What is Stucco?

Stucco is a naturally occurring product with a long history that goes back over centuries. Stucco can be found in most every part of the world. Stucco is also called Mexican cement or brick mortar. Stucco or sideway is a compound material consisting of a binder, aggregate, and water. Stucco can be used as an exterior construction material for the purpose of waterproofing, protecting, and adding texture to concrete, masonry, sheet rock, tiles, or other materials.

The first part of the answer is that stucco has its roots in other materials such as lime and sand. Lime and sand are the common raw materials for pottery and brick. Other natural products which may have been used for stucco include agave, agatite, limonite, limestone, slate, sandstone, travertine, variscite, yucca, walnut shells, and other fossilized materials. So it's not really surprising that when people start talking about stucco, they are talking about the surface stucco that can be found at the base of walls in older homes.

So what is stucco anyway? Stucco can be described as the exterior surface of a wall that has been stiffened with a solution of water, sand, and sometimes cement. The materials that are mixed together to create a stucco have varied purposes. For example, certain colors and patterns were created for aesthetic reasons or to protect buildings from weather damage. It was traditionally used to build homes as the exterior layer of the wall. However, in recent times, the composition has been used more as an insulating material. The interior layer of the wall is often made up of masonry, while the exterior layer is composed of rubber, asbestos, or a mixture of any of these materials. This stucco mixture is usually waterproof and is often added to concrete to reduce the structural integrity of the building.

The most common materials that are included in the stucco composition are lime, marble, limestone, rock salt, and water, although there are other materials that have been used, but are not as common. In addition, the composition of the stucco can vary significantly, depending on the preferences of the builder, the condition of the building, and the needs of the client. Some of the materials that have been used historically to include mortar, sand, and various types of chemicals.

How is a stucco coating formed? A bonding agent, often called vermiculite, is first added to the bottom layer of the stucco and then this is added to the uppermost layer of the wall. Once this has been done, the uppermost layer of the stucco is placed over the bonding agent, which seals the surface and gives it the appearance of a smooth, shiny finish. There are many uses for it, including: repairing leaky pipes, adding a waterproofing component to basement walls, improving the appearance of a home's exterior, and more. A professional stucco coating contractor will typically use a water-based stucco coating, which is designed to be much stronger than an oil-based version.

Can you use stucco in your home? Yes, you can. As long as you use a stucco coating that has been certified by the American Society of Professional Concrete Contractors (ASPCC) and that contains no permitted contaminants, then you can use it anywhere in your home where cements are not required. However, if you would like to use stucco in an area that is not certified by the ASPCC, you should still avoid oil-based stucco based coatings.