How To Repair Small Holes In Stucco

Expert DIY advice on how to repair stucco siding, including tips on patching holes in stucco, and fixing cracks and stains.

Stucco is a very strong, durable cement-similar siding material but repairs are sometimes needed for cracks and holes.

Though yous're better off leaving major stucco repairs to a mason or stucco specialist, you lot should be able to handle fixing near holes and cracks if yous accept do-information technology-yourself experience. The style you lot make these repairs will depend upon the nature of the damage, such as the size of the pigsty. Here we look at typical stucco repairs. For data on painting stucco, please see How to Paint Stucco.

Fixing Large Holes in Stucco

Patching big holes in stucco is a job that homeowners adept at basic home repairs can handle-though it may be difficult to create a patch that blends perfectly with the wall unless you repaint. If you lot are not comfy doing this type of repair, contact a local siding contractor.

If you decide to do the job yourself:

one Remove loose stucco from the hole with a cold chisel and ballpeen hammer as shown at right; blow out the grit. Staple new wire mesh over any damaged mesh. Spray with water.

Diagram of a man's hands hammering loose stucco on wire mesh with a cold chisel. — Remove loose stucco, using a cold chisel.

2 Utilize the first coat of stucco to within 1/4 inch of the surface, using a stonemason's trowel or putty knife (stucco should ooze from behind the mesh). When house, scratch with a nail. Let cure for two days.

Drawing of a man's hand applying stucco using a mason's trowel on a scored layer. — Use first layer of stucco, using a stonemason'due south trowel. © Don Vandervort, HomeTips

3 Employ the 2d glaze over the dampened offset coat to inside i/eight inch of the surface, using a mason'south trowel or putty knife, as shown below left. Shine the stucco and let it cure for two days.

4 Apply the final coat over the dampened second coat with a metal float or mason's trowel. Smooth flush with the existing surface. Texture as desired, and permit to cure for four days.

5 Paint if necessary. See How to Paint Stucco.

HomeTips Pro Tip: For deep holes, build upwards the patch with several successive layers, allowing each to dry out before applying the next. Match the texture past touching information technology upwards with a float or a pocket-size brush.

Fixing Small Holes in Stucco

Here is how to repair a small hole (less than 6 inches wide):

one Use a stiff brush to clean out the hole. If the hole is likewise pocket-sized for a brush, use an awl or nailset to scrape out whatever loose material. So accident out the dust (wear eye protection).

two Apply a new patch of stucco patching compound, using a putty knife. Pack it tightly into the hole and fill most to the surface. Allow this patch to set up until it is strong.

3 Apply a top glaze of patching chemical compound. Use the putty knife to blend the surface of the patch and so that it matches the wall. So allow this glaze to dry.

Repairing Stucco Cracks

Cracks in stucco are a mutual problem. Stucco, after all, is not very resilient–it's made of cement. And so when a house settles over time or shifts because of heavy winds or earthquakes, the stucco siding cracks. The proper style to repair these problems depends upon their size.

Hairline Cracks

Very fine, hairline cracks are very easy to fix. If they are super-thin, a coating of acrylic latex paint that matches the siding volition probably do the job. If they are a petty also wide for paint to fill the crevices, make full them with latex caulking compound offset. Permit this to dry thoroughly, and then paint the surface with acrylic latex paint.

Wide Cracks

For wider cracks, use an all-purpose filler such as pre-mixed bridging and patching compound that is intended for stucco repair. When use this, follow the label directions.

Fixing Stained or Weathered Stucco

Though stucco is a very tough surface, it can look weathered and dirty over time. Unlike other siding materials, y'all shouldn't utilise ordinary business firm paint to paint stucco because the walls need to "breathe." Otherwise, interior moisture can get behind the paint and cause it to cicatrice or peel.

Instead, have the wall "re-dashed" by a stucco contractor. If your stucco is white, a simpler (though more temporary) solution is to have it whitewashed with a mixture of water and white Portland cement. Information technology'south best to have this done by a professional painter or stucco contractor.

Featured Resource: Find a Pre-Screened Local Stucco Repair Pro