How to repair and patch stucco walls
Loading ...
Patching small holes, cracks, or other damaged areas to stucco siding isn’t beyond the scope of most homeowner’s ability. Of course, you can always hire a siding contractor to come out and do the job, but why not alleviate the expense by tackling the job yourself. If you can mix mud in a bucket, you can handle this repair.
First, buy a stucco repair kit or bag of stucco cement from a home improvement store. If you buy Portland cement (stucco) you’ll also have to pick up sand. If you are fixing small cracks in your stucco siding, you should inspect your home if you have vertical cracks around windows and near doors–an indication your foundation has settled and may have problems.
Five Easy Stucco Siding Repair Steps
- Remove damaged stucco. First, using a cold chisel or light hammer, knock all the loose stucco from the damaged area. Blow all the loose dust and flakes out of the repair area.
- Install new wire mesh (lath). Not necessary for crack repair, but essential for larger patch jobs. Staple lath to existing sheathing with heavy-duty staples.
- Apply first coat of stucco. If using a stucco repair kit, follow included directions as kits vary by manufacturer. Lay stucco 1/4-inch from surface of existing wall with a trowel or putty knife. When firm, score an “X” pattern with a nail. This layer is called the scratch coat. Let dry for two days.
- Apply second coat. Lay smooth coat of stucco 1/8-inch from existing stucco siding and let dry for two days.
- Apply top coat. Smooth out patch, or texture as desired.
Before applying cement, wet existing stucco siding so it doesn’t leach water from patch and dry it out before it cures.
I like stucco repair kits because they cut down on steps and save time. If you take a flake of existing stucco siding to your paint store, they can often match your home’s color so you can paint and hide the patch.
Subscribe to the Siding Zone Blog