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There are a few different stucco textures that can be achieved and looking at all of them can give you a general idea of what to expect and may even help you decide which one to use for your home.
These are just a few examples of what's out there, some of the most popular anyway and each with their own unique characteristics and style.
Some textures work better for an overall look and feel like a smooth texture for a Mediterranean look or a sandy finish for a more modern look.
These are just a few examples of what's out there, some of the most popular anyway and each with their own unique characteristics and style.
Some textures work better for an overall look and feel like a smooth texture for a Mediterranean look or a sandy finish for a more modern look.
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Cat Face Textures:
A few dash finishes:
Tip and Skip Blade Textures:
Sand/Float Surfaces:
Worm/Swirl or Plaster Finishes:
Santa Barbara Destination:
An English stucco finish, anyone?
Cat Face Textures:
Is smooth with minor to major rough spots in between as you can see in the images below.
These are called inclusions and can vary in size, shape and frequency of use throughout the finish.
- Can be reached with oneAcrylic/synthetic OR traditional stucco
- Can vary greatly depending on how large and dense inclusions are
- Achieved by two coats of finish
- Can be applied with a spatula or sprayed on, but is always reworked by hand
- Usually executed in either a fine or medium stucco product
- Swipe left/right to see more
A few dash finishes:
This finish is spray on and can be light, medium or heavy in volume and has its own unique look.
This texture can be applied by hand (for smaller areas) or sprayed on (with a small hopper gun).
Two to three coats are usually applied to achieve an even coat.
Dash surfaces can range from a subtle type offinish (see below) to a heavier finish and really depends on the materialused and the person who mounts it on the wall.
The following three are the most common types and there are several variations between these that look slightly different but basically have the same type of finish.
- Both synthetic and traditional stucco lend themselves to this particular texture
- Slightly patched provided that thecolor fitsright up
- A bit rough after drying which may be an issue for some
- A person can apply this type of texture
- Applied with more air pressure (fine), an even amount of air and material (medium), or more material and less air (heavy texture).
Feines Dash-Finish
Heavy dash finish
Knockdown-Dash-Finish
A fine dash finish
A heavy dash finish
Pebble Dash example
Tip and Skip Blade Textures:
These textures are one of the most common and tend to pop into most people's minds when they think of stucco.
This texture can hide many imperfections and is great for virtually any application, whether domestic or commercial.
There are many different variations of this finish that can give off different subtle finish looks, but they are all applied in the same way and essentially have the same texture.
- Traditional stucco is more common with this finish, but it can be done in acrylic but does not have the depth that traditional stucco will have
- Applied by hand in most cases, howevercan be sprayed onand then “beaten down” (smoothed) with a trowel
- Can hide many imperfections and is a great "forgiving" texture
- Applied in two coats, a base coat and then the texture is applied
- Comes in a fine, medium and coarse pattern
Fine lace structure
csstucco.com
Horizontal lace structure
Sand/Float Surfaces:
This is a basic and simple type of texture popular in commercial applications.
It can look fine, medium or coarse and varies depending on the manufacturer. It is puttyed and finished with a trowel and quick strokes.
- Is a very versatile finish and can be done with traditional or synthetic/acrylic stucco
- Can be applied in one coat and is one of the easiest to apply
- Normally applied with a trowel, but can also be sprayed on and then trowelled firmly
- A "green liquor" gives the finish its texture
- Found in fine, medium and coarse finishes
- Relatively easy to patch if the color matches and the edges are nicely feathered
Feines Sand-Finish
Medium sand finish
Coarse sand finish
Fine sand finish with traditional stucco
Medium sand finish with acrylic stucco
Sand finish with modeling in the base coat
Smooth Textures and Finishes:
This is one of the most difficult textures to achieve, but it is growing in popularity.
It is the easiest to clean and highly customizable as different colors can be added to create a "mottled look".
- Is usually a fine cement based finish but can also be achieved with a synthetic/acrylic stucco finish
- Typically a fine/ultrafine stucco base is used to eliminate as many lines as possible, but in some cases a medium will work
- ReachedB. with a "swimming pool trowel" or a "pool" trowel
- Colors can be applied directly to the wall to create a "mottled" look
- Is very difficult to patch and is more prone to cracking than other surfaces
A very smooth finish
Smooth finish with aggregate
Note the trowel marks on the wall
Worm/Swirl or Plaster Finishes:
These are basically surfaces with larger pieces of aggregate that when troweled leave small groove-like indentations in the texture.
It's not a very common finish used these days, but it's interesting to look at.
It's hard to tell a house has this kind of texture until you take a closer look.
- Is usually a synthetic stucco finish and uses special materials (synthetic stucco mix that contains special aggregates) that must be used to achieve the texture
- Comes in a fine, medium or coarse pattern shown below
- Not a very popular finish but unlike most others in the lineup
- Difficult to patch and difficult to attach
- Applied by hand, rubbing in circular motions to achieve desired finish in most caseswith a plastic trowel (ETICS trowel)
- Swipe left/right to see more
Santa Barbara Destination:
This is like a smooth finish but is a special material that uses much smaller sand particles to create the finished look.
