Many Jacksonville, FL homes have beautiful stucco walls. If you’re looking to make your home more customized to your tastes, you may want to paint them. After all, your home is much more comfortable once you truly make it your own. If you have stucco walls, there are some tips and tricks you need to know to paint them and get the look that you have always wanted. After all, stucco can truly create a unique and modern look in virtually any home. Whether you’re looking to DIY a minimalist bathroom with stucco walls and large tile floors, create a natural and textural look in your living room with wooden floors and stucco, or give a coastal bathroom a real spa feel with stucco walls and natural wood, these steps should help you make your vision come to life.
So what is stucco?
For those that may not know, stucco is simply a combination of powdered limestone or cement blended with water. This mixture is then applied over metal wire or lath to create a hard masonry surface. It’s a durable solution for many Jacksonville homes, and that’s why it’s so popular in the area. Stucco walls need to be treated with care - so you can’t just up and paint them like you would a more traditional drywall surface.
Okay, so what do you do?
Before you can paint stucco walls, you need to prepare the surface. Depending on the wear and tear of the surface, this can be a bit time-intensive. But don’t worry, it’s totally worth the time that you’re going to put into it.
- Prepare the stucco walls for painting by first removing any dust and dirt from the surface. Oftentimes, this will require the use of a push broom (or some other stiff-bristled broom) to give the walls a thorough brushing. However, if your stucco has a bit of a deeper texture, you may need to use more aggressive measures - like a power washer. Of course, this will also depend on where the stucco is located. If the stucco wall is indoors, a power washer may not be a practical solution.
- Next, go over the stucco and fill in any hairline cracks with caulking. Be sure to use masonry-compatible caulking to complete this step. If there are larger cracks in the stucco, use a putty knife to clear them of any debris and fill with a dry stucco repair solution.
- After your stucco has been cleaned and prepared, you need to wait at least a week (ten days would be ideal) to allow any caulking or repair to cure and set properly. Once that’s happened, you’ll soon be ready to paint.
- Of course - as with all painting jobs - you’ll need to apply painter’s tape around any windows, trim, or other fixtures on the wall before you start.
Get to painting!
Once the stucco walls are prepared, you may be wondering how to paint your stucco walls. If you follow these tips and tricks, you are sure to have a result that you can be proud of. Painting stucco walls isn’t the easiest task in the world - but it is certainly worth it when it’s done!
- Before you can get started, you need to apply an appropriate masonry primer to the stucco itself. This will allow the paint to adhere properly so that you can achieve a favorable result. You should start by brushing the primer around the edges and then using a thick-nap roller to cover the larger portions of the wall.
- Want to make sure you’re doing it properly? Of course, you do. Then you should invest in a roller grid. What’s a roller grid? It’s a relatively inexpensive plastic grid that fits into a five-gallon bucket. Why should you do this? It makes it easier when you dip your roller into the paint - you simply lightly roll upward along the roller grid to remove excess paint. This will help you to achieve a more even finish the first time.
- Be sure to cover the entire surface of the wall with a coat of primer. If you happen to have stains on your stucco, there are stain-blocking primers available that can help to prevent the existing stains from bleeding through. As you are applying the primer, don’t be too aggressive. Let the nap of the roller do most of the work for you - this helps to alleviate roller streaks on the stucco.
- Once the primer has dried, you are ready to start painting. Begin by brushing a light coat of your desired paint around any windows and doors. This helps to keep any fixtures or tight spots from achieving an uneven or messy look.
- You should then use the roller and roller grid to paint the rest of the stucco wall.
- Allow the first coat of paint to dry before adding any additional coats. Don’t try to get it all done in a hurry - when it comes to painting stucco walls, two or more light coats produce a much more desirable result than one sloppy, thick one.
- Once the paint has dried sufficiently, you should remove the painter’s tape. It can be helpful to use a straightedge and a utility knife to lightly score the edge of the tape before you remove it. If you do that, you greatly minimize the chances of accidentally removing any of your paint from the stucco.
Hopefully, these tips and tricks have been helpful as you consider taking the steps to paint your stucco walls. When you are looking to update your Jacksonville, FL home, we’re here to help you with DIY suggestions to ensure that you can do the job yourself - and get it done right!