Capca Stucco Precast

The concrete powder is available in most home improvement stores in your local community. You can find almost every type of concrete in the market that varies in weight, components, color, and texture. Some are a bit pricey while you can also find some types, affordable. But if you wonder if you can craft your concrete powder using some of the ingredients that you can find in your backyard, the answer is yes. You can make your concrete powder mix from scratch. 

Ancient people made their own homemade concrete using different materials that are freely available in nature. You too can craft your homemade concrete by looking for some basic materials in your backyard or home. You can also buy individual ingredients from your hardware or home improvement store. The choice is yours! 

Learn how to make your concrete mix for any of your home improvement projects. Keep on reading to know the necessary steps and ingredients in crafting your concrete mix. 

Before getting started, let’s define some important words that you will often encounter in this article: 

Concrete

This refers to the mixture of water, cement, and aggregates that hardens over time to resemble a solid object or building structure. 

Cement

It’s a pulverized limestone that undergoes an extremely hot temperature to remove the CO2. It is used as a binder for construction that hardens and sticks to other materials like sand and gravel. 

Mortar refers to the combination of water, sand, lime, and cement. 

For crafting your cement, you will need some limestone, but if the material is nowhere to be found, you can substitute it with oyster shells or seashells. These shells will also need to undergo some heating process to extract and get rid of the CO2. 

In most cases, limestone is mostly found in your backyard, garden or anywhere in nature, you just need to know how to identify it. There are a couple of methods you can use to check if your rock is limestone or not. The first one is to pour some vinegar or acid in a container and put the rocks on it. Observe if the vinegar makes a feeble cracking or popping sound, and you see some bubbles.

Crafting Your Cement 

1. If you are lucky to find some limestones, gather them together.
2. Wear your protective gear like a respirator and working gloves. 
3. Set your oven or kiln into a very high temperature. The hotter the better. You will be using this high temperature for a longer period, that’s why you need to add more fuel to keep the fire running. You don’t have to use real fuel. If fuel is not available, you can have a more natural alternative like woods. The idea is to keep the fire going. 
4. Break your limestones into smaller pieces. The smaller it gets, the easier for the heat to penetrate and work. Larger limestones will require more time and heating capacity, which is not practical. 
5. When the temperature is extremely hot, you can put your limestones in. Make sure that the heat or temperature is extreme. Burning of limestone to produce a cement requires a very high temperature for a long time to remove the CO2. 
6. Leave the limestones on the kiln or over for a few hours until they completely disintegrate. 
7. After a while, you can take the limestones out and let them cool. 
8. After allowing the limestones to cool, check if each one of them is evenly crumbled into pieces. If you see harder and less crumbly pieces, place them in a container and repeat the process two to six. You have to set the oven or kiln again and go over the entire heating process until every piece of your limestone completely disintegrates. If you don’t want to repeat the same process due to time constraints, you can simply throw away the more solid limestones. The idea here is to use the crumbled ones. 

Crafting Your Concrete

Now that you have your homemade cement powder. It’s now time to create your concrete powder. 

1. Get your aggregates ready. It could be sand, gravel, or crushed stones. If you want a finer powder, you can use sand instead of coarse materials. 
2. In your wheelbarrow or mixing container, combined two parts of sand for every one part of limestones. You can use a concrete mixer if you have one. Otherwise, you can use a shovel as an alternative. Make sure that the mixture is even. 
3. After mixing your limestone cement and sands, add four parts of gravel or crushed brick for every one part of it. These materials act as aggregates also that helps the concrete bind together once it dries. Just select finer gravel or smaller pieces of crushed stones. 
4. Mix them together until everything is well-incorporated. 

Now you have the homemade concrete powder that you can use for any concrete project. 

Trying to put a hole in the concrete seems hard to do. Others prefer to just stick something in the wall with adhesive tapes. We all know that doing that would cost a lot but still won’t last long. But I have good news for you! There are absolutely easy ways on how to screw a concrete. You just need the right equipment and knowledge to be able to do it correctly!

Before we start, make sure to wear your protective gear!

These are the following:

Protective eyewear– for your eyes.

Earplugs– for your ears.

Face mask– so you won’t inhale the particles came from the concrete. And;

Gloves- for your hands.

Long pants and long sleeves.

Make sure to be safe always!

There are two ways on how to screw a concrete:

1. The regular drill.
2. The automatic Hammer Drill

Let’s first know how to use the regular drill for putting a hole in your concrete.