Resembling an older Adobe style home, this look is irregular (handmade) in nature.
Finished appearance may vary slightly in color due to the cement based nature of the product.that you can shodorpaint laterfor a more even color.
- Is usually a traditional type of stucco material
- Is smooth on application and dries
- To be applied in two coats with a pool trowel
- Difficult to apply and patch
merlex.com
An English stucco finish, anyone?
English stucco finishes/textures are less common than some of the other types of finishes but are still found on some newer building projects but are typically found on older buildings.
This finish is usually done with a traditional finish and not usually acrylic, but would still be achievable with either type of material.
- Variations are different for individual applications
- A little easier to patch than some other finishes
- A less common type of finish typically found on older buildings
Other custom finishes:
Some finishes are what I would call a more custom finish and these usually have some sort of modeling done in the brown (base) layer.
The picture below shows what I mean as you can see the imperfections in the wall that have been incorporated into the base coat. These types of surfaces almost always have some kind of sand surface over them.
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About the author
The Stuckman
My name is Ryan and I have been in the construction trade for many years and I feel there is a huge "knowledge gap" when it comes to certain trades...like stucco. I hope you find the information here useful. Thanks for stopping by!
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FAQs
What are the different textures of stucco? ›
Architects can choose from numerous stucco finish applications techniques to give every building or home a unique exterior, including: Sand, Cat, Dash, Santa Barbara, Worm, Lace, Skip, English, Smooth.
What is meant by stucco finish and how is it done? ›noun, plural stuc·coes, stuc·cos. an exterior finish for masonry or frame walls, usually composed of cement, sand, and hydrated lime mixed with water and laid on wet. any of various fine plasters for decorative work, moldings, etc. any of various finishes made with cement, plaster, or mortar, as albarium.
What is the most popular stucco texture? ›The sand stucco finish, also known as float, is arguably one of the most popular types of stucco finish. The name “sand” comes from its grainy appearance as actual sand is mixed in with the stucco to achieve its texture.
What is the most common stucco finish? ›Float or Sand
The most common finish for stucco of commercial buildings would be “float” or “sand.” This is a versatile finish that can be used on both traditional and synthetic stucco and is applied with a single coat.
There are three categories of texture: tactile, visual, and audible. Tactile texture is the feel of a material to human touch. Visual texture affects how an object or room looks, and audible texture affects how the object or room sounds.
What is the best finish for exterior stucco? ›Stucco looks best with a flat or low-sheen paint. Kelly-Moore offers a full line of exterior acrylic masonry paints, including flat and low-sheen paints to breathe new life into your stucco home.
What is the main purpose of stucco? ›It is used as a decorative coating for walls and ceilings, exterior walls, and as a sculptural and artistic material in architecture. Stucco can be applied on construction materials such as metal, expanded metal lath, concrete, cinder block, or clay brick and adobe for decorative and structural purposes.
What are the three steps of stucco? ›Three coat is the original stucco process, consisting of paper and wire, a scratch coat, a brown coat, and a finish, or “top” coat. In industry terms — lath, scratch and brown.
What is the best color for stucco? ›What is the best color for stucco? Colors with a high light reflective value (LRV) are often the best colors for stucco exteriors, since they reflect more UV radiation away from the paint surface, preserving the pigment longer. This includes lighter shades of brown, grey, sandstone, off-white, and, of course, white.
What is a good color for stucco? ›Stucco Colors
Most homeowners go with a neutral color like tan, gray, off-white, or beige. Since neutral stucco colors act as a simple backdrop, they won't outshine other outdoor elements like trim or landscaping. Likewise, a stark white stucco color can contrast nicely with a darker trim color.
What type of stucco is best? ›
Acrylic Stucco
Designed for durability, it's a suitable material for all weather types as it will not be damaged by moisture. Acrylic is more expensive than traditional stucco but will give you a beautiful siding finish for years to come.
Conventional stucco over masonry surfaces may be applied with two or three coats. Two-coat systems over masonry consist of: first coat = 3/8 inch thick and finish coat = 1/8 inch thick; or over cast concrete consist of: first coat = 1/4 inch thick and finish coat = 1/8 inch thick.
What is the first coat of stucco called? ›The first base coat is called a scratch coat, the second is called a brown coat. In two coat work, there is a single base coat and a finish coat. The purpose of the first base coat, the scratch coat, is to embed the metal lath and provide a base for the brown coat.
What is a smooth stucco finish called? ›Sand Finish:
This is the most common type of stucco finish used in commercial exteriors. It creates a smooth, textured surface and requires minimal maintenance.
Physical texture
These can include -- but are not limited to -- fur, canvas, wood grain, sand, leather, satin, eggshell, matte, or smooth surfaces such as metal or glass.
Visual texture is related to, but not the same as, texture in the tactile sense. For example, the words shiny or speckled describe visual texture, whereas smooth or wavy can also describe tactile texture. Gradients of visual texture are often used to infer depth in a two-dimensional scene and also indicate slant.
