(3.5-min read)
Classically handsome and built to last, stucco has been a popular home building material for thousands of years. Despite this, there are a handful of unknown facts about stucco that are worth investigating before investing in either a previously existing stucco home, a stucco remodel for an existing home, or stucco for new home construction.
What Exactly is Stucco?
Traditional stucco went beyond a siding material — acting as more of a structural component to homes as far back as ancient antiquity. Most stucco materials available today are primarily intended for a certain aesthetic appeal while still protecting the exterior of homes. Today’s stucco is largely comprised of lime, silica (sand), and cement that is applied in layers over exterior wood or metal lath to ensure structural integrity. These layers form a protective concrete coating around a home, but also provides an appealing rustic look.
The Pros of Stucco Siding
Stucco Application is Pretty Quick
One would think that stucco installation/application would take time, but due to its layered application process, professional stucco application may only take one to two days.
Stucco is Immensely Versatile
Because it is essentially an applied mixture, the look and feel of stucco can vary depending on the homeowner’s preferences. The texture of the stucco can be manipulated to give a more rustic look or a smooth, almost polished look. Coloring is done by tinting the mixture itself, meaning that even as the material wears over the years, the color will largely remain consistent. Also, being a mixed material means that it can provide a custom fit to any home without measuring or potentially wasted materials.
Stucco Provides Contrast
Because stucco is such a unique look, the material automatically provides contrast to every non-stucco part of the exterior of a home. Unique trim, fixtures, and windows will tend to visually pop out from the stucco’s less busy, more benign look from a distance.
Stucco Provides a Strong, Insulated Shell
Mostly being an added layer of concrete to a home, stucco provides exceptional insulation from the summer heat — one of the reasons why stucco is so prevalent in hotter, desert climates. The low maintenance of the material will also save you time and money over the life of the material.
The Cons of Stucco
Stucco is More Expensive
When compared with its siding competitors, stucco tends to be the more extensive siding material. This price hike will primarily be for labor for installation due to the process being fairly hard work.
Stucco Isn’t Fond of Moisture
As mentioned earlier, stucco is a preferred material for desert climates, but one of the reasons why it may be a rare sight in rainier climates is due to its weakness in the realm of moisture management.
Stucco Isn’t Flexible
Many different materials can withstand slightly shifting ground conditions and come out relatively unscathed — stucco doesn’t seem to be one of them. Places prone to shifting soil or earthquakes can wreak havoc on stucco material, resulting in large cracks that may compromise the structural integrity of the siding.
Stucco is a Pain to Remove
If you decide to remove stucco from your home, you’re in for a long, arduous process. Though there’s nothing particularly complicated about stucco removal, it requires a tremendous amount of elbow grease and time to do so correctly.
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Whether you’re considering stucco siding for your new home or have questions about new home building, feel free to consult the professionals at Perry Hood Properties.