Stucco installation: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What stucco installation is

Stucco installation applies a weather barrier, metal lath and coats of cement-based plaster to an exterior wall, then finishes it with color and texture. People call for new construction, a home addition, or when an old wall is being covered with a new stucco finish.

Signs you need it

  • A new addition or build whose design calls for a stucco exterior
  • Bare sheathing or failing siding on a wall that needs a new, durable finish
  • Old siding or stucco that is coming off in sections and needs a full replacement
  • A wall that was framed without a proper weather barrier and now shows water intrusion
  • Block or concrete walls that are being covered with a new stucco finish

What the pro does

  • Check the framing and sheathing, then install a weather-resistant barrier with the laps shedding water down the wall
  • Fasten metal lath over the barrier with the right fasteners and laps, and set corner beads, casing beads and a weep screed at the base
  • Apply the scratch coat, then the brown coat, letting each cure and scoring it to the thickness the next layer needs
  • Finish with the final coat in the color and texture the design calls for, such as a sand float or a smooth trowel finish
  • Flash the windows, doors and roof edges so moisture does not get trapped behind the stucco, then set and seal the control joints

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Wall area and the number of stories, plus the scaffolding needed to reach each wall
  • Number of openings, corners, arches and decorative details that take extra hand work
  • Condition of the sheathing and framing that must be repaired before lath goes on
  • Type of weather barrier, lath and accessories, such as corner beads and weep screed
  • Texture and color choices, including integral color compared to a painted finish
  • Number of coats and the curing time needed between them in the local weather
  • Permit and inspection requirements

What a written quote should spell out

  • Weather barrier product and the number of layers, with laps and flashing details
  • Lath type, fastener type and spacing, and where each is used
  • Accessories listed by name, including corner beads, weep screed, casing beads and control joints
  • Number of coats and the mix used for each, with the texture or finish named
  • Flashing and sealant at windows, doors and roof edges
  • Protection of landscaping and adjacent surfaces, and cleanup of mortar drips

Questions to ask before you hire

  • What weather barrier and lath are you using, and how are the laps and flashing done?
  • Where will the control joints go, and how do you decide their spacing on a wall this size?
  • How do you cure each coat in the weather we get here, and what is your plan for rain?
  • Who is on the scaffold, and how is it set up for the height of my walls?
  • Do you use a sand float or a smooth finish, and can you show me a sample of the texture?
  • How do you flash the windows and roof edges so water does not get behind the stucco?
  • Can you show me a finished stucco wall of similar size and detail?

Red flags

  • Stucco on a framed wall with no weather barrier or lath
  • No weep screed or base flashing listed at the bottom of the wall
  • Coats applied over wet coats, or in freezing weather with no curing plan
  • No control joints planned on a large wall or where the framing changes
  • A quote with no line for flashing around windows, doors and roof edges

What you can do yourself

You can safely walk around the house and photograph cracks, damp spots and gaps from the ground to share with a pro. Stucco is heavy, usually needs scaffolding on a full wall, and involves mixing and troweling plaster, so leave the work to a pro. Call a pro for water getting into the wall, hollow or bulging stucco, or any new wall that needs a weather barrier.

Licenses and permits

Stucco installation is commonly done by licensed plastering, masonry or general contractors, and new wall work often needs a permit and inspection. Check your state and local licensing and building office requirements before you start.

Stucco installation questions

Can stucco go over an old wall without removing the old material?

Sometimes, if the existing wall is sound, flat and has a good barrier. A pro should check the wall for rot, moisture and flatness before deciding whether to cover it.

Does stucco need to breathe?

The wall needs a drainage plan and a weather barrier so any moisture that gets in can leave. A solid barrier and proper flashing matter more than the stucco layer alone.

How do I keep stucco from cracking?

Use control joints at the spacing the design calls for, let each coat cure properly, and fix any movement in the framing. Cracks often trace back to the structure or to rushed curing.

Can stucco be installed in winter?

It depends on the temperatures and the material. Plaster needs time to cure and must not freeze during the process. Ask the crew how they plan the schedule and protect the work.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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