If you have a stucco home, you are probably wondering how often should stucco be painted?

There is no simple answer to this question, and a lot will depend on the climate that you live in, the condition of your stucco, and how well it was painted previously. 

Let’s take a look at how to successfully maintain your stucco home. 

A Basic Timeframe

In an ideal world, stucco should last for a certain amount of time before you have to repaint it. We would recommend repainting stucco every 5-10 years. 

That is a pretty wide range, but there are reasons for that. Stucco should last for at least five years and can last for up to ten if it is painted correctly the first time and the conditions are right. You can never account for extreme weather such as hail. 

But, there are some things to keep in mind that will help you to set a schedule for your repainting. Let’s take a look at some of the things that can affect the stucco and how that can affect your painting schedule. 

Climate

There is a reason why stucco is popular in some areas and not in others, and that comes down to the climate.

Stucco is hard-wearing and durable, but it is not well-suited to more humid climates. That is not to say that you cannot have stucco if you live in a humid climate, but it is an exterior finish that is more used in dry climates. 

If you live in a dry climate, you are going to have stucco that will certainly last for five years, and likely closer to ten. In humid climates, adjust your painting schedule so that you are painting more frequently to protect the exterior of your home. 

Maintenance

Stucco does not take care of itself. It may be durable but, if you do not help to take care of it, you are going to have to repaint sooner rather than later. Thankfully it is easy to maintain your stucco and prolong the life of the finish, saving you some money in the process. 

Washing the stucco is the best way to keep it in optimum condition. You can use soapy water and a soft brush to wash the stucco down, and then a hose to rinse it off. Start from the top of the wall and work your way down to the bottom. 

Pay particular attention to any areas with excess dirt, tree sap, etc. The cleaner the stucco wall is, the longer it is going to last, and the less frequently you are going to have to repaint it. 

Paint Quality

The quality of the paint is also a factor when you are creating a repainting schedule. It may seem cost-effective to opt for cheaper paint, but you might be costing yourself more money in the long run. 

If you use high-quality paint, the paint is going to last and will not start to chip and crack before it should. Shop around for the best paint deal, but always go for the high-quality paint over the low-quality paint if you want to protect the stucco. 

Be careful too if you live in a climate where temperatures get below freezing. Cheap paint can crack and flake with the first frost. Look for an elastomeric paint to protect against freezing temperatures. 

Touch-Ups

A painting schedule should not only mean repainting the entire house every 5-10 years, but it also means checking for small cracks and flakes and taking care of them before they become bigger problems. 

We recommend checking your home once at the end of summer and once at the end of winter. You want to look for small hairline cracks, tiny chips, and some flaking. By touching up those areas, you are protecting the stucco without having to repaint the entire house. 

A few touch-ups are not going to replace regular repainting, but they could be the difference between repainting every five years and repainting every ten years. 

Application

It does not matter if you are touching up small spots or repainting the entire house if you do not do it correctly, the paint is not going to last. 

You can apply the best-quality paint, but without the right preparation and technique, you are going to have to repaint before you should. 

Paint essentially acts like a glue and anything that gets between the paint and the surface is going to stop it from doing its job. Before you repaint your home, you should ensure that the surface is clean and free of debris. 

The best way to do this is to powerwash the sides of your house to remove the loose paint and dirt. After you let the surfaces dry, you can apply the paint to your home. 

Again, this can be the difference between the paint lasting five years or ten years. 

To ensure that everything is done correctly and efficiently, we would always recommend going with the professionals when it comes to stucco. It will cost you some money, but it is money well spent. 

Weather Conditions

We mentioned the climate, and that is important to keep in mind, but there are other conditions that you should think about too. 

If you have any extreme weather, such as heatwaves, storms, hail, hurricanes, frost, snow, extreme cold, or anything else that could damage your home, then the 5-10 year estimate can be way off. There are some things that you cannot plan for in life, so be sure to check the condition of your home after any of these events. 

Final Thoughts

Essentially, your stucco should last 5-10 years. 

As you have read, there are some things that you cannot control, but much that you can. 

When the stucco is painted for the first time, it is important that it is done correctly. After that, the stucco should be maintained, and you give it the best chance of lasting for a long time.