What is Stucco Siding? And How Is It Used in Homebuilding?

What makes stucco so special? This siding is as strong on the inside as it is rough and rustic on the outside. Though stucco is available in numerous styles and finishes, it’s actually less expensive than many alternatives. Basically, it’ll protect your home in style while also cutting down costs—especially if you live somewhere warm.

What Is Stucco and How Does It Work?

Stucco is a type of siding that’s made from a mixture of Portland cement, sand, lime, and water. It’s both malleable and durable, making it an ideal canvas for unique designs and colors while being sturdy enough to stand the test of time. 

Though traditionally applied in three coats, many modern processes only require one. Pre-mixed kits are readily available, too.

Why Choose Stucco for Your Home’s Siding?

In general, stucco does an excellent job of insulating hot and cold air. In fact, its energy-saving potential is one of its biggest draws, especially in warmer climates. Stucco is an ideal siding choice for homes in hot, dry climates such as Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico. The siding provides desirable insulation in warm climates so homeowners can stay cool indoors.

It also has a natural resistance to fire and is much easier to maintain than other types of siding, such as vinyl or wood.

What Are the Different Types of Stucco?

There are two types of stucco to choose from: traditional and synthetic.

Traditional Stucco

This type of stucco is a combination of Portland cement, sand, lime, and water. Though it’s waterproof, it’s also prone to developing cracks over time. On the bright side, it’s also easier to repair than synthetic options.

Synthetic Stucco

Unlike traditional stucco, synthetic (or acrylic) stucco is made from a mix of acrylic resins and polymers, rather than cement. While it’s better at retaining heat than traditional stucco, it’s more expensive and harder to customize.

Common Stucco Applications

There are a handful of ways to apply stucco, and each comes with several pros and cons.

Three-Coat Stucco Siding

The traditional stucco application consists of three coats:

• Wire and paper (also known as lath), which is layered onto the home’s exterior walls

• A scratch coat

• A brown coat

Once the stucco is applied, you finish with a top or finish coat, just as you would with any other siding. 

Three-coat stucco is twice as thick as one-coat stucco and doubly durable, too. On the downside, it takes much longer to apply and cure, and the extra time and materials will usually be reflected in what you pay.

One-Coat Stucco Siding

This process combines the lath, scratch coat, brown coat, and even the finish coat into one single master coat. It’s an inexpensive alternative because it requires fewer materials and less time to apply, but it’s also much thinner and, as a result, not as protective.

Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems

This is a newer form of stucco application that can consist of up to six layers and is done with synthetic, rather than traditional, stucco. 

Exterior walls are first coated with fiberglass mesh and foam board insulation, then sprayed with an acrylic-polymer coat of styrofoam-based stucco. It’s more expensive than traditional or one-coat applications, but it can provide extra insulation to your home and almost never cracks.

Advantages of Stucco

Stucco is one of the best siding materials for homes in dry, warm climates. But, when properly constructed to resist mildew and mold, the siding can work for homes in any environment. The material has the unique ability to provide a high level of insulation to keep extreme temperatures outdoors.

• Aesthetically pleasing: Choose from a range of stucco finishes that will give you the texture and color you desire for a seamless and unique appearance.

• Durable: Stucco is a highly resilient material that can, depending on environmental conditions, withstand fire, impact, mold, rot, and termites for up to 100 years.

• Retains color: The pigments in stucco finishes are long-lasting, and no frequent re-paints are required.

• Sound resistant: Stucco is an effective noise barrier, which is great for homes near high-traffic areas

• Sustainable: Sourcing sustainable materials for a stucco finish can be done from a local, reliable source. 

Disadvantages of Stucco

Using stucco is a must for some homeowners, but choosing this siding does come with some considerations. If you have the budget and are keen to properly care for your stucco siding, you can overcome these disadvantages. Otherwise, you'd be investing in siding repair cost, which ranges from $599 and $2,561 for the total project. 

• High labor cost:  Installing stucco is an intricate and labor-intensive process, requiring increased labor, which accounts for half the cost when hiring a professional stucco contractor.

• Lack of flexibility: Due to its rigid nature, stucco can easily develop cracks in areas of shifting soil.

• Porous: As a porous material, stucco is prone to water retention, which can lead to water damage over time, especially if an incorrect application or a lack of stucco maintenance occurs.

What’s the Difference Between Stucco and Plaster?

If you're comparing stucco vs. plaster, the latter is a lot more versatile. Plaster doesn’t require as much preparation before application and can easily be applied to many different kinds of surfaces, like drywall and concrete. While stucco is exclusively reserved for exterior walls, plaster can even be applied inside of a home.

Stucco vs. EIFS

EIFS, which is shorthand for “Exterior Insulation and Finishing Systems,” is also known as synthetic stucco as it can mimic stucco in look while providing exceptional insulation. EIFS is made by layering synthetic materials such as polystyrene foam board and fiberglass mesh. Given its layers, EIFS can be difficult to install; it’s also more expensive than stucco. Given its insulating properties, however, it can be an excellent choice for homeowners who live somewhere with extreme climates. Places with high humidity and rain are better served by stucco, as moisture can be easily trapped beneath EIFS and cause water damage.

Alternatives to Stucco

There are several siding alternatives to stucco to choose from. When deciding which is right for your home, be sure to weigh cost, durability, maintenance requirements, and other factors.

• Vinyl lap: Made from layered plastic, vinyl lap is a simple and inexpensive alternative to stucco

• Fiber cement: Fiber cement is durable, weather-resistant, and low-maintenance; however, it can be more expensive than other siding options.

• Stone: If you like the rustic, organic look of stucco, consider stone, which is even more dramatic; while more expensive, stone is extremely durable.

• Brick: Another versatile material, brick is known to last 50–100 years and pairs with almost any style of home.

Can I Apply Stucco or Should I Hire a Pro?

Applying stucco is a relatively easy project for a homeowner to DIY, but it does require a fair bit of equipment that you might not already have tucked away in your toolshed. Trowels, stucco floats, scoops, and mixers are just some of the pricier items you’ll need. 

Hiring a local stucco professional will cost more than doing it on your own, but it’ll save you from having to track down all those materials.

How Much Does Stucco Application Cost on Average?

The cost to hire a pro to install stucco ranges from $1,900 to $7,500, and is about $5,000 on average. Materials cover about half of this cost, so it can be significantly cheaper to complete the process yourself.