HOW TO CLEAN STUCCO

As mentioned before, stucco is a low-maintenance finish. This is one of the reasons homeowners love it. You can keep the stucco surrounding your home free of mould, mildew http://phoenixstuccocontractor.com/ and algae by using a simple remedy of liquid dish soap and water periodically. This gentle cleaning is very important in keeping your stucco looking great.

If you notice mould, mildew or algae on white stucco wall, you can use bleach to clean off the stains. Make a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water and use a soft-bristle brush to gently scrub away the spots. Remember bleach should only be used on white stucco.

Another reason why regular cleaning is recommended is to reduce the need for heavy duty cleaning that can cause damage to the plaster.

Painting stucco to conceal dirt or stains may seem like a good remedy but it is not.

Another great solution to use to clean stucco is Trisodium Phosphate solution (TSP). It is available in most hardware stores. To clean you stucco wall using TSP, follow the steps below:

Attach a jet nozzle to your hose, making sure that you set it on the gentle water pressure. Then spray down the area on the wall you plan to clean and wet it from the bottom to the top. Make sure you stand back as far as possible to maintain the lowest pressure possible against the plaster.
Make a paste from mixing TSP and water. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to form the paste. The use a soft-bristle brush to scrub away stains on the stucco.
Rinse the walls off thoroughly using the hose from top to bottom.

STUCCO PROCESS
The three-coat system consists of using paper and stucco wire (lath) and applying several layers of stucco mix – a scratch coat, a brown coat and a top coat.

The lath used in this process is made out of asphalt infused paper, metal wire and some other materials like weep screed and plaster stop.

First, the weep screed and plaster stop should be placed appropriately on the wall. Weep screed prevents plywood from absorbing moisture from water that may splash onto the wall. The paper is needed if the stucco is being applied to a wall made out of wood.

Next, the stucco wire is placed and the scratch coat is applied, followed by the brown coat and the top coat.