How to Get Your Home’s Stucco Exterior Painted
Learn what’s involved in painting a stucco exterior and how much this project might cost
How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Stucco Exterior?
The cost to paint your home’s stucco exterior can range from a couple of thousand dollars to many thousands, depending on the size of your home, the prep work that is needed and labor costs where you live. In Austin, Texas, the cost to paint a 2,000-square-foot, one-story home with a stucco exterior would be $2,500 to $6,000, depending on the extent of repairs needed and whether there is a color change (which could require more paint — say, to cover up a darker color with a light one), says Dan Schaeffer of Five Star Painting of Austin. The same job would range from $5,300 to $7,700 in San Jose, California, according to Noel Pahuamba, owner of Aiden’s Quality Painting in San Jose, and just $2,000 to $4,000 in Havertown, Pennsylvania, says Kevin Nolan, CEO of Nolan Painting. Call around to get a sense of the costs to paint a home’s stucco exterior in your area.
Browse stucco-exterior photos to get inspired
The cost to paint your home’s stucco exterior can range from a couple of thousand dollars to many thousands, depending on the size of your home, the prep work that is needed and labor costs where you live. In Austin, Texas, the cost to paint a 2,000-square-foot, one-story home with a stucco exterior would be $2,500 to $6,000, depending on the extent of repairs needed and whether there is a color change (which could require more paint — say, to cover up a darker color with a light one), says Dan Schaeffer of Five Star Painting of Austin. The same job would range from $5,300 to $7,700 in San Jose, California, according to Noel Pahuamba, owner of Aiden’s Quality Painting in San Jose, and just $2,000 to $4,000 in Havertown, Pennsylvania, says Kevin Nolan, CEO of Nolan Painting. Call around to get a sense of the costs to paint a home’s stucco exterior in your area.
Browse stucco-exterior photos to get inspired
How Long Does It Take to Paint a Stucco Exterior?
Painting a single-story, 2,000-square-foot stucco home would typically take three to five days, including prepping the home (more on this later) and actually painting.
What Kind of Paint Is Best for Stucco?
Standard versus elastomeric. One of the decisions you will face is which type of paint to use on your stucco. In many cases standard paint will suffice, but depending on your climate, your painter may recommend elastomeric. This type of paint has a heavier, thicker consistency than standard paint, which makes it spread less distance than regular paint. You might need two or three times the paint if you choose elastomeric, Schaeffer says. Elastomeric paint is also costlier, at about $100 per gallon compared with about $30 to $40 per gallon for standard paint. So it’s not the kind of product you want to use without good reason.
That said, in certain climates, elastomeric may be the best choice. “It’s generally intended for use scenarios that get a lot of wind-driven rains [and] hurricane-type winds,” Schaeffer says. “Places where they get really intense storms.”
Elastomeric paint can be a good choice in places where the weather pattern includes freeze-and-thaw cycles. Nolan, the Pennsylvania paint company owner, often sees homes discolored due to the seeping of moisture into porous stucco. Over time this degrades the stucco and can also lead to mold’s creeping into the home. Elastomeric paint seals stucco so that moisture can’t penetrate, but since it’s a stretchy material, it will flex along with the stucco as it expands and contracts. Two coats of elastomeric paint can handle hundred-mile-an-hour, wind-driven rain, says Nolan, who doesn’t recommend anything else in his climate. (He also urges homeowners to be sure their window flashing is properly installed so that water doesn’t seep in there.)
Sheen. You’ll also want to consider the sheen, or glossiness, of the paint. The typical sheen on a wood house is satin. For stucco, you may want to choose a lower sheen, like matte or flat, because it can better hide any imperfections in the stucco. “Higher sheens will tend to amplify those,” Schaeffer says.
Speak with your painting pro about which type and sheen of paint would be right for your home.
Painting a single-story, 2,000-square-foot stucco home would typically take three to five days, including prepping the home (more on this later) and actually painting.
What Kind of Paint Is Best for Stucco?
Standard versus elastomeric. One of the decisions you will face is which type of paint to use on your stucco. In many cases standard paint will suffice, but depending on your climate, your painter may recommend elastomeric. This type of paint has a heavier, thicker consistency than standard paint, which makes it spread less distance than regular paint. You might need two or three times the paint if you choose elastomeric, Schaeffer says. Elastomeric paint is also costlier, at about $100 per gallon compared with about $30 to $40 per gallon for standard paint. So it’s not the kind of product you want to use without good reason.
That said, in certain climates, elastomeric may be the best choice. “It’s generally intended for use scenarios that get a lot of wind-driven rains [and] hurricane-type winds,” Schaeffer says. “Places where they get really intense storms.”
