Stucco’s Great Strength and History
Stucco looks like clay or cement and is one of the oldest types of siding material in the world. In fact, stucco was widely used in ancient Greece over a 1,000 years ago and is still being used today. Although today’s form of stucco is a bit more modern than what was used back then.
Stucco is a type of plaster that is most commonly used on the exterior of a building but can also be used on the interior of a building as well. Traditional stucco is made using lime, sand, and water, which is extremely strong and durable. However, there is another type of stucco that is most commonly used in today’s construction and it’s made using Portland Cement, sand and water. This form of stucco is less durable and will crack more easily. Stucco is applied to a building using a wire framework to help it adhere more easily and is usually applied in several layers.
There are plenty of advantages for using stucco on a home. For example, it’s very versatile and cost-effective. Stucco, in most cases, is very long lasting and extremely durable, which is why it’s such a popular option for many. Additionally, stucco is versatile enough that it can be somewhat customized. It can be applied smooth, rough or patterned. You can also add stones or other decorative features to it for a more customized look. Another great feature of stucco is that you can add color to the mixture to create any type of look you want. Or, if you prefer, you could select an acrylic finish. Stucco is very affordable and is virtually maintenance-free. And cement-based stucco resists fungus, rot and is insect resistant.
Stucco is fire resistant. In fact, stucco makes a great building surface that is durable, fire resistant and it can be added to just about any surface whether that be brick, wood or something else. Stucco is usually applied using two or three coats that have been applied over a metal reinforcing mesh. A one-inch layer of stucco could effectively add a one-hour fire rating to a wall.
If the stucco is new and fresh, it shouldn’t be painted. Stucco is porous and requires air to breathe and will, therefore, need to dry properly, which could take weeks. If you don’t allow it to dry, the moisture from the paint could become trapped causing it to bubble and peel as the water attempts to find a way to escape. However, once the stucco is dry, you can paint it. But of course, there are conditions to that as well.
If you have old stucco, it’s a good idea to very gently power wash it and let it dry before you start to paint. Additionally, if there is already stucco on your house, you can’t stucco over it as the new material won’t properly bond to the new paint and therefore will crack and fall off rather quickly. However, if the stucco is in good condition, you can easily paint over it usually without any problems.
Natural types of cement were frequently used in stucco mixes after their discovery in the United States during the 1820s. Portland cement was first manufactured in the United States in 1871, and it gradually replaced natural cement. After about 1900, most stucco was composed primarily of portland cement, mixed with some lime.
Stucco became a term for exterior plaster. When is unknown. Stucco has been used (exterior plaster) for 1000s of years, some historians say the pyramids were plastered white, over 4000 years ago. But what changed stucco, was the invention of Portland cement in 1843. In England, in a bricklayers kitchen, heating limestone hotter and hotter, it gave it more strength.
The Greeks and the Romans came up with a volcanic ash mixture 2000 years ago. There is a lot of great stucco work that pre-dates Portland cement, that has held up very well. Some 1000s of years old,
