Blaine and Darren – Owners
If you own a stucco home you are aware of the low-maintenance, sound-insulating benefits of this beautiful exterior material. If you don’t, then here are some frequently asked questions that can cover the basics. Most importantly on every page of this website is our telephone number. We are here to answer any of your questions – none are too simple or complicated – so call Nurse Stucco and have a conversation with Blaine or Darren. Better yet, call and make an appointment and let us see your home or commercial project so we can answer your specific questions intelligently.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if your question is not listed below. You can Call us at (619) 561-7429 or use our Contact Form! We strive to fully inform our customers and encourage you to contact us to learn more about your stucco project and how to protect your home or commercial building.
Monokote® is a popular fireproofing material used in office buildings, schools, hospitals, warehouses, and other large buildings that are constructed out of concrete and steel. Resembling wet cement, Monokote® fireproofing spray is applied throughout a building’s interior in order to help prevent structural failure during a high-temperature blaze.
In many areas, building codes require the use of “passive” fire-protection materials like Monokote® in certain structures. Not only will this help prevent a building from collapsing, but it will give the occupants of a building more time to escape in the event of a fire. This latter benefit is especially important in high-occupancy structures where people can become trapped inside if the right precautions haven’t been taken.
Monokote® can form a protective barrier against fire in just about any structure. Because it is applied using a spray technique, it is most commonly used on:
- Steel beams
- Walls and ceilings
- Electrical wiring ducts
- Concrete
- And more
Nurse Stucco is the spray Monokote fireproofing contractor of choice for materials and installation in Southern California and San Diego County. We are a family owned and operated C-35 contractor company that has built a reputation for continually surpassing the expectations of our customers. When it comes to protecting your building from a disastrous fire, Nurse Stucco has you covered.
Call us at (619) 561-7429 or Contact Us today for more information about Monokote fireproofing materials or to request a bid on your project. Fireproofing your building today can potentially save you thousands or even millions of dollars in repair costs in the aftermath of a fire. More importantly, it may even save lives.
The Technical Service Information Bureau (TSIB) is a trade group in southern California serving the needs of the wall and ceiling industry regarding lath, plaster, and drywall. They have an excellent online resource depicting plaster textures.
The 30 textures shown on the site are accompanied by suggested application procedures. This gives material (ingredient) advice, where appropriate, and methods of applying or finishing the plaster to achieve specific appearances. For instance, the sand float finishes are described as light, medium, or heavy, and the grain size of aggregate helps achieve the desired texture. All of the textures can be made with gray or white cement, with or without pigments.
It is important to be aware of regional differences in naming finishes. Certain parts of the country may call a specific texture by another name than described by the TSIB. That is why this site is so beneficial: it provides visual depictions of each finish to prevent misinterpretations that might occur with verbal descriptions.
If you want to see a physical example of a stucco texture, use our Contact Form or give us a call. We’re old-fashioned, and understand that something you can hold in your hands, run your fingers over, hold up to your wall… it makes a real difference! CALL US AT 1-619-561-7429, and find out what a real stucco company does for their customers. We’ve been doing it for over 40 years!
We are often asked if stucco and plaster are the same thing, and if plaster and exterior insulation finishing systems (EIFS) are the same thing. Short answer is no, but deserves an explanation to understand the differences.
Plaster is the general term for material that is applied to a wall surface in a thin layer. Portland cement-based plaster is such a material, and uses portland cement as the binder. It is often called “traditional stucco.” Stucco is a somewhat colloquial term for portland cement plaster, and most people consider it to refer to an exterior, not interior, finish. Exterior insulation and finish system is sometimes (incorrectly) called “synthetic” stucco. To further complicate matters, “plastering” is the verb that describes the action of applying these various materials to a wall surface.
Portland cement plaster is applied either by hand or machine to exterior and interior wall surfaces, usually in three coats. It may be applied directly to a solid base like concrete walls, or it can be applied to metal lath attached to frame construction, solid masonry, or concrete construction. Applied directly to concrete, portland cement plaster provides a tough ½-inch thick facing that is integrally bonded to the substrate. When applied to metal lath, three coats of plaster form a 7/8-inch total thickness. A vapor permeable, water-resistant building paper separates the plaster and lath from water-sensitive sheathing or framing. Portland cement plaster has high impact resistance and sheds water, but breathes, allowing water vapor to escape. It’s a proven system that works.
Exterior insulation finishing systems (EIFS) consist of a polymer-based laminate that is wet applied, usually in two coats, to rigid insulation board that is fastened to the wall with adhesive, mechanical fasteners, or both. Polymer based (PB) systems, sometimes known as thin coat, soft coat, or flexible finishes, are the most common. The basecoat for polymer based systems is usually 1/16-inch thick and finish coat thickness is typically no thicker than the maximum sand particle size in the finish coat.
Clearly, portland cement plaster should not be confused with the exterior insulation and finish systems. The systems may share similarities in application techniques and final appearance, but the systems do perform differently and you should make your selection based on your specific needs. Best advice, give Blaine or Darren a call and they will be happy to discuss your options based on your specific needs.
