Is It Time to Paint Your Stucco?

When it comes to siding, stucco is often a popular choice among homeowners due to its durability and the fact that it tends to last a long time. In fact, stucco has been used for hundreds of years. These days, stucco is basically a mix of Portland cement, sand and lime. Because it lasts so long, your stucco will occasionally require a new coat of paint. The following are a few things you should know about repainting stucco siding in Kansas City:

• When to repaint your stucco – The paint finish on stucco siding tends to last between five and ten years, although this depends largely on the conditions of your surrounding environment. If you notice any cracks appearing in your stucco, then don’t be worried. Smaller cracks are usually caused by settling and can simply be painted over. You can also repaint your stucco whenever you want if you simply want to use a new color.
• The quality of the paint you use – Don’t skimp on the quality of paint – the higher quality it is, the longer it will last. Using poor quality paint just means that you are going to end up having to repaint your stucco sooner. Consider elastomeric coatings, which are waterproof and will expand and contract with changes in the temperature.
• Wash the stucco – To get the best application of paint on your stucco, make sure that you pressure wash the siding to remove all dirt, grease and tree residues. If you don’t wash the stucco, the paint won’t stick to the siding as well.
• Clean periodically – Dirt and tree sap left on your stucco will eventually wear down the paint, so wash your stucco periodically.