What are the 4 types of texture? ›Combining timbres is a very important aspect of creating musical textures that make one piece of music stand out from another. There are four types of textures that appear in music, Monophony, Polyphony, Homophony, and Heterophony. These four textures appear in music from around the world.
Should exterior stucco be flat or satin? ›A flat sheen will help hide the texture and any imperfections in the stucco pattern. If you do use a satin sheen on your stucco you may notice that the texture stands out more. If you want to emphasize the texture in your stucco then use a satin finish. Otherwise, we would recommend a flat sheen on stucco surfaces.
What is the most serious problem with exterior stucco? ›When a home's stucco doesn't have the necessary space or is below the grade, it can trap water and moisture leading to the formation of mold, rotting, cracking, and crumbling. Additionally, the stucco will begin to soak up even more moisture from the ground.
How many coats of paint on exterior stucco? ›If you prime the walls, you'll probably only need a single topcoat. Otherwise, you may need to apply two coats. Follow the paint manufacturer's directions for best temperatures for applying the paint and when to apply a second coat.
What you need to know about stucco? ›
Stucco is a cement-like product applied to the outside of a home in multiple layers about one inch thick. Its texture varies from smooth to textured, depending on how it's applied. It can be used over masonry or wood frame. Traditionally, it's made of cement, lime and sand.
What are some facts about stucco? ›Stucco offers reliable protection to the subwall, and it's impact-resistant. It can also be fire-resistant depending on how it is made and installed. Stucco is known for its water-shedding capability as well. It doesn't trap water between the siding and structure, making it resistant to rot and fungus.
How many coats of stucco? ›Stucco can be applied as a three-coat, two-coat, or one-coat system, depending on the type of stuccoing material used and the type of surface to which it is applied.
How many layers of stucco are needed? ›Stucco application typically requires three coats. The initial “scratch coat” provides adhesion to the building. The “brown coat”, which comes second, is responsible for creating an even surface. Finally, the “finish coat” determines the stucco's outward appearance.
How long should you wait between stucco coats? ›The cure time between the scratch and brown coat in a Portland cement plaster is stated in the Uniform Building Code (UBC) and International Building Code (IBC) in chapter 25 tables as 48 hours.
What color house sells fastest? ›"Generally, going with neutral colors like shades of white, beige, taupe, and grays lead to a faster sale," she shares. "Neutral colors are also more appealing to potential buyers because many want the creative freedom of a blank canvas to add their personal touches to when looking for a new place to call home.
What are the most popular exterior house colors for 2022? ›- Warm, Earthy Neutrals.
- All-Black Exteriors.
- Dusty Charcoal.
- Warm Whites and Creams.
- Vibrant Greens.
- Muted Gray-Greens.
- Classic Navy.
- Black Exteriors with a Contrasting Door.
Neutral colors like white, beige, and gray will continue to be popular choices for stucco in 2022. These colors provide a clean and classic look that can be easily customized with accent colors. If you're searching for a unique look, consider painting your stucco in a neutral color.
How often should stucco be painted? ›Stucco is a popular exterior choice due to its durability. However, a stucco home will still need exterior maintenance. It is often recommended that stucco be painted every 5-10 years depending on its current condition.
Does paint look lighter or darker on stucco? ›While a smooth surface reflects light and makes colors appear lighter, a porous surface, like stucco, absorbs light, so the color will look darker and closer to the actual paint chip.
Is it better to color coat or paint stucco? ›
Final Thoughts on Color Coating vs Painting Stucco
A coating will provide superior protection against the elements and can help to lower your energy bills. If you are looking for a cheaper option to make your stucco home look its best, consider a new coat of traditional masonry paint.
Spring & Summer are the Perfect time for Residential Stucco or EIFS.
What material is better than stucco? ›Fiber cement technology produces an extremely durable, weather-resistant siding. It holds up well to impact, and doesn't rot or crack the way that other materials such as stucco will. For this reason, fiber cement siding is one of the longest-lasting siding materials available today.
How much does it cost to stucco a 1600 sq ft house? ›Expect to pay between $6 and $9 per square foot to add stucco to your home. This includes labor and materials. The labor portion, if you decide to hire the job out rather than DIY, will set you back between $2 and $3 per square foot. For the stucco material itself, the cost ranges from about $5 to $6 per square foot.
Which type of stucco is best? ›Acrylic Stucco
Designed for durability, it's a suitable material for all weather types as it will not be damaged by moisture. Acrylic is more expensive than traditional stucco but will give you a beautiful siding finish for years to come.
Three coat is the original stucco process, consisting of paper and wire, a scratch coat, a brown coat, and a finish, or “top” coat. In industry terms — lath, scratch and brown.
What is the smooth stucco called? ›SMOOTH FINISH STEEL TROWEL
A smooth stucco finish, also known as a fine cement based finish, is one of the most difficult textures to achieve and is also the most popular among homeowners because it's easiest to clean and offers a finish closest to looking like a painted home.
Most homeowners go with a neutral color like tan, gray, off-white, or beige.
How often should I paint my stucco house? ›Stucco is a popular exterior choice due to its durability. However, a stucco home will still need exterior maintenance. It is often recommended that stucco be painted every 5-10 years depending on its current condition.