stucco cracks

[rktinc]

I have an old stucco facade on my builiding/shop. It has many small cracks. I would like to paint this fall but I think it would be important to fill the small cracks prior to that finish job. The building moves and the cracks will be a fact of life going forward so my plan is to use some type of silicone or flexible calking that will be primed then painted.

Any Stucco experts out there that can provide the best product? I am ok with a rustic stucco facade, I just think it makes sense to try and seal out as much moisture/water as possible prior to winter to reduce further cracking.

After a bit of research, I plan to use a roller to prime and paint. Seems to me the spray option is a waste of paint and a mess. I have witnessed several spray jobs recently that looked terrible and did not cover well. I also watched a person use a thick nap roller and do his entire building in two coats which turned out beautifully so that is what made up my mind for the roller option.

Just need to seal up the cracks first.

 

[jimkinney]

Sherwin Williams sells a caulk with sand in it for filling stucco cracks. I use my finger to push it into the crack and it is almost invisible once you paint it.

My next house won't have stucco, I'm tired of filling cracks.

Good luck,

 

[Dig Doug]

They have a synthetic stucco comes in a bucket - mix with a drill & paddle lots of colors.

it is designed to freeze in winter and then have 100 degree days in summer and No cracking!

2 coats and your Good to go, Down side is you need to re stucco the entire building / home or anywhere that has stucco.

 

[Stuart in MN]

My limited experience with traditional stucco is that the best choice is to get a dash coat over the whole building. it takes care of the cracks and gives you a consistent color (it can be tinted to suit your preferences.) Once you paint stucco, you're stuck in forever having to repaint it every few years.

 

[rktinc]

I may have to look into that SW caulking with sand. This building has been painted at least twice so I think primer and paint is the cheaper option. The skim coat would make it look nice for a while but I am afraid it would come off in chunks in short order after a few heat/cold cycles of midwest weather.

Appreciate all the good advice. Seems like I have options.

 

[bbxlr8]

White/Cream stucco on current house - check HD in the tile section for stuff w/ sand it in a caulk tube. many colors had to try two before I got it right. you can't go by the description or the print. Darn near invisible after (kind of expensive)