All you need to have are:

A Masonry Drill Bit

Regular Drill

Hammer

Nail

Here’s a step-by-step guide on fastening your concrete:

1. Mark an (x) on where you will drill a hole. This is just a guide so you will know where to drill.

2. slightly make a hole using a regular drill. Insert a drill bit on your regular drill. Drill the concrete by putting a pressure. Make sure that it is steady. Do not force it with excessive pressure. That may cause your concrete to crack.

3. increase the size of your drill bit until you reach the diameter that you need. Drill the hole until you achieve the size that you aim.

4. if you had enough and cannot get the drill bit to go any further, set aside the regular drill and get a hardened nail and hammer. Insert it in the hole and hammer the nail. 

5. then proceed like having an automatic hammer drill. That’s it! Easy as pie!

If you don’t want to do it manually, innovation and technology has something to offer!

Use an automatic hammer drill. 

Buy the same size of drill bit

It needs an anchor

A tape is needed too!

Now, here’s the step-by-step process on drilling with the use of Automatic Hammer Drill:

First, wrap the tip of your drill bit with the use of tape. It is a guide for you to measure correctly how deep you can only drill. This will save you to avoid mistakes. 

Second, switch the mode. There is a mode switch that can be seen at the side of your equipment. Switch it to drilling mode. 

Third, hold your hammer drill. You need a consistent and not shaky posture. Hold your hammer drill towards the concrete and press it against the wall. Start the drilling by long clicking the trigger button. Make sure to be careful! Put an interval time every pressing until you reached the tape that you wrap around your drill bit.

Fourth, clean the hole. Make sure to remove the excess particles and debris before putting the nails.

Now, you are all set! That’s not too hard, isn’t it? Just follow the steps and you’ll have holes as many as you want in your home! Always be careful about doing it!

Concrete is an artificial stone-like material used widely for different construction projects. It is becoming popular in almost every city and rural area. Those bridges, roads, highways, skyscrapers, and properties that we see everywhere are most likely made up of concrete. Although concrete is known to be cost-effective due to its long-lasting strength, there are also limitations associated with it. 

Below is the list of disadvantages that comes with using concrete as a building material. 

Low Tensile Strength 

Although concrete are highly compressed in structure, it exhibits a low tensile strength. Compression and tensile strength are different. Tensile strength pertains to the capacity of a certain material to resist breaking down under extreme pressure, while compression is the ability to withstand heavy weights and forces. Normally, the tensile strength of concrete is 1/10th of its compressive strength. 

Low Durability

Concretes have a low level of durability, which is the ability of a certain material to withstand impact energy or force. Compared to other materials like steel, concrete has significantly low toughness. Concrete’s toughness is only 1-2% of steel. 

Low Specific Strength 

Specific strength refers to the ratio of strength to density. It is controlled by decreasing the density and increasing the strength. It means that the denser or thicker the material, the less strength it carries. The specific strength of a typical concrete is just half of steel. Having a variation of concretes like lightweight concrete & high-strength concrete can lessen this limitation. 

Formwork is Inevitable 

Since fresh concrete is liquid or almost in a liquid form, the formwork is required to mold it in shape and support its weight. But the formwork is quite expensive to acquire and install. Its installation is also labor-intensive and time-consuming. 

Partially Brittle Material 

There are three major modes of failure of materials – quasi-brittle failure, ductile failure, and brittle. Glass and mild steel are the typical samples of materials that fall under the brittle and ductile failure categories. Brittle materials fail the onset of tension or force. Since concretes show a strain-softening characteristic, they are considered partially or quasi-brittle materials. 

These kinds of materials like concrete will go through little deformations first before complete failure or breakdown. The deformation serves as a warning. The less deformation means lesser risk for failure. Additionally, plain concretes have low fracture toughness. This is one of the major disadvantages of plain concrete. That is why concretes are usually incorporated in steel to have some tension resistant properties, while it takes the compression loads effectively. Therefore, reinforced concrete is a second-generation concrete that has more stability and strength as wire mesh or steel bars are embedded in it. 

Long Curing Time

Most of the time concrete achieves the target compressive strength in 28 days after the casting and curing process. The full-strength development needs the right ambient temperature that is controlled over a month. This is quite time consuming, but it can be remedied by undergoing a process of microwave curing or steam curing through admixtures. 

