Stucco and Paint

There are many opinions regarding stucco and paint and how they should work together. 
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Painting your stucco home is a fairly simple process. 

Before you paint your stucco, let us assess the history and condition of your property and ensure we recommend the right product. 

One of the key functions of your stucco siding is to protect your home from water intrusion. Much of our discussion here will stem from this fact.

​Most times it is OK and proper to paint your stucco as long as you are aware of the tradeoffs and limitations of the process.

We may even recommend that you do not paint your stucco under certain circumstances. And that is fine by us. 

The main decision to make

The main decision to make is : What type of paint do I use on my stucco?

I know you may have been expecting a more dramatic answer but the two types of paint we will be discussing are substantially different from each other.

This is an example of the thickness of elastomeric paint. This picture was taken before painting the full wall. Note the paint thickness in the coverage as a lot of the texture is lost (see below the black corble).

This is an example of what mineral paint looks like. The colors are very muted and chalk like.

The 2 types of paint

and a few others that may be needed

Elastomeric Paint

This type of paint is the industry standard. It's name gives a hint as to its application. An elastomer is a polymer that is elastic, i.e. it can stretch and return to its original form. Think of a plastic you can stretch like a rubber band.

Here are a few reasons to use an elastomeric paint, in no particular order.

• Most inspectors and tradesmen will recommend the application of an elastomeric paint as it has been the industry standard for many years.
• It performs well when applied well.
• The manufacturers formulate the elastomeric paints to allow for two key functions:
  1. Bridging of cracks up to 1/16" of an inch depending on formula and brand
  2. Allowance of vapor permeance - functions like a membrane that keeps most water out but allows water to exit when it has managed to penetrate the wall at another point in the system.
• This option is cost effective compared to mineral paints.

The brush marks you can see on elastomeric paint are not necessarily poor technique. Rather it is an indication that enough paint was used to cover the stucco wall.

We evaluate your property individually to help you determine if an elastomeric paint is your best option. Give us a call today and find out if this option is right for you.

832-720-6828

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Mineral Paint

Mineral paint will tend to look muted, chalky, earthy

Mineral paint is a type of paint made with minerals, think of it like a paint made out of sand. This formulation allows it to calcify (harden) and become part of the masonry that it is applied to.

Here are a few reasons to opt for this type of paint:

•  This paint prioritizes the vapor permeability of the final coat.
• This paint looks less "plastic" than elastomeric or acrylic
• Environmentally friendly, less synthetic chemicals
• Useful in applications where permeability has been a mainstay of the system.

Rather than attempting to keep water out with this coating, we are allowing for continued water migration through the siding/cladding. 

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Other types of paint

Acrylic Paint

This is the standard exterior paint. We usually have to go this route when the customer has chosen a dark color. A great strategy is to use an elastomeric paint as a base coat and the dark acrylic paint as the topcoat.

High Build Industrial Paint

This is also a great option for painting stucco and masonry surfaces that don't have to look aesthetically pleasing and where permeability is not a factor.

The industrial coatings available ensure that the surface stays painted for a long time. These coatings are not always useable in homes due to water vapor permeability considerations, but these can work when applied to a solid CMU block wall with stucco cement finish, such as on a fence.

Paint Product Types

We may recommend different paint products depending on the type of stucco you have on your home and the condition of the same.
A few products we have used or recommended in the past include:

SW ConFlex Sherlastic
SW Exterior Paints of different grades (A-100, Duration, Resilience, SuperPaint)
SW Loxon Waterproofing Paint Exterior
SW Primers (ProBlock, Block Filler, Loxon)
BM Concrete Masonry Sealer Primer
BM Ultra-Spec Elastomeric
... and more.

Call us today at 832-720-6828

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