Restuccoing, not the Same as Applying Your Average Drywall

Restuccoing can be a difficult task to tackle by yourself. Photo Credit: Jeremy Levine Design

The process of restuccoing versus applying drywall is very different. Stucco is an ancient building material that became popular in California, the Southwest, and Florida. During a post-war building boom of the 1950s and 60’s, stucco homes sprang up in large communities throughout most of California.

If you’re stuck with stucco, the re-application method involves layering several different coats of stucco to complete the process. Applying drywall may only require a couple passes with joint compound and then some sanding. Obviously the biggest difference between the two is stucco goes on wet, and requires a skilled craftsman to texture it.

• Restuccoing walls can be a very detailed job, but it’s necessary if layers of paint have been applied to the walls. It’s important to remove the paint. New stucco cannot adhere to paint by itself, sandblasting exterior walls or adding stucco adhesion to the interior walls will solve the problem.
• The new stucco will create a whole new appearance, plus, it seals cracks and prevents future deterioration. Three separate coats should be applied. The first is called a “scratch” coat. Followed by the “brown” or second coat, and then finally the finishing coat is applied.  Some contractors used just two to save time and money. Synthetic stucco can be used as well. This type of stucco is a little more water resistant than the natural stuff.
• When applying the latest styles and textures, make sure to hire a savvy mud man. Molding brand new stucco requires great skill and experience. An amateur should never attempt this phase of the project. If you’re dealing with exterior stucco, you can usually get by with a good power wash and then roll or spray on a finishing coat of stucco.
• Applying drywall shares a few of the same techniques as restuccoing, but ultimately, the finished product should always look perfect. A good drywall job is free of bumps, depressions, ridges, and waves. This can be accomplished by using a feathering technique. It spreads the compound out until you have a smooth surface. Apply one or two coats of mud over the joint tape and sand down until the surface looks smooth and professional. Sand all areas that appear uneven or low.
• Now it’s time to finish the ceiling. With a 12-inch trowel, apply a layer of compound over the entire ceiling, then go back with your trowel and scrap off most of the mud. This will leave you with a thin layer of mud on the ceiling. Allow it to dry and sand down any rough spots. Continue this ploy until corners and joint areas are smooth looking.

In the end, both restuccoing and drywalling procedures are time consuming and require a skilled craftsman to finish the job properly.

SOURCES:

http://stucco-plaster-drywall.com/Stucco.htm

http://hometime.com/Howto/projects/drywall/drwl_5.htm

http://modamas.com/articles/stucco.html

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