Elastomeric paint can be a good choice in places where the weather pattern includes freeze-and-thaw cycles. Nolan, the Pennsylvania paint company owner, often sees homes discolored due to the seeping of moisture into porous stucco. Over time this degrades the stucco and can also lead to mold’s creeping into the home. Elastomeric paint seals stucco so that moisture can’t penetrate, but since it’s a stretchy material, it will flex along with the stucco as it expands and contracts. Two coats of elastomeric paint can handle hundred-mile-an-hour, wind-driven rain, says Nolan, who doesn’t recommend anything else in his climate. (He also urges homeowners to be sure their window flashing is properly installed so that water doesn’t seep in there.)
Sheen. You’ll also want to consider the sheen, or glossiness, of the paint. The typical sheen on a wood house is satin. For stucco, you may want to choose a lower sheen, like matte or flat, because it can better hide any imperfections in the stucco. “Higher sheens will tend to amplify those,” Schaeffer says.
Speak with your painting pro about which type and sheen of paint would be right for your home.
Getting Your Stucco Exterior Painted
Find the right painting pro. The first step in getting your stucco exterior painted is choosing a professional painter. Look for one who has good reviews and who is licensed and insured.
As with any pro you hire, you’ll want your painter to communicate clearly and be someone you feel comfortable working with. It’s a good idea to speak with two or three painters before you decide whom to hire.
Before work starts. It’s typical for painters to come to a home for a free consultation and to offer a cost estimate for painting a home’s stucco exterior. A good painter will also be able to spot any portions of your stucco in need of repair, and to determine whether they will be something he or she will tackle, or whether problem areas should be addressed by a stucco specialist.
Your painter should provide you with a contract that makes clear what work is to be done, how much it will cost and how and when your payments will be due. Additionally, you’ll want to know the cancellation terms, meaning what would happen if you’d have to cancel the job. Last, you’ll want to know how long the painter warranties the work.
Before work begins, you should take down lights or other decor attached to the home. Also trim any bushes or branches that are brushing the stucco exterior or close to it. Move any planters or plants that would prevent the painters from accessing the home. Be sure to close your windows and keep pets inside when the job is scheduled to begin.
Find the right painting pro. The first step in getting your stucco exterior painted is choosing a professional painter. Look for one who has good reviews and who is licensed and insured.
As with any pro you hire, you’ll want your painter to communicate clearly and be someone you feel comfortable working with. It’s a good idea to speak with two or three painters before you decide whom to hire.
Before work starts. It’s typical for painters to come to a home for a free consultation and to offer a cost estimate for painting a home’s stucco exterior. A good painter will also be able to spot any portions of your stucco in need of repair, and to determine whether they will be something he or she will tackle, or whether problem areas should be addressed by a stucco specialist.
Your painter should provide you with a contract that makes clear what work is to be done, how much it will cost and how and when your payments will be due. Additionally, you’ll want to know the cancellation terms, meaning what would happen if you’d have to cancel the job. Last, you’ll want to know how long the painter warranties the work.
Before work begins, you should take down lights or other decor attached to the home. Also trim any bushes or branches that are brushing the stucco exterior or close to it. Move any planters or plants that would prevent the painters from accessing the home. Be sure to close your windows and keep pets inside when the job is scheduled to begin.
During the paint job. The first step your painters will take is to clean the home’s exterior. Often, painters will pressure-wash the stucco, though not at as high a velocity as would be used on a siding like fiber cement board, which is not as porous as stucco. Some pros do a soft wash, which involves less force than a pressure wash as well as some chemicals. Next the stucco must dry. “We let it dry two days,” says Pahuamba, the painting company owner in California.
Then the painters will repair any minor cracks to the stucco with either an acrylic caulk or an elastomeric patch. You want your painter to match the texture as closely as possible to the original stucco, so that the repairs don’t stand out. Larger repairs would be done with stucco itself (cement mixed with sand), and your painter may call in a stucco specialist for any cracks bigger than a hairline one to ensure that the textures match. The painters may also repair any caulk around the windows and any damage to the window trim.
What will happen next depends on the condition of your stucco. If the exterior has never been painted, the entire exterior will need to be primed. If the stucco has been painted before, only the repaired areas will need to be primed. Of course, if power washing happens to remove any areas of paint, those exposed portions of the stucco should also be primed.
Next the painter will apply a primer. “You want something that’s going to allow the stucco to breathe and expand and contract,” Schaeffer says.
Painters will avoid oil-based primers and use either an acrylic latex primer or a masonry primer, which is a specialty acrylic latex primer. If you’re using elastomeric paint, the painter will apply a masonry conditioner and then two coats of elastomeric paint, Nolan says.
