The Benefits of Stucco Siding for Your House

When it’s time to purchase new siding for your home, it’s important to choose siding that is long-lasting, affordable, and will protect your home from the weather extremes common in Kansas City. Stucco is a durable, beautiful, reasonably-priced siding choice that gives you countless design options.

What is stucco siding?

Stucco siding is similar to the plaster used inside homes, but it’s made from lime, sand, and cement. This makes it a durable siding choice that can withstand the elements. Stucco can be applied directly to masonry, or on wood frame homes, it can be applied to wood or metal lath.

EIFS: A New Generation of Stucco Siding
Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems, or EIFS, is a term for a new type of stucco made from acrylic-polymer Styrofoam. Once it’s sprayed onto a fiberglass mesh and foam board base, EIFS provides an extremely durable finish. It provides even more insulation that standard stucco siding, and it hardly ever cracks, even in areas susceptible to ground movement from earthquakes or shifting soils. The downside is, EIFS is more susceptible from damage from hail or woodpeckers, and it’s also slightly more expensive than traditional stucco.

What are the benefits of choosing stucco siding for my home?

Many attractive design options
Stucco isn’t just for hacienda- or Tudor-style homes. There are a wide variety of textures and colors available, so you can create nearly any look you wish. When it comes to color, you’re not limited to a manufacturer’s color palette. Although stucco is often whitewashed, you can have colors custom mixed to your preference.
Depending on the application, stucco can be smooth, patterned, raked, or even made to look like marble or granite. One popular texture finish, called splatterdash, is created by using a broom or brush to throw stucco onto the walls. Another commonly-used finish is called pebbledash, which is created by throwing small pebbles against the wall while the stucco is still wet. You also don’t have to worry about seams with stucco siding, because it’s applied in a continuous “shell” around your home.

Affordable
Stucco is made from inexpensive materials, but the three-step application will be a factor in the installation cost. Choosing simpler finish techniques can shorten your application time, which could lower the cost. If you’re on a tight budget, even a basic stucco finish usually looks much better than basic vinyl siding.
Stucco siding requires three coats: an initial scratch coat that provides adhesion to the building, a brown coat that creates an even surface, and a finish coat that creates the final outward look. Stucco siding can be installed in as little as two days, and it can be sprayed on or applied with a trowel.
Note: Installing stucco siding is not a good do-it-yourself project. The application techniques are not easy, so installation is best left to an experienced professional.

Durable and long-lasting
One of the best values in siding, stucco typically lasts 50 to 80 years. It also expands and contracts with changes in temperature and humidity, so it resists cracking. It can withstand harsh weather conditions, like those in the Midwest, and it’s fire-resistant.

Low-maintenance
Because the color is mixed into the stucco, there’s no need to repaint, but you can if you wish. However, you can update the look of stucco siding by sandblasting the top layers and reapplying. The only maintenance needed for stucco is occasional pressure washing to remove dirt or stains, and patching any small holes that may develop over time.

Suitable for most climates
Stucco is breathable, so moisture evaporates quickly. It’s best suited for parts of the country that tend to have dry weather or normal precipitation, like the Kansas City area. Too much moisture can cause problems, however, so stucco siding isn’t a good choice for very wet climates.

Reduced heating and cooling costs
Stucco forms an insulating layer around the house, keeping it cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. This can help you save energy and money, especially in the Midwest, with our scorching summers and bitterly cold winters.

Reduced sound transmission
The added layer around the outside of your home also helps block noise from highways, trains, or noisy neighbors

Who can install stucco siding on my home?

Stucco siding is an attractive, affordable option that suits a wide variety of homes. If you’re considering re-siding your Kansas City-area house, contact the siding experts at Precision Windows and Doors today for a free estimate.