How to Simulate Brick With Stucco: A Step-by-Step Guide for a Realistic Brick Look

Luxurious brick without the luxurious price tag

Decorative white stucco imitating brick
Photo: isabela66 / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
Decorative white stucco imitating brick
Photo: isabela66 / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
SKILL LEVEL
Challenging
COMPLETION TIME
3 days
COST
$60–$500
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What you'll need:
TOOLS
  • Level
  • Tape measure
  • “Green” hand float
  • Finishing trowel
  • Brick jointer
SUPPLIES
  • Scrap 2-by-4 for template
  • Base coat stucco
  • Finishing coat stucco
  • Stucco binding agent (optional)
  • Dye (optional)

Brick walls and brick siding are naturally beautiful and can instantly elevate your living space or curb appeal. Real brick is expensive and labor-intensive to install, and it requires masonry experience that demands help from a pro. If you have some DIY skills and know how to simulate brick with stucco, you can get a similar luxurious appearance for a tiny fraction of the cost.

  1. Make a Brick Template

    Making a simple brick template will speed up the process later on, so this is a good place to start. Simply cut a piece of 2-by-4 or plywood to match the side profile of a brick. The standard brick dimensions are 8 inches long by 2-1/4 inches tall.

  2. Prep the Surface

    Before you start applying your stucco, your first step will be to clean and prep the surface. If you’re simulating brick with stucco on an interior wall, give it a light wash and let it dry completely.

    For exterior walls, use a power washer to remove dirt, algae, mold, and loose pieces of siding if you’re applying the new stucco over existing stucco. Make sure you have a clean, flat surface to work with, and hire a professional who works with stucco to help you repair your siding if there are cracks, leaks, or other physical damages. It’s a good idea to apply a binding agent over the wall before continuing. Wait for the wall to dry completely.

  3. Apply a Base Coat of Stucco

    Worker plastering white cement
    Photo: A. Martin UW Photography / Moment / Getty Images

    Mix some base coat stucco according to the manufacturer’s directions, and then apply it to your wall using your finishing trowel. Aim to get an even coat that’s 1/8- to 1/4-inch thick. Smooth it out immediately using a “green” hand float. Some imperfections will give your faux brick wall character, but avoid waviness or unevenness as best you can.

    Let the base coat sit until it’s dry to the touch but not completely set. If you can just barely make an indent with your finger, you’re ready to move on.

  4. Mix and Apply a Finishing Coat of Stucco

    Mix a batch of finishing stucco according to the directions on the bag. Add dye to create a natural brick color, if desired.

    Apply the finishing coat and aim to get a uniform thickness of between 1/8-inch and 1/4-inch. The thicker the coat, the deeper the mortar joints will appear once you’re finished. Before the finishing coat sets, give it some texture with your soft-bristle brush, if desired. This will create a more natural, “imperfect” look for your stucco texture.

    Wait for the finishing coat to become dry to the touch. Again, if it takes some effort to make an indent with your finger, you have a good consistency to move on.

  5. Mark Your Brick Patterns Along the Edges

    Use a tape measure to mark out the horizontal faux mortar lines on one edge of your wall. Use your brick jointer to scrape off just enough of the finishing coat to reveal the different color base coat underneath. The base coat will appear as your mortar lines.

  6. Extend the Horizontal Lines Using a Level

    Use a long level to transfer those marks across the length of the wall. Use the brick jointer along the top of the level to make sure the faux mortar lines are spaced properly.

  7. Create Vertical Lines Using Your Template

    With your horizontal lines in place, you can now create the vertical lines to finish the illusion. Hold your brick template up to the finish coat and scrape a vertical line to create the faux mortar joint. Apply just enough pressure to reveal the different color base coat underneath. Scrape in from the top and in from the bottom for each joint to avoid dragging the finishing coat beyond the edge of the faux brick.

    Continue along your wall horizontally, and then offset the end of the next row by half of your template to achieve the staggered appearance of laid bricks.

    Wait for the stucco to dry completely, which takes 24 to 72 hours, depending on the humidity and coat thickness.

  8. Add Character

    Stucco and brick siding can look remarkably similar, especially if you get a bit creative to customize the look. Consider using watered-down mixtures of exterior paint to “weather” the brick. You can also use a sponge to paint the faux brick or a brush to paint the mortar lines.

Mistakes to Avoid

Simulating the look of brick with stucco is a great DIY project because the material is easy to work with for decorative purposes. However, there are some mistakes you should do your best to avoid for the best results.

  • Not letting the stucco set properly. Make sure you let the base coat set until it’s dry to the touch and you can just barely make an impression with your finger before applying the finishing coat. Failing to wait long enough can cause poor adhesion. Wait too long, and you won’t get those faux mortar lines looking clean.

  • Not working quickly enough. Stucco will continue to set after you apply it, so if you take too long, it will become too hard to scrape in mortar lines. Use a spray bottle to wet the mixture and slow the setting if it’s taking longer than you anticipated.

  • Creating mortar lines that are too deep. When you use your brick jointer to scrape in the mortar lines, press just hard enough to expose the base layer. Going too deep will leave your old wall showing. Not deep enough, and the final product won’t look like genuine brick.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

Simulating brick with stucco is easy enough for most DIYers to tackle, provided it’s just for decorative purposes. Even if you mess up, you can always scrape off a portion of the stucco and start over. This is a labor-intensive project, so DIYing can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars, depending on the size of the wall.

However, applying stucco siding, even if it’s partially decorative, is a job you should leave to a stucco contractor near you. Making a mistake when applying stucco siding can lead to leaks, moisture issues, and even structural problems that can cost you far more than you’d save. As a rule of thumb, only attempt this project if it’s just meant to serve as a decorative finish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you can apply stucco directly over brick, and the rough texture of the brick should be enough for the stucco to adhere to, even without a binding agent. Just be sure to clean the brick thoroughly before stuccoing, and allow 72 hours for the first coat of stucco to dry, even if it feels dry to the touch. The thicker portions that fill in the mortar joints will cure more slowly than the thinner portions over the brick faces.

Stucco will increase your home value just like any new siding will. It boosts curb appeal, which will give buyers a positive first impression of your home and provides an average ROI of 70%. You can increase home value even more by simulating brick with the stucco. This gives you a higher-end look without the high cost of genuine brick siding.

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