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Get Your Exterior Stucco Painted by Pros

Is Your HOA Hounding You About the Appearance of Your Stucco

exterior stucco

Home Owners’ Associations can be good for neighborhoods. They set standards and limits so that individual homeowners don’t collect junk in their yards or erect structures that will lower the property values of the homes in the subdivision.

Arguably, some HOAs can be overly restrictive for what some would consider minor issues. They can impose warnings and even fines when rules are not followed. At worst, if fines are imposed and not paid and appropriate corrections aren’t made, the HOA could place a lien on the property and even force it into foreclosure.

With nearly 3,000 homeowners’ associations in Nevada, chances are you are living in an area where you must abide by your HOA laws. One rule that is common among HOAs is proper maintenance of your home’s exterior. If your exterior walls are chipping or peeling, it’s time for a new paint job.

Nevada Home Exteriors

The climate in northern Nevada is dry and hot. That means not just any exterior siding is advisable to use on your Nevada home. A large percentage of these homes use stucco on their exterior walls. Stucco is one of the oldest building materials around and it works great in the hot, dry climate.

Stucco can be used both indoors and out. It’s a material that wears well and offers many advantages over other materials.

  • Durability. Stucco can last for a lifetime with proper care and maintenance. It’s resistant to mold, pests and fire.
  • Sustainability. Stucco is composed of materials that are from local sustainable sources.
  • Sound resistance. Stucco will buffer the noise from outside, keeping your indoors quieter.
  • Energy-efficiency. Stucco is a better insulator than other materials, so it keeps your home cooler in the hot, dry weather.
  • Color. The pigment in stucco keeps the finish looking good longer without fading.
  • Texture. There are several choices of finishes and textures available.

Stucco does have some disadvantages which make regular maintenance important. Stucco is porous and tends to retain water, which can lead to water damage and mold growth. It’s not as resilient as some other materials, which makes it prone to cracking when the building settles. There have been recent changes to improve its resilience by adding polymers to the stucco mix before it’s applied.

Maintaining Your Stucco Exterior

Keeping your stucco in good repair will ensure that it remains attractive for decades. There are some steps you can take to keep it in good repair:

  • Inspect it frequently. It’s important to address any issues as soon as possible to prevent them from worsening.
  • Fill any holes or cracks you find with masonry-compatible caulking. If these cracks are deep, use a putty knife to remove any embedded debris, then fill with a dry stucco repair product, mixed with water, as directed on the package.
  • Remove dust and debris from the siding using a stiff push broom. If that doesn’t clean it thoroughly enough, you can spray with a regular garden hose. Pressure washing is not recommended, especially by an amateur unfamiliar with stucco. If you use too much pressure, it can seriously damage the surface.

Painting Exterior Stucco Walls

If you need or want to paint your exterior stucco siding, you’ll need to complete the above tasks first to ensure that the paint adheres to the surface. If you use a stucco repair product, make sure you allow at least 10 days for it to dry completely.

Once the siding is clean and dry, use painters’ tape around windows and doors. You’ll then need to prime the surface with exterior masonry primer with a thick-nap roller. The thickness of the roller will depend on the depth of the stucco texture. If your stucco is stained, use a primer that contains a stain-blocking agent. Allow the primer to dry according to the instructions on the product container.

Use a paintbrush to paint around windows and doors, then the thick-nap roller for the rest of the walls. After it dries, add one or more additional coats using the same method. Keep in mind that several light coats work better than one heavy coat of paint.

Painting stucco requires specific types of tools and products. Some of the items you’ll need to prep and paint are:

  • Broom or pressure washer
  • Masonry compatible caulking
  • Stucco repair mix (optional)
  • Putty knife
  • Painter’s tape
  • Masonry primer
  • Masonry paint
  • 5-gallon plastic bucket
  • Roller grid
  • Paint roller cage with extension pole
  • Large-nap paint roller
  • Paintbrush
  • Spray rig (optional)

Better Yet, Hire a Professional

Although stucco is a durable and long-lasting material for your Nevada home, it does require some maintenance. Painting your stucco can be labor-intensive. If you don’t follow the proper process, it can end up looking worse than before.

Trust the professionals at Battle Born Painting to paint your exterior stucco walls. We are experienced in the necessary procedures required to inspect, clean, repair, prep and paint them so they’ll look great. We have all the necessary tools and materials, so you don’t have to buy them. Request a quote today to learn how we can keep your HOA off your back!