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I am contemplating stuccoing a block wall that runs around my back yard. The wall is 6’tall and 135’long (I need to stucco only one side). I can paint it for less than $100. The estimates to stucco run from $1400 to $1800. I’m still weighing whether I dislike the look of paint THAT much. I’m told (by a co-worker)that I may have to paint it even if I stucco it due to the potential for water/dirt staining.
I’m toying with the idea of tackling the stucco job myself (I know it’s crazy). I was hoping that someone out there could give me some advice on whether I need to brown coat first or if I can go right to a finish coat, and also if I will need to paint it to prevent water damage. I’d like to assure that at least the steps and materials are correct. I’ll have to worry the application end of it.
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Your co-worker is right. If you stucco it you may have to paint. But, if you paint you will have to repaint, too. As the stucco stains and discolors, it may well develop a pleasing patina. The paint will look like dirty paint.
Yes you have to brown coat to cover the block joints. This is actually a good project for diy. Stucco over block is fairly easy to do and hard to screw up. You can proceed at your own pace until you get the hang of it. By the time you finish the brown coat you should be fairly proficient. You don't need a mixer, you can mix small batches in a wheel barrow. You will probably get good results with a 3 to 1 mix of plaster sand and plastic cement. You can buy color coat either premixed or as a base with a box of color to be added. You need to mix a full sack at a time, in either case. You apply a smooth color coat and then texture. Don't try to apply the color and texture in one step.
*Scott, What Mike said is correct for a real stucco job.If you want to hide the block's mortar joints but don't want to go to all the trouble of a real stucco job, then try this: Buy several large bags of fiberglass cement; they have different trade names such as "B Bond" or "Fibercoat" etc. Its essentially a portland cement ready mix that contains fiberglass "hairs" in the mix. You mix this stuff up in a wheel barrow and trowel it onto the block. (dampen the block with water prior to spreading this mix on. Using a long plasterer's trowel will give you a smooth look, and a triangular mason's trowel will give you a rougher look. This stuff goes on real thin; no thicker than a 1/4 inch. A few bags will go a long way. I did about 500 square feet and only used 4 bags. They cost around $12 to $16 depending where you buy them. You do have to dampen these walls for a few days during the curing process. Yes they can get dirt stained later on. This stuff comes in grey or white.Another product called "Thoroseal" is almost the same stuff. It too comes in grey or white. This product is different than the B-Bond, but you can trowel this on and when finished, gives the same effect. The Thoroseal runs closer to $20 a bag and won't go as far, but you can put this stuff on thicker than the B-Bond if you like, and this stuff can better imitate the look of real stucco over the B-Bond products.This was just a thought if your looking for something "quick & dirty", rather than spending a lot of time on a real stucco job.But, Yes, I think a stucco type wall looks better than a plain block wall any day of the week; even if the stucco winds up being painted; which normally does'nt look too bad painted anyway.Good luck on whatever you decideDavo
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I am contemplating stuccoing a block wall that runs around my back yard. The wall is 6'tall and 135'long (I need to stucco only one side). I can paint it for less than $100. The estimates to stucco run from $1400 to $1800. I'm still weighing whether I dislike the look of paint THAT much. I'm told (by a co-worker)that I may have to paint it even if I stucco it due to the potential for water/dirt staining.
I'm toying with the idea of tackling the stucco job myself (I know it's crazy). I was hoping that someone out there could give me some advice on whether I need to brown coat first or if I can go right to a finish coat, and also if I will need to paint it to prevent water damage. I'd like to assure that at least the steps and materials are correct. I'll have to worry the application end of it.