When it comes to exteriors for your home, stucco is one of the best to have. It's insulating, easy to take care of and compared to other materials, very cost effective. However, after a few months in some areas or years, it can tend to look a bit dingy. Here are some tips to help keep your stucco looking fresh for many years to come.
1. Keep it clean.
Stucco's bumpy nature means that it's going to collect dirt and not uniformly. If you live in an area where there is a lot of wind, it can be even worse. It's a good idea to powerwash your stucco at least once a year, and more often if necessary. A good wash can make your stucco look brand new, especially if it's white.
2. Whitewash if necessary.
This is an old technique that dates back hundreds of years. In fact, there are entire villages in Europe that grind to a halt for a week out of the year so that everyone can whitewash their homes. If you've got a white stucco house you can give it a quick and cheap facelift with a whitewash. If you're not familiar with the term, it's basically watered down white paint that is used to refresh a surface every year. You may not need to whitewash your stucco every year, but it does give it a nice look if you do.
3. Pick a color that will wear well.
While you may like a dark color for your home, this may not be a good choice when you're dealing with stucco. There's a reason that so many stucco homes are white or light colored. This material is subject to a lot of abuse and it will show up pretty easily if you're using a dark color. If you live where there is a lot of sand or blowing dirt the problem can be even worse. It's best to pick a light color that will not fade as quickly and can be easily refreshed whenever necessary.
4. Watch out for holes.
As stucco ages, it can be apt to crack. You'll need to keep an eye on your home, especially if it is already quite old. Luckily, cracked stucco is easy enough to fix and it won't be very serious. However, you'll need to make sure that the damage is only exterior and not structural before you get to patching the area.
5. Don't put off repainting.
Stucco will need to be repainted every so often, and it's best not to let it get out of hand. Check for spots of wear and address the issue right away so that your home doesn't start to look rundown.
With proper care, stucco can last for several years and even though it does have some downsides, it's still pretty easy to take care of. The key is stopping problems before they get out of hand. A simple preventative whitewash every year can help you cut down on a lot of issues.
Photo Credits: 1
Originally posted 2008-11-20 17:13:15. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Related Posts -
Choose the Right Roof Venting Roof venting is a topic homeowners don't spend time much time on, like which wallpaper to use and how to tear out a wall between rooms to make more space. But because adequate roof venting can help prevent problems with moisture in your attic and structural damage to your roof...... -
Home Repair Almanac By Edward Lipinski Regular maintenance is vital for any homeowner, especially if you want to reduce your chances for having a major problem down the road. But for first time homeowners, or even homeowners that have been down the road before, it’s tough to know when to schedule all of those little maintenance...... -
Three Ways to Fix Up Your House - The Outside If you are trying to find some quick and inexpensive ways to get the outside of your house shaped up, there are numerous options. We’re going to cover three of the best that can transform any home into a showpiece, with a minimal investment of time, effort and money. You...... -
Bringing a Container Garden Inside If you have a container garden that you’ve been carefully tending all summer long, it’s time to start thinking about what you plan to do with it for the rest of the year. Depending on the types of plants you have, you may be able to enjoy them all year...... -
How to Get Your Home Ready for Winter Winter may be a few months away, but now is a great time to start getting ready for it. With energy prices on the rise, it is important to find ways to cut costs and reduce the amount of energy you use in the winter. Let’s go over a few......
Related Websites - Home Improvements Painting Are you contemplating painting your house because you want to prevent your walls from peeling? Or maybe you just want to cover up the old faded paint with a new vibrant color. Whatever the reason, painting is the best way to go to make your house look good. Usually, you......
-
Dave Ramsey's 7 Baby Steps: Step 1 - $1000 To Start An Emergency Fund Yesterday we gave a brief overview of Dave Ramsey's 7 Baby Steps, and talked about why it is so important to prepare yourself for the whole experience. You need to be ready to change your lifestyle, be ready to commit to no more consumer debt, and know that people...... -
Can A Home Loan Modification Ruin Your Credit? To follow up on her story about dealing with loan modification companies, we bring you this post by Stacey Doyle. After paying our mortgage on time for eight years, we found ourselves three months behind. To try to save our home and finances, we are considering a home loan modification....... -
What is your Credit Card Costing You? Most people do not put enough thought into how much their credit cards are really costing them. Sure, you may think that you are aware of all of the costs associated with credit, but there are also a number of fees and charges that can go completely unnoticed among consumers...... -
The journal of 2009 As the title suggested, this post is might going to be boring (or not). Anyway, first thing first, it's been a great time since the beginning of 2009. And the time has passed like a dog on fire, it is time for 2010. Happy New Year to everyone who's......
Categories:
Aesthetics, Curb Appeal, Handy Man, Outside, Refresh, Stucco, Walls
Tags:
2 comments ↓
[...] Leverage presents 5 Ways to Keep Stucco Looking Fresh | Handyman Fix Home Repair posted at Handyman Fix Home [...]
Nice and informative post!
I agree stucco is really the material that is best suited to any structure as it has proven its durability and it is really easy to clean it up.
Leave a Comment