Luxury, Value and Strength with Stucco
A traditional hard-coat stucco exterior system is extremely strong and durable because it essentially covers your home with a layer of rock. Cement stucco is made of sand, a small quantity of lime, Portland cement and water. Basically, it is a fine-grained concrete that is attached to your house using a waterproof barrier paper, galvanized wire mesh and metal flashings (devices that channel water to the exterior of a wall). The stucco's facade is meant to be a primary barrier, but a secondary or "concealed" barrier directs any water that gets behind the facade to the exterior. This creates a dual barrier to wind-driven rain, snow and ice.
While the service life of stucco can’t be quantified as a specific number of years, properly applied and maintained portland cement plaster, or stucco, is as durable as any commonly used cladding material. Its hard surface resists abrasion and can take a lot of physical abuse. It stands up to all sorts of climates, from cold to hot and wet to dry. Many homes built in the early 1900s have had very little maintenance and remain in good shape today.
Portland cement-based plaster, commonly called stucco, has long been and continues to be a popular choice for finishes on buildings. It allows for a wide expression of aesthetics, is a cost effective finish, is durable in all types of climates (especially wet ones), and offers fire resistance.
Stucco finishes are popular across North America. They lend themselves to nearly every type of architectural style. Certain styles can be enhanced with built-out shapes, such as cornices, quoins, or decorative tiles. Achieving these details on plaster finishes has evolved over time to today’s simple techniques.
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Cruz Custom Stucco & Plastering, Denver, Colorado