Needs Strict Quality Control 

Concrete demands strict quality control during the process of mixing, casting, and curing. Every step of the process needs a high level of precision and efficiency. The workers also need to be highly skilled and trained to follow the right processes. A little mistake on the number of materials added or on the mixing of materials could greatly affect the overall quality of the concrete. If quality control is not implemented among workers, concrete is susceptible to poor strength and performance issues.

Working with Cracks 

Concrete easily cracks when the tensile stress exceeds the tensile strength of it. Plain concretes are very susceptible to cracking during high tension occurrence. Shrinkage is the primary cause of cracking in concretes. When the concrete solidifies and dries, it shrinks. This is caused by the evaporation of excess water poured out during the mixing process. This shrinkage causes forces in the concrete that can induce the slab to crack. 

Lacks Ductility 

Although concrete is the most widely used construction material in the world, it still lacks ductility. Ductility is characterized by the capacity of the material to be hammered out thin or undergo certain changes of form without breaking down. In short, it is a state of malleability or flexibility. Concrete is highly dependent on detailed steel reinforcing bar or rebar cages to get some tensile strength and confinement features in order to act in a ductile manner. 

A smooth concrete does not only make the surface neat, but it also paves a way to a smoother and more flawless paint job in walls. A smooth surface is not only applicable to wall sidings since concrete floors are slowly becoming popular in indoor homes and properties. 

Concrete floors are more common in the garage and driveways, but modern home designs made it possible for them to make their way inside the house. While the garage or driveway floors appearance is not your main concern, it is more likely that you want a smooth and flawless surface for your indoors. Regardless of whether you will place a carpet, vinyl, natural stone, ceramic or laminate floor, later on, the concrete foundation has to be flat or at least level before installing anything. You don’t want to deal with the holes, dips, or cracks. 

Smoothing down a concrete floor may look like a challenging job, but turning an uneven concrete floor into an impeccable smooth surface is a pretty straight forward process that you can do using different tools. It is not necessarily hard, but you’ll need to get your hands dirty. But it’s something that you can do without hiring a pro. 

Here is the step by step guide on smoothing down your concrete: 

Step 1: Prepare the work area

Prepare the area where you will start smoothing out the concrete floor. Start by removing everything in the room that occupies the floor. These include furniture, carpets, or area rugs. Place them in the other rooms or areas. 

Open any windows or doors to let the natural air in and seal off with plastic sheeting any doors where you will do the work. 

Step 2: Inspect the area

Check the entire floor and note the cracks, holes, and uneven and unlevelled areas. Evaluate the overall condition of the concrete. By using a tape measure and string level, assess the number of variance in the floor level. A small variation is much easier to correct than the larger ones as they require the help of a leveling compound. 

Additionally, you will need to measure the entire surface of your work area using a tape measure. Takedown your measurements as these are your reference in calculating the number of products you need to buy for your project. 

Step 3: Remove any sealer or coatings

This is only applicable if your flooring has a sealer on it. Remove the sealer or coating before you make any adjustments to your flooring. Not removing these coatings may cause the new material to repel, and not bond properly. You can use different mechanical methods like a sander, blaster, or grinder, but if you want to prevent dust from billowing inside your room or house, a chemical stripper can be a better option. Just make sure that you wear your protective gear and read the instruction carefully because chemicals strippers often contain harmful substances. Ensuring that the room or space is properly ventilated is also one of the safety measures that you can do. 

Step 4: Clean the flooring

Once the sealers or coating is removed, it’s time to clean the floor thoroughly. Make sure to get rid of any debris or particles left behind. Wash the entire floor using a soap and water solution. Rinse the area thoroughly and give plenty of time to air dry. 

Step 5: Identify the solution

Once you’re done evaluating the problem areas in your concrete floor, it’s time to identify the right solution. If the overall surface of your floor is mostly level and there are just a few little holes and cracks, you can apply an epoxy coating just like paint. This is quite an easy job. 

On the other hand, for extremely unlevel floors with large cracks and deep holes, you will need to use a leveling compound to smooth it. You can purchase one from your local home improvement store or hardware store. Just buy the correct amount by referring to your measurements. If unsure, you can always consult the store assistant for suggestions. 

Step 6: Apply the solution

Read the labels carefully and follow the instruction on your product. Make sure that before applying the product, you are wearing protective gear like gloves, eye protection, and respirator, especially when you’re applying an epoxy. Additionally, always keep the work area well-ventilated to let any product chemicals evaporate quickly. 

