Hi all: First time poster here: I was wondering if anyone has any thoughts as to why you no longer see much use of cement stucco as an accepted exterior wall covering method. It seems that the E.F.I.S. synthetic stucco system has supplanted traditonal stucco, but has a bad track record in terms of long term durability and exposing the underlying house frame to rot, mildew, etc.. So why arent craftsmen still using the time proven method of cement stucco. You see lots of 50 to 70 year old cement stucco houses in good shape still. Thanks in advance for the replies.
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That and lack of tradsmen that know how to do stucco.
I think there are only two legitimate contractors left in the Louisville area, and they have a hard time keeping people.
I guess you see it in your business also. Knowone wants to serve the apprenticeship time to learn a trade anymore. They want short training and then top dollar for just a fraction of the skill and knowledge it take to do the craft. That, more than anything else, is killing the real stucco guys around here.
You don't say where you are from, but if you come to the southwest US, I will show you row upon row of cement stuccoed houses.
They are the rule here, not the exeption.
I haven't seen a synthetic stucco job in a while.
It is still alive a well in So California. The labor involved is pretty heavy and fast so it helps to have workers that work well together and don't mind heavy work.
I can remember working on one house as a fancy shmancy finish carpenter when the plaster crew showed up.
Our portapotty actually stank! What a bunch of prima donnas.
Edited 9/11/2008 8:17 pm ET by popawheelie
Both cement stucco and synthetic took a beating here after being implicated in widespread moisture related wall failures. The other factors in their decline were the invention of Hardiplank which supplanted both vinyl siding and stucco in most subdivision development, and the introduction of rainscreens which with stucco means essentially building two exterior walls.
It's not that it's gone away, far from it. But, instead of only using it over foam, it's very common here to have a cement based plaster base and an acrylic finish coat. Doesn't show hairline cracking as much, I suppose.
There is a good amount of cement based stucco being
done in the Mid-Atlantic area(DC Metro). Lot of homes.
Sheathed in plywood or OSB. Felt and expanded metal lath.
Cemtnet base coat. Acrylic or traditional cement finish.
Usually upper end Tudor or French style homes w/ Stone and Brick
in some combination.
Not inexpensive, but it has the look.....
Mclaren