There are numerous coatings that can be used to paint stucco. Excellent long term elasticity and elongation under normal and extreme weather conditions. It provides long term durability, maximum resistance to wind driven rain, and is mildew resistant. Repairing hairline cracks in exterior stucco a helpful tutorial. Painting your home with highquality thick paint can fill these hairline cracks naturally with the paint film. Stucco and masonry structures expand and contract in response to the weather and structural stresses.
Fill cracks, dents, holes and voids with an appropriate filler. Wanting to paint our florida stucco home, and am looking at elastomeric paint. Stucco 101 though its not the least expensive siding option, longlasting stucco may be the most aesthetically versatile, enabling homeowners to create custom looks. Be sure concrete, masonry and stucco are thoroughly cured and dry before applying. Once the surface has been prepared by pressure washing, cracks and bulges have been repaired, you are ready to begin the application process. The behr premium elastomeric masonry, stucco and brick paint is an exterior. An excellent example to look at is tarps in a store. If you have stucco, you need to understand how the cracks come about, and when youll need to repair them. Mar 30, 2017 he is discussing hairline cracks on the stucco. Solotex is a premium plus 100% acrylic elastomeric coating system designed for exterior use on concrete, stucco, plaster and masonry vertical surfaces.
Elastomeric caulk is a better remedy for the situation, especially for cracks wider than 116 of an inch. Eliminating numerous cracks on stucco can be easily done using an elastomeric stucco paint. Specialty elastomeric masonry, stucco, and brick paint behr. The crack shown in the photo below is an example of a typical crack in a stucco parapet.
One of the key requirements with elastomeric painting is preparation beforehand. The flexible film covers and hides hairline cracks, making uniform pinholefree jobs easier and faster to achieve. The final pigmented coat of stucco goes on as part of the installation process, so when the stucco is done, its done. Nov 21, 2018 if the stucco was recently done, you should wait 60 days to let it dry out completely. Elastomeric coating contains up to twenty mils each coating compared to a regular paint, which reaches only about three mils for each coat applied. Elastomeric paint for masonry surfaces natural handyman. These small cracks are normal and do not require any maintenance or repair. If the job calls for waterproof protection, go with an elastomeric coating such as sherwinwilliams conflex xl high build coating, which also can cover and hide hairline cracks. Stucco cracks should be repaired, but too often we see that an elastomeric coating is recommended because it provides the advantage of a crack bridging ability. Master wall superior elastomeric plus finishes have one of the highest 100% acrylic polymer contents in our industry for extra flexibility yet are still breathable. The coating stretches as the stucco masonry cracks as it does even. Stucco cracks will telegraph through the topcoat and should be repaired with patches and sealants prior to repainting.
To finish strong you need a superior elastomeric finish that can bridge minor hairline cracks common in stucco. Remove any loose or blistered paint using sand paper or paint scraper. Unlike typical exterior paints, this coating fills and bridges hairline cracks, helping to prevent damaging water penetration. The industrys highest levels of 100% acrylic polymer ensures unmatched resistance to. Sherlastic is an economical elastomeric coating designed for use on masonry and concrete construction to prevent water from penetrating into building interiors. As the temperature gets back to normal, cracks shrink in size. A good power washing, some caulk in the cracks and two coats of an elastomeric top coat will cover the cracks, smooth the stucco and give you.
Acrylic latex you are never supposed to paint three coat stucco, the proper procedure is to waterblast it and if necessary usually the owner wants to change the color you apply a new color coat. How to paint old exterior stucco home guides sf gate. Elastomeric paint possibly the best exterior paint. It is the nature of stucco to experience some cracking. Density the paint is up to ten times thicker than regular paints, and when it is dry. If you cannot fit a credit card in the crack, its nothing to worry about. The caulk has great elasticity, so it will move with cracks if they widen, and it will help prevent water from seeping through the cracks. Rated 5 out of 5 by alxs182 from first time using and it awesome i got this to try it for the first time on my home and its amazing. Jan 20, 2017 this can cause stucco cracks, and other foundational problems. How to fix cracks in stucco and paint with sherlastic elastomeric paint. Pressurewash stucco exterior before repainting sfgate. May 20, 2009 because of the thickness, they bridge existing cracks and effectively feather out ridges left where old paint transitions into bare stucco. Advanced stucco technology stucoflex international. It is recommended that normal paint job applications like brushes are not used for ewcs.