Once you’re done with the application, allow any product to dry before walking over it or take back the furniture or carpet in the room. 

Step 7: Apply the sealer or coating

You can apply a new sealer or coating once the floor is dry. This can protect the concrete surface from damages, corrosion, and staining. 

Smoothing out your concrete floor is just easy and straight forward. You can finish this job within the day or even half-day if you’re only working on a regular-sized living room or bedroom. 

Water alone does not have much ability to remove oils since they do not mix. In this case, way back hundred of years ago, soap is invented. Soap has fatty acids that make the dirt especially oils to be cleaned by water. Soap helps the water to rinse all the grease more easily.

There are many types and kinds of soaps that you can choose from. Some soaps are made for specific dirt to be cleaned on. To determine what cleaner does the dirt need to be fully removed, it is important to know how tough it is and check what level of chemicals do you need. For example, a food stain can be removed by typical soap and scrub. However, there are stains and dirt that needs a high-resolution cleaner to be removed.

In a concrete setting, removing grease is one of the hardest things to do. It took a lot of energy for a stain to be removed. Because concrete is a tough surface to clean, there are cleaners that are made and chemically combined to solve your problem. To add some little help, here’s a list of concrete cleaners that you should consider in finding the soap that could work on your surface.

Before we jump to hard cleaners, of course, there is a mild cleaner that is designated for cleaning mild stains which can be usually found inside our house. May it be on floor tiles or any much smoother surface. pH-Neutral Cleaners is one of the most known mild cleaners. Basically, this cleaner can remove grease that is still not embedded on the surface and can still be wiped out. 

In more complex dirt that needs acid, acidic cleaners can be used. This is a chemical that can remove dirt and is applied directly to the contaminated area. These are ready-to-use formulations. Scrubbing might be needed to remove the excess statins upon applications. After pouring it on the concrete and removing the dirt, make sure to rinse it with clean water because since it is acid, it can be harmful. 

An oily grease can be hard to remove; may sometimes put us on frustration for doing all the best that we can yet still be disappointed with the result. 

Alkaline cleaners which are known as concrete degreaser are the strongest cleaner that can be used for removing oil, the grease of car or any other hydrocarbon-based stains that is marked on concrete. Alkaline cleaners are also used to neutralize the pH of concrete after using acid cleaners. The alkaline cleaner is diluted with water and is applied typically for deep and older stains. You must also leave it for a while before rinsing it to take effect.  Some dirt does not remove easily after one application. That is why it is okay to apply more. Remove the residue with water. 

Since organic chemistry has been used for making cleaners, oxidation cleaner is produced.

Oxidation cleaner is formulated to break down soils like a starch-based stain. This dirt remover is highly recommended for eliminating bad odor as well. This amazing cleaner has genetically engineered bacteria that feed on oil, grease, and hydrocarbon. It does not require water to activate and does not have residue to wash away.

In choosing cleaner, make sure to know what is applicable for that dirt to avoid waste and also to make your cleaning much easier. All of the given above are usable and effective. I hope you found the best cleaner that suits your general cleaning.

On a hot summer day, what you want the most is to step in and feel the cool air in your living space. But what if your air conditioner is not cooling the house? 

There are several reasons behind AC not cooling dilemma, some of which are technical faults and some are non- technical.

Here are the most common reasons behind AC not cooling:

For your convenience, we’ll categorize the issues into ones you can solve and ones only a professional air conditioning repair technician can solve.

AC problems that you can solve: 

1. Thermostat set to “ON” instead of “AUTO”

Switch your thermostat to AUTO so that air only blows from your vents when the AC is cooling. Having your thermostat switch set to ON will cause the blower to run constantly even if your system is not cooling. This will result in warm air blowing from your AC vents. 

2. Dirty air filter

The air filter is created to block or filter contaminants in the air before it gets absorbed into the AC system. But over time your filter gets dirty and clogged. In such a case, air cannot flow through properly which substantially lessens the cooling capacity of the air conditioner. A dirty air filter decreases airflow into your AC, causing several issues:

AC works hard to spread enough cool air to get your home to the preferred temperature (e.g. your thermostat is set on 72 your temperature never drops below 80).

The evaporator coil, the part that cools the air, literally freezes, turning into a block of ice that obstructs air. This means that your home gets very little cool air. Conduct regular check-up maintenance on your air filter to clean or replace it as needed. 

