, it’s not suggested to opt for DIY procedures for the same. And even though a stucco finish can last more than 50 years or higher, you’ll still need to maintain the surface properly to achieve such lifespan.
