How To Repair Stucco

After Woodpeckers, Bees

I just read this article on the woodpecker issue [ “Over the Prickett Fence,” June 16, 2010] and wanted to throw out one more reason why one would want to repair the hole in their stucco right away: bees!

Over the winter, a woodpecker pecked a nice 4-inch-diameter hole on the side wall near the rooftop of the second floor and, after making a mental note to get a handyman to fix it before summer, it was too late. About three weekends ago I opened up our daughter’s window blind and just to the left corner, there were bees going in and out of the hole.  

Luckily for us, we believe they had just settled in their new home before honeycomb or wax could develop. So, we were able to exterminate it and get a handyman to patch it up—but, it cost an extra $170 because of the hive. If the hive had been able to grow, that amount could have been almost a grand. So, if you see a hole, get it fixed immediately. Bee scouts are always looking for a new home for the queen.

Repairing Stucco Walls | DoItYourself.com

Stucco as a siding material has a well deserved reputation as a practical option. Just some of the reasons people like stucco walls are its minimal maintenance requirements, good looks (many people prefer the appearance of stucco over vinyl siding because it gives a home a unique look) and great wind blocking and insulation value. However, since stucco is a cement mixture and is very hard, it can crack or even get a hole if hit with a heavy blow (tree branch?). Fortunately repairing stucco  is a job a competent DIY'er can take on with confidence with quite likely the hardest part being color matching the old stucco and the repair. Here's how to repair a stucco wall. Cracks

Thin cracks are usually quite easy to repair and should be fixed before they become bigger. Often very fine cracks can be filled and hidden by a coat of exterior acrylic paint color matched to the original stucco color. Cracks too thick to be filled with paint can usually be repaired with exterior latex (paintable) caulk. Choose a caulk close in color to the original stucco to fill the crack then allow it to dry before painting over the repair with color matching paint. Putting some sand on the caulk while it's still wet  can help it blend with the surrounding stucco and give it a rough surface similar to the original stucco. Crack  too big to be fixed with caulk can be repaired using either premixed acrylic stucco patching compound available at home and hardware stores or mixing and applying the same stucco mix that was originally applied to the wall. Holes

Repairing a hole in a stucco wall will require a little patience and some practice. The hardest part is probably going to be matching the appearance of the original stucco try mixing some small batches of stucco tinted to closely match the original. Apply the different batches to small boards will allow you to figure out which mixture comes closest to being a match. After determining the proper stucco mixture the next step is preparing the damaged surface to accept the repair. Start by removing any loose pieces of stucco in the hole and it's often a good idea to also remove some undamaged stucco around the hole to be sure you will be applying your repair to a solid wall. Use the blower outlet on a shop vacuum to get rid of any dust left behind.

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