Stucco Painting In Indiana: Mistakes to Avoid

Painting stucco can be difficult considering its uneven texture. Doing the job correctly requires concentration, patience, attention to detail, as well as the right tools and training. Many homeowners in Warsaw, Columbia City, and other surrounding Indiana cities often attempt to paint their own stucco homes but end up making frustrating and costly mistakes.

At Matthews’ Painting, we take exterior stucco painting with all the seriousness it deserves. Our painting crew has years of experience painting and refinishing stucco, log, brick, wood, drywall, and many other types of wall substrates. Don’t take our word for it; instead, when you get a minute, check out our testimonials section to see what our previous customers said about our services.

But just in case your mind is already set firmly in DIY stucco painting, we have some common stucco painting mistakes that we thought you should know. If you have never painted stucco exterior before, note that there is a lot that can go wrong, but the following are the most common:

Inadequate Curing

If your stucco was applied recently, you need to give it adequate time to dry and settle before you paint it. During the curing time, it is important for the stucco to be wetted down to pull the excess lime out. If this process is rushed, the stucco itself will deteriorate rapidly. You want your siding to be structurally stable before painting over it. Sixty days is typically enough, but you might want to wait for an additional 1-2 weeks if you live in high rainfall and humidity areas. While at it, avoid touching the stucco as it dries.

Ignoring The Surface Imperfections

Before painting commences, inspect the stucco surface for imperfections. Note down any areas that are peeling, crumbling, or stained because they will need extra attention. Any existing holes or cracks in the surface should be repaired. Hairline cracks can be filled using elastomeric caulk, while larger cracks can be repaired using a thick concrete patching compound or stucco.

Use a putty knife or a hand towel to smooth the freshly patched compound until it matches the surrounding surface in texture. Largely damaged areas might require applying a new layer of stucco. Generally, painting over cracks that have not been adequately patched often allows water to get behind the paint, and this causes peeling, more cracking, and molding.

Painting Over Dirty Stucco

Paint generally doesn’t adhere properly to dirty surfaces, and the rough texture of the stucco siding doesn’t make things any better. Failing to clean the surface thoroughly before painting leads to paint peeling, and flaking due to poor adhesion. If you have made any surface repairs, wait for 15-30 days, then pressure wash your stucco. Spray the surface from one end to the other, working your way from top to bottom. When done right, this will remove dust, dirt, grime, or mold that has built up on the textured material over time.

Painting on Wet Surfaces

This is a common mistake that many DIY painters make across different painting projects, not just stucco exterior. As earlier hinted, painting over wet surfaces can lead to paint peeling, bubbling and flaking due to poor adhesion. So wait for the surface to completely dry after your stucco has just been installed, pressure washed or repaired. Equally, you need to wait for one paint coat to totally dry before applying the next.

Not Consulting The Experts

Remember earlier when we hinted that stucco painting could be quite a headache? If you don’t have the skill, training, experience, or the right tools, you could easily mess up your wall. And correcting some mistakes can be much more costly than even hiring an expert right from the beginning.

If you need professional assistance painting your stucco home, Matthews’ Painting can help. We have over 20 years of residential painting serving the areas of Warsaw, Syracuse, Lake Tippecanoe area, Winona Lake area, Columbia City, Indiana, and surrounding Indiana cities. To get started, simply give us a call (574) 834-3575 today to book our services or ask any questions.