Then the painters will repair any minor cracks to the stucco with either an acrylic caulk or an elastomeric patch. You want your painter to match the texture as closely as possible to the original stucco, so that the repairs don’t stand out. Larger repairs would be done with stucco itself (cement mixed with sand), and your painter may call in a stucco specialist for any cracks bigger than a hairline one to ensure that the textures match. The painters may also repair any caulk around the windows and any damage to the window trim.
What will happen next depends on the condition of your stucco. If the exterior has never been painted, the entire exterior will need to be primed. If the stucco has been painted before, only the repaired areas will need to be primed. Of course, if power washing happens to remove any areas of paint, those exposed portions of the stucco should also be primed.
Next the painter will apply a primer. “You want something that’s going to allow the stucco to breathe and expand and contract,” Schaeffer says.
Painters will avoid oil-based primers and use either an acrylic latex primer or a masonry primer, which is a specialty acrylic latex primer. If you’re using elastomeric paint, the painter will apply a masonry conditioner and then two coats of elastomeric paint, Nolan says.
Next will come the part of the job when you’ll start to see your home’s exterior transform. Professional painters typically first spray the paint on and then back-roll it, which means to roll over the freshly applied paint with a roller brush. The purpose of back rolling is to push the paint into the stucco’s divots and low spots so that old color won’t peek through the new coat of paint. Painters typically apply two coats of paint to the exterior.
Should You Paint Your Exterior Stucco Yourself?
There are some definite downsides to attempting to paint your stucco exterior yourself. One is the cost of the many painting tools you may need: ladders, tarps, brushes and rollers. Another consideration is safety, as getting up on a ladder and waving a roller brush around can be dangerous. Finally, there’s the question of skill. Professional painters do this job every day, so consider whether you really want to attempt to mimic their skill.
What Color Should You Paint Your Exterior Stucco?
An interior designer or a color consultant can help you select a paint color (or colors) for your home’s exterior. You might also search through photos on Houzz and create an ideabook of your favorites. Doing so can help you identify what colors you’re most drawn to. Some painting companies also offer color consultations.
How to Choose the Right Exterior Color
Should You Paint Your Exterior Stucco Yourself?
There are some definite downsides to attempting to paint your stucco exterior yourself. One is the cost of the many painting tools you may need: ladders, tarps, brushes and rollers. Another consideration is safety, as getting up on a ladder and waving a roller brush around can be dangerous. Finally, there’s the question of skill. Professional painters do this job every day, so consider whether you really want to attempt to mimic their skill.
What Color Should You Paint Your Exterior Stucco?
An interior designer or a color consultant can help you select a paint color (or colors) for your home’s exterior. You might also search through photos on Houzz and create an ideabook of your favorites. Doing so can help you identify what colors you’re most drawn to. Some painting companies also offer color consultations.
How to Choose the Right Exterior Color
When Is the Best Time to Paint Your Stucco Exterior?
If your climate is temperate and sunny, painting can be done just about anytime. If you live in a place with regular freezes or heavy rains, it’s best to do it in milder weather.
More
How to Smooth Out Your Stucco Exterior
What to Know About Getting Your Home’s Exterior Trim Painted
Great Home Project: How to Get Your Home’s Exterior Painted
If your climate is temperate and sunny, painting can be done just about anytime. If you live in a place with regular freezes or heavy rains, it’s best to do it in milder weather.
More
How to Smooth Out Your Stucco Exterior
What to Know About Getting Your Home’s Exterior Trim Painted
Great Home Project: How to Get Your Home’s Exterior Painted
Stucco exteriors are particularly popular in the American West and Southwest, but homes with stucco exteriors can be found throughout many parts of the U.S. Often thought of when people think of Mediterranean- or Spanish-style homes, this material also works with a range of styles from modern to Craftsman and more.
As a building material, stucco has been used for thousands of years. Traditionally it was made with lime, sand and water. Today it’s made from Portland cement and sand. One of the advantages of this material is that it will last for a relatively long time. “The cement part of it will last 100 years,” says Mike Cochran of M. Cochran Stucco and Plastering in Mobile, Alabama.
When Do You Need to Paint Stucco?
Fading color is a good indication that it may be time to paint your home’s stucco exterior. The color of your stucco exterior may be inherent to the material (part of the final color coat when the stucco was originally applied) or it may be from paint. Either type of color can fade over time. Cracking is another indicator that it may be time to paint your stucco; this cracking is normal to stucco and can occur as the house ages and settles over time. A good rule of thumb it to expect your home to need repainting about every eight years.
Find a professional painter on Houzz