Maybe you have a stucco finish on the exterior of your home or want to add one. It does not matter, for you are going to need to paint the stucco at some point, and there are some things that you should know before you do.
Painting stucco is different from other materials and you need to do it right if you want the finish to last. If you want the paint to last, follow our three simple tips for great results.
Pressure Wash & Prep the Area
Before you paint stucco, it needs to be clean. This goes for every type of surface, but especially for stucco. When you paint stucco, the paint soaks into the stucco, and you are going to need a few coats of paint. For this reason, you should have clean walls so that the paint can adhere to the stucco and last. Pressure washing will also take care of any loose paint that needs to be removed before applying a new layer. Once you have washed, let the stucco dry overnight.
Once you have clean stucco, give it a once over to check for any cracks or chips. You can fill those with a stucco repair kit, and that will work fine as long as the repairs are small.
Check the instructions and let the repairs dry before you paint.
How to Paint
When you are painting stucco, you should avoid using a brush. Not only will stucco rip through a brush, causing you to use multiple brushes for this project, but a brush is not going to give you the coverage that you need. Your best option is to use an air sprayer, which you can usually rent from your local hardware store, or a roller.
When choosing a roller, you need to know which kind of stucco you are dealing with. A rougher texture will require a larger nap on the roller and more paint. A sprayer will allow you to quickly cover the wall easily, but you may need to go over the paint with a roller after. By back rolling, you remove any of the lines that can be left when you use the sprayer.
Best Temperature for Painting Stucco
We recommend painting stucco when it is between 50 and 90 Fahrenheit. If you paint when the temperature is hotter, then you risk the paint drying too quickly and you are going to be left with an uneven finish. You also want 50F throughout the day so that the temperature does not drop too far below 40F during the night, and the paint fails to dry quickly enough.
The temperature is also important for your health. You do not want to be out in extreme heat or you run the risk of sunstroke. If you are painting in the sun, be sure to wear a hat and stay well hydrated.
Along with the temperature, you should also pay attention to the humidity. If you live in a humid climate, the paint will take longer to dry. Moderate humidity is optimum for drying, and, of course, avoid painting in the rain or before it rains.
Final Thoughts
Stucco is a finish that looks like it will be tricky to take on, but it is relatively easy if you follow our 3 simple tips. The key is to make sure to prep your work area, have the right tools for the job, and plan an appropriate day. Professional painters will get the job done if you do not want to, but this is definitely something that you can tackle yourself.