Elastomeric paint is usually not recommended by stucco contractors but is a product that painters tend to like more but that doesnt mean that it is a bad product. If a crack exceeds 18 of an inch in width then the crack should be repaired. If there are minor cracks in your stucco, this is a project that most san francisco homeowners can tackle if they want to. It also helps in creating a waterproof exterior surface by acting as a sponge. What is the right way to fix a cracked, mildewed stucco wall.
A highquality flat latex paint such as sherwin williams super paint is a good coating and has good longevity. Stucco holds paint well, and as long as the siding is in good condition, prepping for paint is minimal and involves caulking cracks and cleaning the old stucco. Hello everyone, i have a 5 year old home that had a few hair line cracks the first year. Painters who like elastomeric paint think it is a good product because of the thickness that is achieved, its ability to bridge cracks and the longevity properties it has. Because of these serious risks that cracked stucco can entail, it is important to deal with it promptly. Repairing stucco cracks is completed by adding a small amount of stucco to the crack. You can choose a three color scheme up to seven color schemes for a more elaborate colors. Its important to note that professional painters will need to fill larger cracks in stucco with exterior caulk or masonry patching prior to. After the primer is dry, you can start applying the exterior house paint. Now in the winter i am seeing more and more hairline cracks and some spider cracks but still hairline. Use an acrylic caulk around windows, doors and trim. Elastomeric coatings were originally developed by nasa for use on the space program. Parapet repairs stucco parapet repairs aa brite 247.
The best thing you can do is paint over them with elastomeric paint. To get an idea of how thick these layers need to be, normal paint jobs are about 110th the thickness of the average elastomeric wall coating. Stucoflex elastomeric acrylic finish provides a protective weathering membrane in a precolored, extremely durable, fade and mildew resistant coating. Planning on painting the entire house but have concern over this one wall. There are so many exterior paint products on the market. There is a difference between an elastomeric coating, a masonry paint and an. Fill in any cracks in stucco with brush grade elastomeric patching.
An elastomeric product does have the ability to bridge small cracks, which makes it a better choice for some people with a lot of cracks. More cracking and more dead paint means more places for water to get in. Stucco masonry does develop cracks and a crack of up to 18 inch is acceptable in. What kind of paint should be used on a stucco house. While these coatings can accommodate the thermal movement, withstand wind driven rain, and provide a long term warranty, they do not bridge or repair existing cracks.
This can cause stucco cracks, and other foundational problems. Apply primer to all raw surfaces using different primers for wood, metal, and stucco. In fact, you might think of an elastomeric coating as acrylic paint on steroids. Multiple hairline cracks in stucco home inspection.
The best way to attend to cracks to stucco is to apply a quality elastomeric coating that will bridge or fill the. Dec 22, 2015 once the surface has been prepared by pressure washing, cracks and bulges have been repaired, you are ready to begin the application process. Once stone or concrete is cracked, the crack has a habit of breaking apart paint coatings over time as well. A positive patching system formulated for the permanent repair of primarily small and hairline cracks on interior and exterior cementitious substrates such as, stucco and masonry.
Exterior house paint can be costly so making the right choice should be an important part of the decision for finding the right exterior paint. As a result, the mere sight of a hairline crack causes great concern. Its paint with a rubberized texture so the house can move and will reduse those crack lines. If you really must have an aubergine house then you need to use an elastomeric coating that preserves the breathability of the surface and is flexible and strong enough to bridge small gaps and cracks in the stucco.
They apply like paint but contain more solids, which give them greater flexibility and durability than traditional exterior paint. Stucco, like all cementitious products is susceptible to cracking. Specialty elastomeric masonry, stucco, and brick paint. These coatings help protect your stucco from wind driven rain, and can create a waterproof system if applied correctly. It is the purpose of this article to define normal cracking as opposed to excessive cracking. An elastomeric product does have the ability to bridge small cracks, which.
What is the right way to fix a cracked, mildewed stucco. Watch as i show you how to caulk a crack in stucco and proper spray. Elastomeric paint paint talk professional painting. In this case, painting stucco, normally just washing. Call ai restoration today to talk about stucco cracks. This high build coating effectively fills and bridges cracks up to 116 of an inch and exhibits. Initially designed as a waterproofing solution for stucco, which is a relatively rough surface that tends to crack, elastomerics are also well suited for tiltup or pouredinplace concrete and masonry wall surfaces including cmus because they provide excellent waterproofing properties.
