Stucco can be a beautiful way to give your home or business a textured finish. As a finish, there are many different textures you can use to give your building a unique look or help it blend in with its surroundings. But there’s more to the process of putting up stucco than what meets the eye.
Stucco is much more than just the rough texture we see on the outside. There is at least one more layer underneath that texture. This “primer” layer gives stucco a solid base for the final texture and makes it stronger, so it will last longer.
There are two different ways to make stucco. The first one is called three-coat stucco, and the second one is called one-coat stucco. Here, we’ll explain the differences between a three-coat stucco process and a one-coat stucco process, as well as which one would work best for you in Jersey City.
Three layers of stucco
In the past, stucco was always put on in three layers. This has three layers, with a textured finish on the top layer.
The bottom layer is made of asphalt-soaked paper and chicken wire that is spread out over a barrier that doesn’t get wet. That is covered with a “scratch coat” made of Portland cement, lime, sand, and water. The “scratch coat” is roughly textured with horizontal lines before a brown coat is put on with a long trowel. Then you can add the final finish in the texture of your choice.
The biggest benefit is that it’s twice as thick as one-coat stucco, so it’s stronger and lasts longer. This comes at a cost, though, because this process is more expensive and takes a lot longer than the one-coat stucco process.
One-coat stucco
One-coat stucco is actually made of two separate layers, despite what its name says. At first, it was done by mixing a colored finish coat into the first blend. However, the results were not even, so the method was changed to include a second top coat finish.
During this process, the scratch coat and the brown coat are mixed together. This makes it possible to finish a job in a few days, and sometimes even in a few hours. It’s easier to do and cheaper than three-coat stucco, so it’s become very popular in recent years.
The problem with this method is that it makes it thinner, so it’s easier to break. It doesn’t last as long as three-coat stucco either.
Believe the experts
Both one-coat and three-coat stucco have their pros and cons. Contact the experts at CMB Jersey City Stucco & EIFS Repair today to find out more about the differences between a three-coat and a one-coat stucco process and which one would work best for your Jersey City property. We’ve been helping home and business owners in the area for more than ten years, and we’re experts at installing and fixing stucco. We’re excited to work with you soon.