3.  Dirty outside unit

Your condenser, an outdoor unit,  is in charge of expelling all the heat inside your house and blowing it outdoors. But in order for that “heat dumping” process to take place, your condenser needs enough breathing space around it. If your condenser is dirty or covered in debris, it can’t properly get rid of the heat. In order to keep the condenser running efficiently, regular maintenance cleaning is important.

Check your condenser and remove any debris. Gently clean the condenser fins with a garden hose. Avoid using a strong stream or blasting in a high setting in order not to damage the fragile condenser fins that allow airflow to cool the refrigerant.

Also check the area surrounding your condenser if there is any shrubbery, leaves, fences or debris that might be blocking your condenser’s breathing space. Do not use a condenser cover. 

4. Your circuit breaker is tripped

Most ACs have 2 circuit breakers: one for the outside unit and one for within the unit. On the off chance that the outside unit’s breaker has stumbled, the indoor unit will continue blowing air into your home—it will simply be warm.

In order to fix this, check your breaker box to find out if the outdoor unit’s breaker has tripped. If it has, switch it on. If it trips again, avoid resetting it. There might be a bigger electrical issue that a professional will need to fix.

5. Undersized AC

Buying an AC based on your budget is not practical when you overlook an important factor like the size of your living space. A small AS in a big room will find it hard to cool the room. The size of the AC must be right for the size of the place. If this is the case, it is best to buy a larger unit or place it in a smaller room. 

6. High atmospheric temperature

An AC has an optimum standard temperature (surrounding temperature) at which it can work most effectively. If the temperature is humid beyond the standard temperature limit, the efficiency of the system lessens. Sometimes it’s getting hot outside that a stage is reached where the compressor stops working completely.

Problems an AC professional needs to solve

Now, we’ll cover a few AC cases that you’ll need to call a professional technician to fix.

1. Refrigerant leak

Refrigerant is the liquid or gas responsible for absorbing the heat from your air. When you don’t have enough of it, your AC can’t absorb enough heat to cool the air. Here’s the thing: Refrigerant runs in a closed loop through your system. If your unit has a low level of refrigerant, it means you have a leak.

These are the signs you have a refrigerant leak:

Ice build-up on the refrigerant line and the outdoor unit

Buzzing or hissing sound ( this indicate a significant leak) 

AC can’t cool home during hot summer days but cools fine on cold days and at night

If you’ve observed any of these signs, switch off your AC and contact a professional technician as soon as possible. Do not try to run an AC in this state for it can cause slowing in the compressor and damage it beyond repair.

2. Leaky Ductwork

Your air ducts deliver cool air to different areas of the house. So, if you have leaks in your ductwork, the warm, unconditioned air of your attic can seep into your ducts, raising the temperature of the air that is blown from your AC vents. Since ducts are hidden in your attic, it is quite hard to detect. 

Here are the signs that you have leaky ducts: 

Higher-than-usual electric cost 

There are rooms or part of the house that don’t cool well 

Unusual dust in your home (coming from the attic) 

If you encounter any of these signs, you’ll need to contact a professional to seal your ducts with mastic sealant or metal tape.

3. Bad compressor 

The compressor is the core of the AC system, circulating refrigerant like blood between the inside and outside units. A damaged compressor can cause your system to work hard in cooling the air.

If there’s an issue with the compressor, then you may need to replace it. Compressors are “hermetically sealed”, which means you can’t open them up to repair a single component. Unfortunately, the most expensive part of the AC is the compressor. Unless your warranty is still valid, you’ll probably need to replace an entire outside unit.

If you are fixing your concrete wall and would love to attach wood in it but you don’t have a drill, there’s another way! There are two methods that can be considered in attaching wood and concrete without the presence of a drill. They are also easy to do. So now, in this article, I will show you the things needed, its advantages and disadvantages, and also, the guidelines on how to use it.  

There are different methods that can be done to attach wood into concrete without using a drill:

1. Nail

You just need a Sledgehammer and a concrete nail

The first thing that you must do is attach your wood to concrete. Make sure that it is steady to avoid mistakes. 

When hitting the wood and concrete, make sure that it is steady and is not easily moved so the nails won’t crack the concrete and wood.

Tips: it is advisable to use a sledgehammer instead of the heavy-duty regular hammer because nails are often made from steel. Using a harmer that has steel hardened tips may cause sparks when you hammered it.

