Step Up Your Stucco: Here are 5 Reasons You Should Paint Your Stucco
Stucco is a popular home exterior siding choice because of its soft, earthy hue and overall aesthetic appeal, but like other siding options, it requires maintenance from time to time. If you’re seeing cracks, stains or other imperfections in your stucco, it may be time to paint (and protect!) it. The exterior painting experts at Nolan Painting have put together 5 reasons to paint your stucco, as well as helpful tips from their painting pros, so read on to learn more.
Boost Curb Appeal
Whether you’re thinking of selling your home or simply want to improve its overall aesthetics, painting stucco is an easy and effective way to enhance curb appeal. These days, buyers are looking for turnkey homes, meaning the home is move-in ready, up-to-date and won’t require any immediate work. By painting your home’s stucco, you’ll increase your chances of having a fast and successful sale. On the flip side, if you know you’ll be staying in your home for many more years, painting the stucco is a cost-effective way to transform your home’s look and bring it back to life.
*Pro tip: While off-whites, mid-tone whites, light and mid-tone grays are the most popular colors for painting stucco, it truly depends on your existing color palette. To ensure the stucco paint you choose best suits your home, it’s helpful to utilize the services of a Nolan Painting color consultant. They will take your siding, trim and accent colors (i.e. doors, shutters, etc.) into consideration and choose a color that compliments them.
Protect Your Home from Water Damage
Because stucco is a porous material, it is prone to damage from wind-driven rain and other elements. Once stucco has been negatively impacted by excessive wind and rain, it can make your home susceptible to water damage, which can lead to interior issues, such as mold and mildew growth. Fortunately, painting stucco is a great way to waterproof a home. However, using the proper paint is crucial for protecting your stucco and your home. When hiring a stucco painting expert, be sure that they are using elastomeric paint — this is a breathable coating that won’t trap moisture and will help prevent water intrusion.
*Pro tip: Prior to painting your stucco, your home should be soft-washed, which is a process that is similar to power washing, but has a lower PSI and high power of cleaning solution. By doing this, you can be sure that mold, mildew and dirt will be removed prior to painting your home and protecting against water damage. To make your life easier, look for an exterior painting company that will take care of this for you, like Nolan!
Remove Unsightly Stains
Just like other parts of your home experience wear and tear, so does stucco, and this often results in unattractive stains that impact the overall look of your home. Unfortunately, dirt, mold and mildew stains that can accumulate over time around chimneys, windows and below shutters can’t be fixed by simply washing the stucco. The only way to get rid of these eyesores is to clean the stucco and then paint over it to ensure that it is properly sealed.
*Pro tip: The paint used to cover stains on stucco should also inhibit new growth on the stucco. Plus, a patching compound should be used prior to the coating being applied. When these steps are not taken, your stucco will need to be repainted sooner than necessary, which is why it’s so important to trust your stucco painting project with an experienced team.
Eliminate Hairline Cracks
As a porous material, stucco is susceptible to hairline cracks. If you walk around your home and see areas where this is happening, don’t worry! This issue can easily be fixed with the proper stucco painting services. However, if you see hairline cracks, don’t wait too long to schedule an appointment for stucco painting. These cracks will increase the chances of water seeping through them and into your home, leading to water damage issues, so it’s best to act quickly and address this issue ASAP.
*Pro tip: Once you’ve scheduled your stucco painting project, there are steps you can take to prepare your home’s exterior for painting. Before the painters arrive, make sure that any bushes, plants or trees that are near your siding or home’s surfaces are trimmed back approximately 18-22 inches. After the stucco has been painted, make sure branches, bushes and plants do not grow back onto your home’s siding or surfaces.
Increase Your Home’s Defense Against UV Rays
A home that gets a lot of sun is always a benefit for a variety of reasons, however, the sun’s rays can also wear away exterior paint over time. If this is the case with your home’s stucco, chances are it has weakened over the years, which can often cause it to crack and develop water damage issues. Additionally, your stucco may also look discolored, creating an unattractive look. To give your home the ultimate defense against the sun’s UV rays and freshen up its look, schedule a stucco painting appointment today!
*Pro tip: A professional exterior painter will know which paint is the best for your stucco by whether or not your stucco has already been painted. If it has not been painted, they will opt for elastomeric paint; if it has been painted, elastomeric paint may not be the right choice, so they may instead opt for masonry paint. Because paint choice is everything, choosing an experienced stucco painting team is vital!
Now that you know 5 reasons to paint your stucco, the team at Nolan Painting is here to help! When you hire us as your stucco painting team, you can expect the project to be completed in roughly 3-7 days, and once it’s painted, you can look forward to enjoying its beautifully painted aesthetics for 10-15 years (with proper maintenance, of course!). To schedule a FREE estimate with our award-winning team, contact us today!