Should I Paint My Stucco or Re-Stucco It?

People believe there are now three options for their stucco: painting, re-stuccoing, or applying the “never paint your home again” product. I still suggest there are only two options: paint or re-stucco.

There will always be products marketed as the “last coating you’ll ever need.” Some are better than others, but none are truly permanent, and every exterior finish eventually needs maintenance. The bigger issue is that homeowners often get sold a promise instead of getting a real assessment of what their stucco actually needs.

Option 1: Re-Stucco or Color Coat (Fogging)

My suggestion is if your stucco is not currently painted, you should consider getting it re-stuccoed or color coated. Color coating is also known as “fogging.”

To “fog” a home, a contractor will repair the damaged stucco, and spray on a mix of color and water to recolor your existing stucco. This can be a good solution when the stucco itself is generally in good shape, but the color is tired, uneven, or stained.

If the stucco is in really bad shape, sometimes a plaster company may need to sandblast and fully re-stucco. This option is a little more pricey but will give you a new look.

A practical way to think about it:

• Fogging / color coating can refresh the appearance when the underlying stucco is still solid.
• Full re-stucco is more of a reset when the surface is failing, heavily patched, or deteriorating in a way that can’t be “repaired around.”

Option 2: Paint the Stucco

Of course, if everyone stuccoed their home and did not ever paint the stucco, my company would suffer a little. However, I like to offer the best solution for my clients.

If longevity is your goal, stucco it.

If you want the best look, want to change the color, or want a more uniformed look with no water stains, painting looks best.

Painting can also be the more controlled way to get a consistent finish when you have:

• uneven coloring from sun exposure
• past repairs that don’t match
• staining that keeps bleeding through the look of the wall

One final positive side to painting is that it can help if you have a lot of existing hairline cracks or water intrusion. There are paint products designed for exterior waterproofing the home that really do work.

That said, paint is not a substitute for real repairs. If moisture is getting in due to failed flashing, gaps, or damaged stucco, those issues need to be fixed first. The best coating in the world won’t perform if the substrate is still compromised.

The Bottom Line

Whatever your needs are, please allow Chism Brothers to have the first and last look. We’ll give you an honest answer of what should be done on your home. We do it all the time and you will like our solutions!