If the exterior siding on your home is stucco or some other type of masonry, you may have experienced problems related to cracking. If applied correctly, it is a decent material that can keep out moisture and have a near crack free stucco job afterwards. Anyone with stucco walls will tell you that cracks seem to be a way of life for them. I put the builder on notice and of course the warranty has. Its unique formulation is designed to provide superior protection from wind driven. Another potential solution that works for all finishes is to use vapor permeable acrylic elastomeric paint in a compatible color to paint over the cracked area.
Elastomeric paint can be used to fill in stucco cracks that are 116 of an inch or smaller, but this is not our method of choice. Originally formulated to protect stucco, elastomeric coatings can be used in many places traditionally reserved for exterior paint. I do like you and tell my customers in advance, because of the cracking problem i try to talk them into a sand finish, the texture finish is too tracthouselike so try to steer them away from that, the heavy dash finishes only look good on certain architectural styles. With 2 coats of elastomeric paint over an excellent primer, the cracks will be. Elastomeric house paint also has very good elongation characteristics which can repair most cracks on any surface. Have some small cracks in the southern wall due to all the heat. Not only that, but the paint interferes with the breathability of the surface. Elastomeric paint the best exterior paint for stucco. The materials painted with elastomeric coatings are generally susceptible to cracks and fractures. May 24, 2018 when left unpainted, chunks of stucco will pop out and costly repairs will be needed.
Correctly repairing stucco cracks key to long term waterproofing success the exterior walls of an occupied building should, among other things, prevent excessive air. If you were to paint, youd have to wait for the stucco to dry and cure, which can take weeks. If the stucco was recently done, you should wait 60 days to let it dry out completely. When left unpainted, chunks of stucco will pop out and costly repairs will be needed. Its important to note that professional painters will need to fill larger cracks in stucco with exterior caulk or masonry patching prior to painting. This system is highly flexible, crack resistant and can be used for new construction as well as retrofit projects and offers the base level of benefits available in.
These cracks should not be refilled with stucco or caulk, elastomeric paint is the perfect solution for stucco masonry. Advanced stucco technology after 30 years of formulating, testing and manufacturing vertical wall products, stucoflex international, inc. These would include masonry and concrete surfaces, flat or lowsloped roofs and even wood. Most paint manufacturers provide no warranty when applied to stucco. The elastomeric properties of the coating keep it flexible to minimize the. Many homes that have stucco as an exterior coating have cracking issues, but most of them can be repaired quite easily. There are some pros and cons of elastomeric paint, but in the end, it will entirely. A painting contractor can repair your stucco cracks or recommend another contractor for. Choosing the right exterior house paint starts with the right color. Elastomeric coatings paintinfo caution notes paint colorants.
Unfortunately many of todays consumers are receiving inaccurate information regarding cracks in stucco. Elastomeric paint thermo coating madani group painting. Elastomeric paint for masonry surfaces home repair and. The repair will look best if you repaint the whole wall, since a discreet repair will be difficult to acheive if you. Elastomeric wall coatings must be dispensed in very thick layers. Parex elastomeric coatings 100% acrylic elastomeric nontextured coating. They ranged any where from 45 feet long to the length of my garage wall 16 plus feet between the front windows. If tinted, the coating has better color retention that normal house paint. Uv breaks down the polymers in elastomeric paints and the material hardens and cracks. Density the paint is up to ten times thicker than regular paints, and when it is dry you can notice the difference. If i paint this wall with elastomeric and cracks reappear how can i then repair or repaint this area.
Correctly repairing stucco cracks key to long term. This extremely durable, mildew and dirt resistant waterproofing paint has superior elasticity and elongation properties. Its important to remember that even though most of the time small stucco cracks or normal, there are some situations where a large crack can be a sign of a bigger problem. Ive always had cracks, and they are really obvious on the smooth santa barbara finish. We provide a great, longlasting exterior paint solution. It has to be thicker than a nickel to be a problem. Correctly repairing stucco cracks key to long term waterproofing success the exterior walls of an occupied building should, among other things, prevent excessive air and water from entering to the interior. I use different when homeowners desires benmoore ofcoarse. Redash stucco, care and maintenance of your stucco home. Elastomeric exterior paint can get rid of cracks on concrete and other types of wood since elastomeric coating is very thick and flexible. Initially designed as a waterproofing solution for stucco, which is a relatively rough surface that tends to crack, elastomerics are also well suited for tiltup or. When is it time to repair stucco cracks in the walls. Ceramic insulcoat wall is a tough, highbuild, highperformance architectural coating. Elastomeric paint is a high build coating that is designed to protect masonry surfaces.