There is a device that can be used to quickly finish this task. Air-powered nail guns may help you. Just be knowledgeable and careful about using this to avoid an accident. Though this may also be a good choice, check your concrete first. Not all concrete can bear the power of this device. Cracks may occur if the concrete is too brittle. 

In doing this method, a problem may occur as well. For concrete, cracks may appear from the concrete. The cause may be because you hammered it lousy or you hit the nail in the wrong angle.

If you have a problem with not hitting the nail into concrete hard enough, the possible solution can be using the nail gun. However, that may still depend on how much strength your concrete can bear.

2. Epoxy glue- made specifically for applying wood to concrete

Since epoxy glue is made specifically for wood, it has a strong capacity to stick with the concrete. Epoxy glue can be used as a construction adhesive and is proven and tested by many.

Make sure that both are dry and clean. Before spreading the glue on the wood, make sure that the dirt, particles, and debris are removed. 

Now, spread the glue and stick the wood and concrete together. Make sure that you put it properly. You do not want to repeat and waste materials, right?

Use a clamp to stick it together until it was completely dry. Of course, you need to put pressure on the wood so it will bond properly on the concrete.

In doing this method, a problem may occur as well. Problems like a slight curve on the board, whereas glue will not stick and may probably be the cause of the whole board to come off.

Of course, in every problem, there is a solution. There are two solutions to this.

First, use a much better adhesive that is made for bonding wood and concrete. 

Second, cut the wood into fragments then stick it. This may also help with making your board lightweight.

3. Use both nails and glue on concrete

Combining the two methods can be an excellent idea. In doing this, you just have to follow both of the steps.

First, apply the glue and bond it with the concrete.

Second, nail the wood in the concrete. Because of the glue, the wood is much steady, and you will have access to doing it at the right angle. 

That is all that you need to know! It is easy as drilling the only difference is that, this is much more affordable because you won’t have to buy a drill. Just make sure to be careful all the time and of course, know what your concrete can handle to avoid cracks and breaks.

Cracks in your stuccoed walls will mostly range from 1/16 to 1/8 inch wide. Don’t worry, these are pretty easy to repair; you can even do it yourself. You may also look for its cause to get rid of it. Here is a guide to help you.

Materials

 For this project, you will need a caulking gun, caulk, bucket of water, and a sponge.

Process

Open the tube of caulking by cutting its tip. Make sure that you make the hole as small as possible and at an angle, so the work is easier and cleaner. Then, load the gun and squeeze out some of the caulking to get an idea of how much is coming out. 

Application

Wet the crack and the area around it. Water will help with the application of the caulk and it will make it easier for you to clean up the excess. Then, you may apply a bead of the caulk evenly and generously. Follow the crack and use the angle on the tip to fill it. Be consistent and avoid gaps, so the fracture will seal completely. 

Next, use your finger to spread the caulk into the crack. Make sure to go in different directions to fill it. To easily clean up, make sure you don’t spread it over to the wall. 

Then, use your sponge and use water to clean up the area around the crack. Make sure that the caulking inside the crack will stay. Check if you miss any spots and that the crack is filled. Try to clean up as soon as possible to get a better result. There will still be a little amount of caulking around the crack. You have to get rid of it or you will see a slight difference in color. 

Let the caulking dry. The drying time will depend on the weather, temperature, and the type of caulking that you are using, so be sure to check the instructions. It tends to shrink a little bit, but you will use it to your advantage. 

Texturing

The repair should match the texture of the stuccoed wall to look nicer. You may add the second bead of caulking at practice doing the texture on a scrap piece of wood or cardboard. 

For smooth-textured walls, the method would be easy because you only need to keep reapplying the caulk until it blends naturally. For other textures, you might need to use a brush or sponge and do dabbing motions. Try to experiment which will best match your wall. You may even use a sandpaper for rougher ones.

Color

You need to find a paint that matches your wall for the repair to blend in. Repainting the whole thing is also a choice, so it will look better. It is always up to you to decide. 

Your stuccoed wall will relatively need low maintenance, but as it might be exposed to the weather outside, it is prone to damage. Make sure that you repair them at once to avoid larger problems.

Appearance matters in many aspects of our lives, for it, affects how people see us. We apply it in many aspects of our life, like ourselves and our homes. Homeowners mostly want to stucco the exterior or interior of their homes to give it a nice texture. It is quite popular as it is a breeze to maintain, but upgrades the house’s look. You might consider having to stucco your walls, ceilings, or others.

