It’s really amazing to think about just how far we have come as mankind in terms of constructing shelters for ourselves. The common residential home today is something of a masterpiece. You might not think much of it, but even the smallest homes are truly amazing. Reliable appliances, indoor plumbing, functional windows, level floors and strong roofs; these are things that humans couldn’t have dreamed possible thousands of years ago, and they’re just common today. Another thing that’s common is the outside strength of our homes. Whether stone, siding or any other sort of style, the materials are strong and built to hold up to the outside elements.
One of the best home exterior options to stave off those harsh elements is stucco. Also known as plaster or wall coating, this material is basically an aggregate of stone-like material and binder, so it’s incredibly strong. When applied correctly with its foundation and proper layers, it creates a very rock-like shell on the outside of a house that’s incredibly durable and also attractive, given how it’s textured. But there are various types of stuccos on the market today, so let’s go over some of them below.
Some Common Types of Stuccos
Traditional
This is more a catch-all term for plaster types that follow a traditional line of their aggregation of materials and application processes. Traditional types will have aggregates of lime, sand and water. Newer, more modern types will use cement and other materials. The lime in the traditional blend makes the end product a lot easier to mould, so it’s thus a lot easier to apply. This is very important when it’s being coated with its mesh base. Having a pliable product goes on easier and is much easier to texture. Traditional plaster is very versatile and easier to maintain than other varieties.
Synthetic
Becoming a much more popular choice in today’s world, synthetic stucco is all about the economics involved. By using synthetic materials, batches of this plaster can be made much larger for a lesser price. This is more of a boon for the homeowners than the companies applying the product, as you can get it a lot cheaper than traditional varieties. It basically works by mixing up acrylic resins instead of concrete or lime. The acrylics here are very resistant to water damage, and the end product dries very quickly. The main difference in application is that most will apply this over a foam board backing, not mesh, because it doesn’t “mesh” well with the mesh, pun intended. Though the end result is a plaster variety that’s very pliable and resistant to the elements.
Cement
As we spoke about above, this is very akin to a traditional plaster variety. The big difference here is that the cement type uses actual cement instead of lime. What this does is separates it out from that traditional type by making it much stronger. The end product here ends up being a literal rock-like shell that’s going to hold up against the elements very well. The drawback here, however, is that it’s not going to bend of flex with temperature shifts as much as a variety that uses lime, so what you could end up dealing with are cracks appearing in the cement types more often than you find them in the traditional or synthetic types. Everything has its pros and cons here.
What Type of Material Should You Choose?
The types of stuccos available are more numerous than what we listed when you take into account all the different sorts of materials that can be added to their aggregate mixture. However, these are the three main types. You have traditional, synthetic, and then concrete varieties. For what’s going to work best for you, it really all depends on certain criteria like your climate, the type of home you have, how much of the plaster you need, etc. The only real way to ensure you get the best type for your personal home is to speak with a professional who works in the industry. They will tell you everything you need to know about the products.
Always remember that a professional who deals in this sort of building material is only a phone call away, and you can have them out there quickly to tell you what’s going on.