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Residential and Commercial:
New Builds
Trim Detailing
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Repairs
Cracking
Water Damage
Interiors
Patches
Fireplaces
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More Info on the Stucco Proccess
Efflorescence
Exterior/Interior Products
Color
Trim
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Exteriors: La Habra Finishes, Parex Acrylic Finishes, Elastomeric,
Interior Plasters/"Venetian",
Efflorescence, Cracking, Patches,
Colors, Trim
THE STUCCO PROCESS
The first stage of the stucco process on a new building is paper and wire (lathing). This is related to water proofing and some cities require inspection before the basecoats are applied.
The second stage for a new building are two coats, called the scratch and brown. The final stage is the finish coat.
We use the same material for the basecoats, regardless of what finish is applied. The owner chooses the finish, in terms of color, material (acrylic or cement) and texture.
On older buildings, the process is dictated by the work being done, from patches and cracks, to application of a skim coat over old stucco. Texture matching is a large part of the work on old buildings.
EXTERIOR FINISH COATS
La Habra Finishes
When we say "La Habra", we are referring to a typical cement, non-acrylic stucco. La Habra is a brand name and they make a variety of products (including a LaHabra PAREX... see further on for information on acrylic stucco).
http://lahabrastucco.com/index.htm
La Habra products come in a variety of colors as well as plain grey cement Tinted cement is more expensive than regular cement, which can be painted afterwards. If you use a tinted stucco, you need never paint again.
La Habra cement stucco finish is cheaper in material cost and offers a more natural "Tuscan" or "antique" look. Unlike painted walls, the color doesn't dry uniformly: La Habra walls show 'modulated' color variations. This is particularly true in wet weather when exposed areas are wetter than sheltered areas resulting in greater color contrast on the same wall; a temporary 'patchy' effect. Walls are more uniform in dry weather. This cement is also more susceptible to cracking than acrylic products. Cracks can be repaired.
A natural, chemical process can occur with this stucco called efflorescence. This means that in damp climates, and particularly in rainy weather, you may notice a white powder on the exterior walls. This does not appear everywhere, but in areas where the water collects and drips down. This contributes to the antique, "old Europe" look of classic "La Habra" buildings. Some people like the look of this, and others don't.
La Habra house three years later - still loved by its owners!
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More on Efflorescence and Efflorescence remedies
Exterior PAREX finishes
If you want something with a high resistance to cracking and efflorescence, Parex is the product for you. This acrylic product resists aging, appearing fresh and new for an indefinite length of time.
This is from a Parex brochure, and we think it is quite accurate:
"The acrylic polymeric bonding forms a tough surface, yet remains pliable and is vapor permeable. A durable surface, a skin which allows the wall to breathe; there isn't a better coating on the market.
Parex 100% acrylic finishes stay fresh longer, resisting fading, chalking and yellowing. Parex finishes rely on the acrylic polymers as well as the highest quality pigments available to resist UV fading.
In test after test, Parex finishes endure: wash out resistance, peel adhesion, wet abrasion. For instance, when a stiff brush scrubs back and forth 2000 times over a wet Parex sample, only 4.4% of the samples weight is lost."
www.parex.com
CRACKS
Cracking is unavoidable with any cement process. Minimal cracking occurs as a matter of course. Living in an active seismic zone increases this tendency! Slamming doors and windows are a cause as well. For large cement surfaces, control joins (lines in the cement such as can be seen on sidewalks) are made to minimize cracking.
In terms of the stucco process, cracks are repaired as a matter of course after the brown stage, before the finish. They can also be repaired when they appear in the finish shortly after completion, which occasionally happens, even when due care has been taken. With some colored materials, the stucco contractor will have to skim coat the entire wall to ensure matching color if they are repairing cracks in the finish.
Elastomeric
Parex also makes a line of elastomeric finishes which bridge hairline cracks in old or new walls. We have found this to be a great product.
PATCHES
If about 50% or more of a wall needs patching, we will redo the whole wall.
Patching, Remodel, Berkeley:
This house required extensive patching. Our work included required water proofing, (paper and wire) for the new stucco and a skim coat on the entire building. This is a good example of the process from start to finish.
Rapid Set® Eisenwall®
This is a fairly new rapid drying material that cuts out the waiting time between coats. This means that we can patch your house over a period of a few days, depending on the size of the job. With "old style" cement, you must wait a specified time between coats or the stucco will crack, or fall off. The main reason this product is not used for entire buildings is that it is costly.
www.eisenwall.com
INTERIORS
Not many people do interior plaster, often referred to as Venetian plaster, and yet it is the most beautiful material we use. The feeling of a house with colored plaster inside, is markedly different than other common options. The walls seem to breathe; shadow and light fall more profoundly. Even with a clean and fluid acrylic plaster, the effect is natural and earthy, as well as elegant.
We can use plain plaster which you will need to paint, colored plaster or colored acrylic plaster. This acrylic has the same beneficial properties as the exterior acrylic, in terms of resisting cracking. This acrylic plaster is finer than regular plaster and the walls require greater preparation on our part. We use mesh tape and glue to cover the lines and nails in the drywall.
We have recently started experimenting with "Venetian Plaster" as well, a smoother and softer product. Because it is not as hard as the acrylic, it is easier to damage but much easier to patch and this can be a real plus. See vasariplaster.com for more information on this type of plaster.
Some Interior Acrylic Views
We have recently discovered this line of colored acrylic and are very excited by the results.
www.variancefinishes.com
COLOR AND TEXTURE
As stated before, the great advantage of colored stucco and plaster is not needing to paint again. A disadvantage is that repairing cracks in colored plaster is not something you can do yourself. It is also a little time intensive to repair colored plaster.
All the lines of colored stucco and plasters that we use, offer a fairly decent range of color. More unusual or startling colors can be ordered at extra cost. We can lighten or deepen any one of the regular colors offered by how we mix the color.
For interior or exterior acrylic plaster, Variance (see above) offers a very rich range of color.
 Color and Texture:
Any color is possible and there is an enormous range of texture, from completely smooth to knobbly and undulating. Special colors can cost more, as can unique and time consuming textures. But there are many to choose from that don't increase price.
TRIMS
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Most, if not all of our portfolio examples show the use of styrofoam trim. While the word styrofoam surely conjures up a cheap and flimsy material, its use in exterior stucco is neither. It is in fact the common practice for stucco houses. Many times you may have assumed that the detailing on a house was stone. Usually it is styrofoam, covered by stucco, applied with careful hand work. Stone can of course be embedded in the stucco, but this is not a currently fashionable practice. Sometimes owners choose wood trims which require care and maintenance.
Styrofoam, when coated with stucco is a strong, and stone-like material. This trim comes in many different designs, for use around windows and doors and to decorate the eves. It can be used in conjuction with plywood forms to create pillars and columns. We attach the styrofoam and apply stucco, filling in the joins and using a brush and water to smooth away imperfections. Next, a contrasting stucco finish color can be applied.
Once finished, it is extremely durable.
More trim examples of this Saratoga house
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License # 895517,