Here are tips to help you:

Weather

Check the weather forecast for the period that you are planning to do the project. The best is to do it on days with low wind and a temperature of 10°C to 16°C. Do not continue if it is too hot or too cold.

Material

Different ways are for applying stucco on different materials. It may be a stud wall or concrete.

 If you are planning to do it on a plywood, cover it with at least 2 layers of “Grade D” building paper. Make sure to have an air gap to prevent rot, and fasten them with roofing nails. Install casing bead, weep screed at the base, metal lath to the studs, and control joints.

If you are going to apply stucco on concrete, make sure that it is roughly textured and absorbent. Make sure to wet the surface first before applying the first coat.

Process:

Scratch Coat

To mix the scratch coat, use 1 part cement material, 2 1/4 to 4 parts plaster sand, and lime, if you are using Portland cement. Use the same amounts for both stud wall and cement walls. Add enough water to allow you to trowel the mixture. Make sure that it will not sag.

Apply the coat evenly with about 3/8 inch thickness for stud walls, and 1/4 inch thick for concrete. Score it lightly and horizontally. For the stud wall, you have to let it wet cure for 48 hours.

Brown Coat

Mix 1 part cement and 3 to 5 parts sand to make the brown coat. You may apply it after the scratch coat finishes curing. Let it wet cure for 7 days. The amounts are the same for both types of walls. However, for the concrete wall, you may apply it after 4 to 5 hours. Then, allow to wet cure for 48 hours.

Finish Coat

For the finish coat, mix 1 part cement and 1 1/2 to 3 parts sand. You may add a pigment so it is colored or paint over it after it cures for at least 7 days. Apply it about 1/8 inch thick. The same amounts are applied. You may use a texture roller if you are not experienced. 

If you think you have to add texture to improve your home, don’t be afraid to stucco your walls and get the satisfaction you need. It will surely improve the overall look of your home just because of the new texture added by the stucco. Your home will surely leave an impression.

Making your homes admirable from the outside and inside is essential for many homeowners. Various materials can give texture to walls and upgrade their look, and one of the most ideal is stucco. It is composed of aggregates, binders, and water, and is mostly for decoration. However, it might not be pretty if it is unmaintained or if you think it needs a new color. To bring back its beauty, you might need to clean and repaint it.

Here are some guidelines to help you with that:

Repair

If you notice that your stucco has some cracks or holes, it is better to repair them before repainting. You may use a caulk gun with elastomeric caulk for hairline fractures, while for larger ones, use a concrete patching or thick stucco compounds. Let them dry before doing anything else.

Cleaning

To remove dirt or mold that built up in your stucco, use pressure washing. Set it to a low pressure and use a wide spray tip to avoid damage. Clean it up from top to bottom. Be careful not to hit windows, door frames, or others that may break due to pressure. After that, allow it to dry completely. 

Painting

1. Buying Paint

You have to choose a suitable type of paint for your stucco, so it will last. A great one is masonry paint, which is especially for house exteriors to keep them from weathering and pollution. It is available in hardware stores or home improvement centers.

2. Preparation

Masking the parts you do not want to paint is necessary. Line them with painter’s tape, so you can work faster. You may also put a cloth on the ground to avoid drips.

Pour the paint on a container wide enough for a roller. Don’t put too much and place is somewhere near.

3. Painting Proper

Use a roller to paint the stucco. Glide it back and forth on the surface, and use vertical and horizontal motions for maximum coverage. Then, use a masonry brush to fill in the gaps. It will allow you to have control and avoid mistakes.

4. Drying

Leave the paint to dry for 2-4 hours. If you are planning to do another coat, do it the next day.

5. Second Coat (optional)

If you are not satisfied and think you can achieve a bolder color by doing a second coat, than you may apply it. Do it like you did earlier. Remember, do not apply the paint heavily to prevent hiding the natural texture of the surface. Allow it to dry for 1 day and cure for 30 days. 

6. Applying Elastomeric Paint

To keep your stucco new-looking for years, you may apply resilient elastomeric paint. It will keep the surface protected from moisture and scratches.

Make sure that you are doing things properly and using the correct materials for a home project like this. If you do, it will make sure that your stucco will stand the weather and won’t need repainting for several years. It will keep making your house look pretty for a long time.