Reasonably priced, easy to maintain and aesthetically pleasing, stucco has been a popular siding choice for hundreds of years. With a variety of colors and textures to choose from, stucco works well with any home’s exterior. Stucco is a more durable finish and it is also more fire resistant than other types of finishes. Stucco requires less maintenance than other exterior finishes. You can expect a quieter home with a stucco exterior and a higher degree of energy efficiency due to its superior insulating qualities. Stucco provides moisture protection while also allowing your home to breathe. Finally, in long term cost analysis, a stucco home provides the highest return on investment for the owner.
Stucco siding has been used for centuries. The ancient Greeks and Romans painted wall frescoes onto fine-grained hard plaster surfaces made of gypsum, marble dust and glue. During the Renaissance, the Italians elaborated stucco techniques, which, in turn, spread throughout Europe. While stucco is not a new building material, the changes made to finishes can make it seem like something a homeowner has never seen before. A wide array of styles and colors to choose from as well as different application techniques make stucco modern, yet timeless.
Another term for this is check cracking. Check cracking in stucco is normal. As stucco cures the water evaporates. This evaporation process causes the stucco to sleightly shrink. As the stucco shrinks the small cracks may start to appear. Environmental factors can increase the likelyness of check cracking. In hot dry weather a light spray(mist) of clean water is recommended, and may help reduce the apprearance of check cracking.
Yes, you can change the color of your stucco. Although stucco is like many other masonry surfaces and can be painted over with exterior acrylic masonry paints, WE DO NOT RECOMMEND PAINTING IN ORDER TO CHANGE COLOR. Stucco is designed to breathe and when painting over stucco, even with the newer exterior acrylic masonry paints, it takes away the stucco’s ability to properly exchange moisture. Over time, these acrylic-based paints still tend to fade, chip, and eventually delaminate and peel away from stucco walls.
Solution: We recommend a restucco over the existing stucco finish. We pressure wash and then refinish your stucco, with stucco. Synthetic finish options are also available for stucco surfaces. Call us at (619) 561-7429 or use our Contact Form to set up an appointment to talk to Darren or Blaine and they will help you decide on your best option.
Your home re-stucco projects start with a careful evaluation of the wall surfaces to identify any areas needing repairs. Next we sandblast to clean and prepare the surface for the new stucco coat, removing about 1/8″ of the surface, and make any necessary repairs. Then we apply a thin coat of stucco called a brown coat (this would be step #2 in a 3-coat stucco application) to level out the surface of the the walls. This leveling coat will cover any inconsistencies in the finish it’s covering, and it gives the walls a smooth texture for the final color coat. The finish (color coat) is thin, and gives your home it’s unique stucco texture and color.
The existing paint is removed by pressure washing because stucco will not properly bond to a painted surface. We can then apply a traditional Portland cement-based stucco or synthetic stucco color coat.
Yes, new stucco can be applied and textured over an existing stucco finish. This is called recoating and re-stuccoing, and we specialize in this application.
The time it takes to restucco an average home in San Diego can vary depending on several factors. Typically, the process involves preparing the existing surface, applying a new layer of stucco, and allowing sufficient drying time. On average, the restuccoing process can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks.
Factors that may affect the timeline include the size of the home, the condition of the existing stucco, and any additional repairs or modifications required. It is best to consult with a professional stucco contractor who can assess your specific project and provide you with a more accurate time estimate.
If the surface is painted it may require sandblasting or blasting. While there is no building code that requires you to sand blast before the re-stucco process, it is a best trade practice with any re-stucco project.
The purpose of sandblasting is to remove any of the old layers of paint and cement that may be peeling, flaking, or blistering. Even paint that is in good shape should be removed prior to re-stuccoing your home. The removal of these painted surfaces allows the walls to breathe which in turn allows moisture to move in and out of the walls, as it is intended. Sand blasting also serves to roughen the surface of the walls, which provides for the best mechanical bond. Please contact us to learn more!
An EIFS job done properly will cost you between $30-45 a square yard. Any less and you’re compromising the functionality of your wall. EIFS is an intricate wall system, one that you definitely don’t want to skimp on, considering it covers the most expensive and valuable investment of your life.
Note: If you’re considering a non-EIFS system, that meaning traditional 3-coat stucco over lath without the use of foam insulation, current market rate is about $25.00 per square yard. This is assuming the state of your walls are in average condition. Extra costs can come into play if repairs need to be done to damaged areas before applying the base coat.
The actual cost of your complete home re-stucco is determined by each situation. The price can vary by many factors including; thickness, texture, height of job, size of job, proximity to our warehouse, application and scaffolding required. For a more exact price, please contact us for a free estimate.
This phenomenon is normally caused from moisture being drawn from the surrounding soil. This is usually caused by the stucco coming in contact with soil and extended exposure to moisture which allows the salts and minerals contained in soil and cement based products to migrate to the surface. This can eventually deteriorate and/or cause delamination of the stucco. The most common causes are: water from Sprinklers continually soaking the wall or improper site drainage (water draining toward the wall). Moisture in the soil or water sitting at the base of the wall is traveling up the wall in a wicking action; due to a lack of Weep Screed at the bottom of stud framed stucco walls prior to early 1970’s construction.
This condition is common in older buildings and for this reason, the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) determined the need for “weep screed” a separation device as a remedy in new construction. A separation of the stucco and the soil followed by repair would be the only permanent solution.