Replies

1. 
   JTC1 | May 09, 2005 08:36pm | #1

   Someone else will undoubtedly know more about this than I do, but my gut reaction is yes - of course stucco can be painted over successfully.  My reaction is based on the thousands of painted "parged" block foundations.  I do not think there is much difference between parging and stucco.  I do not know what "broken bottle" stucco is though.

   A reputable, professional, paint dealer / store - Ben Moore, Glidden, etc. should be able to point you in the right direction. ( Not to be confused with the character at HD, Lowes, etc.)  The pro paint dealers had always steered me right as to surface prep, primers, etc. -- make sure you do all of the steps they tell you - no shortcuts OR you may end up doing the job twice. 

    

    

    

1. 
   DanH | May 09, 2005 09:43pm | #2

   First you need to find out what type of "stucco" you have, then you need to select an appropriate paint/stain for that type. In addition to traditional masonary stucco there are a number of different wannabes that have been used over the years, some of which are closer to plastic than masonary.On masonary stucco it's critical that the paint used not be 100% impervious to water, since the masonary needs to "breathe".

1. 
   JTC1 | May 10, 2005 03:14pm | #3

   Granted, however, I doubt a "70's house" with an exterior finish described as an "eyesore" has something like a Dryvit finish -- but it might, like I said I've been wrong before.

1. 
   DanH | May 10, 2005 04:16pm | #4

   Like I said there were a bunch of different pseudo-stuccos developed in that timeframe. Early 70s it's most likely "real" stucco, but late 70s could several different things.

2. 
   BonnieBb | May 11, 2005 07:15am | #10

   Hi. 

   If it is true stucco, not a synthetic, you must use an elastomeric paint.  It is quite gooey and pricey, but the paint will fill in small surface cracks and provide a nice finish.  It is the only paint that works for stucco homes out here in West Texas.  Of course, proper surface preparation is key to a good finish job; cleaning the stucco; filling large cracks, etc.  Home Depot carries the product as well as Wellborn; other paint companies must carry the paint as well.  Bonnie B.

    

2. 
   Nails | May 11, 2005 10:23am | #12

   Broken bottle stucco always to me looked like it was made with broken beer bottles. It was green and brown around our neck of the woods.

1. 
   JTC1 | May 11, 2005 02:07pm | #13

   Now I know.  Have never seen it.

2. 
   Gumshoe | May 10, 2005 08:30pm | #5

   Stucco can be painted and frequently is, but I generally don't recommend it because paint seals the stucco, and prevents it from breathing. And it will need to be re-painted more frequently than if it were color-coated. If it has never been painted, you can knock off any high spots, hose it off, and color-coat over it. If it has been painted, you would need to sandblast (the best way) or you cold use a bonder, to color-coat. A good color-coat will last 15-20 years. BTW, what is "broken bottle stucco"?

1. 
   timberframer | May 11, 2005 07:08am | #9

   broken bottle stucco has bits of what looks like, and i think is, broken bottles of green and blue glass, the majority of the stucco is white but i guess in the 70s it was fashionable to put in the broken bottles to give is some color...it is not fashionable or aesthetically pleasing now to us anyways :)

1. 
   HeavyDuty | May 11, 2005 07:26am | #11

   I thought you were talking about those masonry wall with the bottom of green glass bottles showing through.

   In your case painting the stucco shouldn't be a problem if you know what kind of stucco you have and get the right primer and paint. The only catch is the paint on the glass will come off first and you'll be left with that vintage broken glass stucco look again.

3. 
   glatt | May 11, 2005 12:27am | #6

   Yes you can paint it, but it would be a mistake.  Bare stucco is a very low maintenance siding. Why would you want to give that up?  If you paint it, you will then have to maintain your siding.  Painting it every 5 years or so.  In order to paint it five years from now, you will need to sandblast all the peeling paint off.  And then paint it.

   Why would you want to buy into that cycle?  Leave it alone for a while.  Maybe it will grow on you.

    

   
   

   ---

   Edited 5/10/2005 5:28 pm ET by Glatt

1. 
   NannyGee | May 11, 2005 05:17am | #7

   I can't give you an educated answer, but our 1924 house has stucco that was painted at least 15 years ago (before we owned it) shows zero signs of wear. Not a speck of peeling anywhere. No sign of moisture issues either. With plaster & lath inside and a zillion tiny leaks, the house breathes pretty well.I don't care for the look of plain stucco. Grey is not for everyone. Plus it looks dirty after a while. But I'm sure the non-paint coloring options are best.

1. 
   DanH | May 11, 2005 06:10am | #8

   Painting is more of an option for "real" stucco now that latex/acrylic paints are available. They allow a modicum of vapor to pass through, whereas the old oil paints would block it off completely. You could destroy stucco with oil paint.

4. 
   JohnSprung | May 12, 2005 02:38am | #14

   The big problem with this is getting the paint to bridge over the exposed glass pieces.  They'll always be weak points in the coating.  How big are they?  Are there exposed sharp edges?

   Resource Conservation Technology, http://www.conservationtechnology.com, has a water based paint-on roofing system that uses an embedded fabric.  If you can get the fabric seams to look OK, that should solve the glass bridging problem, providing a surface you can paint with the exterior latex color of your choice. 

   Another approach would be to have day laborers with face shields and pick hammers break out all the glass.  Then you could give it a scrub coat of real stucco in the final desired color. 

    

   -- J.S.

    

1. 
   DanH | May 12, 2005 05:25am | #15

   Odd, when you don't want it to, you have no trouble at all getting paint to stick to glass.

1. 
   JohnSprung | May 12, 2005 08:09pm | #19

   > Odd, when you don't want it to, you have no trouble at all getting paint to stick to glass.

   True, that's a corollary to Murphy's law. 

   As for bridging the glass,  another thought is to find out what the graffitti vandals use to ruin windows.  They have something that etches glass, which should make the paint stick better.  It would have to be tested to be sure that it doesn't do something to weaken the bond to the stucco between the glass.

    

   -- J.S.

    

2. 
   Nails | May 12, 2005 06:29am | #17

   The glass that I've always seen is about the size of pea gravel. about the same size a the gravel used in the stucco itself i guess. and yes - sharp edges. some I  remember seeing, has a fair bit of glass in it. One job I sure wouldn't want; picking it out.

1. 
   timberframer | May 12, 2005 07:32am | #18

   yep ther is a lot of beer bottles in this wall...i guess another option is to side right over it...i have a portable bandsaw mill, what about screwing board and baton siding or ship lap?

5. 
   ponytl | May 12, 2005 05:55am | #16

   yes you can paint it...  but how you prep it and what you paint it with matters... like other posters have said you really don't want to seal it...  what i do on old parge coats.. (same as stucco) is re-parge em... i use 1 part white portland... 1 part sand... and just a little white lime (from the farmers co-op)  i get it about like a cake batter maybe a little thicker... and apply to a damp surface..  apply like stucco.. and keep it damp (not wet) for a few days...  if ur not into bright white... you can add several types of concrete color to it... the liquid stuff from quick-crete goes a long way...

   good luck

   p