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The best exterior paint finish for stucco is a flat or low-gloss finish. A high-gloss finish will show imperfections in the stucco and give it a candy-coated look that many homeowners don’t like. The best types of exterior paint to use on stucco are acrylic, masonry, and elastomeric. However, acrylic is recommended because it is both durable and breathable.

German schmear is a durable brick masonry coating. It should last at least a decade or two without flaking or fading, even with minimal maintenance. This makes it an economical option compared to the cost of painting your house exterior, which usually needs to be repainted every five to 10 years to keep it looking its best—thus costing more over the same time period.

Solid, unpainted stucco shouldn’t suffer damage from dots of glue used for this task. If the stucco is dirty, you may notice slight marks when you heat and peel the glue away, but these aren’t permanent.

However, not all stucco walls are solid stucco. Some are “faux” stucco with a foam backing. This kind of stucco veneer is more susceptible to damage, including damage from hot glue. We don’t suggest attaching anything to these kinds of stucco walls, so make sure you check the stucco type before starting this project.

Stucco repair can best be described as a patch. It involves identifying the problem and fixing that specific damage with additional stucco. If no mold infiltration or an underlying leak is causing the damage, repair is most likely all you need. 

Remediation, on the other hand, involves removing the existing siding, fixing the underlying cause of the damage, and then reapplying stucco siding for that wall. It’s a more permanent fix that takes longer to complete and, hence, comes with a steeper price tag than repair.