Stucco

Traditional Stucco facts:


  • A Moisture Barrier is required on top of moisture sensitive substrates such as wood, gypsum, etc.

  • Three coats or layers with a total thickness of 3/4 of an inch or more - Scratch Coat,  Brown Coat, and Finish Coat.

  • Metal Accessories - Casing Beads or Stops or Grounds, Weep Screeds, Corner Aids, and Control Joints or Expansion joints at 144 square feet.

  • Flashings are required as a part of weatherproofing the system.

  • Vulnerable to excessive cracking.

  • Details are well developed; see Northwest Walls and Ceiling Bureau Stucco Resource Guide.

 

One-Coat-Stucco is a newer stucco system that is very similar to traditional stucco but with some advantages.  It provides design flexibility, durability and water management. It can also  be finished in a variety of ways including premixed colored cement stucco finish coats, elastomeric coatings and paints or even acrylic textured finishes.


Each one-coat stucco system is a proprietary mix of Portland cement, polymers, fiber reinforcement and secret ingredients.  Each approved One-Coat-Stucco has its own Evaluation Report by the various Model Codes (the Model Codes have recently been merged into one Model code, ICC or IRC). Note:   The One-Coat-Stucco name is a misnomer since  there are actually at least two coats.


  •  A Moisture Barrier is required on top of moisture sensitive substrates such as wood, gypsum, etc.

  • One-Coat-Stucco is applied in coats with a total thickness of 3/8 to 1/2 inches - a brown or base coat and a finish coat.

  • Metal Accessories - Casing Beads or Stops or Grounds, Weep Screeds, Corner Aids, and Control Joints and Expansion joints at 144 square feet, window and door corners and per architectural details.

  • Flashings are required as part of weatherproofing the system.

  • Vulnerable to cracking.  Although, if mixed and installed properly, the proprietary mixes are very effective at minimizing cracking.

  • Details are typically well developed and part of the Evaluation Report or the Manufacturer's installation manuals.  See the Northwest Walls and Ceiling Bureau Stucco Resource Guide for further clarification.