If you have stucco on your exterior walls, you may want to put some stone over it. This will help to dress it up but can you put a stone veneer on painted or unpainted stucco?
Stucco provides a suitable base for stone veneer. Provided the stucco is prepared properly in advance, particularly if it is painted, the stone will adhere well and will last for many years.
One of the primary ways that you prepare stucco for a stone veneer is by applying the scratch coat. Essentially, this is a rough coat of mortar that provides a suitable surface so the veneer will stick properly.
This is not something to be taken lightly and it is a step that cannot be skipped. If you try to put the stone directly over the stucco without a scratch coat in place, there are a variety of problems that can occur.
Mostly, however, trying to skip the scratch coat will result in a short life for the stone. It won’t be long before it cracks and could even begin coming off of the stucco wall.
Can You Put Stone Veneer Over Stucco (Painted Or Not)? (How To)
As you will see, moisture is also a big problem with putting stone over stucco. It is something that can ruin both the stone veneer, as well as the exterior wall.
That is why another step in getting the stucco prepared is to put some metal flashing at both the top of the stone and the bottom. Why is that necessary?
The metal flashing at the top of the stone will keep water from running behind the stone and getting trapped in that area between the stone veneer and the stucco.
When you put metal flashing at the bottom of the stone, you are setting up what is known as a weep screed. Essentially, this is something that helps to pull the moisture from the wall and gives an opportunity for any water that is in the area to drain out properly.
As is the case with any DIY project, it is important to consider your safety when you are putting stone over stucco. There are a number of issues that can occur, including some that could cost you your life.
One thing that you want to do is avoid breathing in the mortar dust before it is mixed. If you are cutting any stone or concrete, you also need to protect yourself properly.
Something that is in those materials is silica, and if it gets airborne and you breathe it into your lungs, it can lead to serious health consequences. This can include silicosis, cancer, and kidney problems.
Wearing an N95 if there is any dust in the air is a good way to avoid this problem. You should also wear safety glasses, appropriate gloves, and a long sleeve shirt.
Let’s consider some of the potential problems associated with putting stone over stucco. Knowing these problems in advance will help you to avoid them.
Should You Put Stone Veneer Over Stucco (Painted Or Not)?
Homeowners around the world put stone over stucco and they don’t give much thought to the problems that may be associated with doing so. Here are a few problems to consider in advance.
Moisture – The biggest problem that can occur when putting stone over stucco is for moisture to get behind the stone veneer. You might be surprised by how easily this can happen, especially since you are dealing with stucco.
Stucco has the ability to soak in water and it actually soaks a considerable amount of water in on a regular basis. Even if it is painted, you may have this problem.
That is why a weep screed is put in place. Without a weep screed, the wall would simply soak in water and it would eventually ruin the wall itself. This could lead to a number of issues, including mold and termites as well as rotting wood.
It is important to set things up for moisture to escape if you install a stone veneer, but you also need to ensure that you aren’t blocking the weep screed in the process.
Something else that is important to consider is how low you are putting the stone. It’s always a good idea to keep the stone off of the ground and never put it directly on the dirt or under the dirt.
If the stone veneer is too low, it will keep the water that may get behind the stone from draining. In addition, the wall may wick from below, giving you moisture from two different directions and making the problem even worse.
This is especially a problem on the side of the home where there isn’t a lot of direct sunlight. Keep these things in mind to ensure that you are not experiencing any of these moisture-related problems.
Cracking/Adhering – There may be times when the stone veneer is not adhering or it may end up cracking over time. This could be due to moisture but it may also be due to the way it was installed.
If you install the stone veneer directly on the stucco wall, it is not going to stick for an extended amount of time. That is why it is important to put a scratch coat on in advance and this requires even an extra step when you are putting it on a painted stucco wall.
These are just a few of the problems to keep in mind. Now let’s consider how to do the job properly.
What Tools Do You Need To Put Stone Veneer Over Stucco?
Something that you should keep in mind on any DIY project is the need to have tools in place from the very start. Here are the tools you should gather together for putting stone over stucco:
Pressure Washer
Brushes
5 Gallon buckets
Garden Hose
Rags
Drill with Mixer
Brick Trowel
Notched Trowel
Other Trowels and Scrapers
Long and Short Levels
Chalk Line
Tape Measures
Hammer
Rubber Mallet
Wet Saw
Angle Grinder
Disposable Respirator
Safety Glasses/Goggles
Gloves
What Preparations Do You Need To Put Stone Veneer Over Stucco? (Painted Or Not)
On any DIY project, you need to put the preparation ahead of everything else. The more time you spend preparing for the project, the more success you will see. Here’s what to keep in mind when preparing to put a stone veneer over stucco.
Clean – One important factor that should never be overlooked is cleaning the stucco. This is important, regardless of whether you are putting stone veneer over painted or unpainted stucco.
If the stucco is new, you may be able to spray it down with a garden hose and remove any dirt with a scrub brush. If it is old stucco or is painted, there may be other steps involved.
This may include the use of a pressure washer. A 1500 psi pressure washer or lower is preferred for this job. If there is any loose paint, it should also be scraped off at this time.
Repair – Any damage to the stucco should be repaired before the stone is put in place. This may include adding additional stucco or perhaps even repairing the wall before adding more stucco.
Essentially, you want a clean, smooth, and relatively flat surface behind the stone so it sticks properly for the long-term.
Scratch Coat – For both unpainted and painted stucco, a scratch coat will need to be applied. This is done by putting a layer of mortar on the wall and then scratching it with a notched trowel.
Essentially, you want the surface to be imperfect enough that it will hold when you apply more mortar and the stone veneer.
If the stucco is painted, you may have to add some screen so the scratch coat sticks properly. Drill holes in the stucco and attach the screen with pins that expand as you hammer them into the wall. Be careful you don’t puncture the building envelope in the process.
How To Put Stone Veneer Over Stucco (Painted Or Not)
Now that you have the scratch coat applied properly to the stucco, the process is the same, regardless of whether the stucco is painted or not. Follow these steps so you can apply the stone veneer properly.
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on December 18, 2022.
1. Corners – It is always best if you work from the corners inward on this project. Apply the stone veneer to the corners, making sure you don’t have any type of noticeable pattern as you do so. This will give you the opportunity to work inward.
2. Horizontal Lines – Work your way from corner to corner, filling in the gaps as you do so. Your goal should not be to have a perfectly straight line, although you would want the overall line to be level. Remember, imperfections add some character and beauty to the project.
3. Gaps – More than likely, you will have some noticeably larger gaps that could be filled with smaller pieces of stone. These will need to be cut, and you should wear your respirator when cutting them.
4. Grout – The decision to grout is really one that is up to you. It is a good idea because it does help to protect the stucco from getting wet but, at the same time, it also provides an area for the moisture to escape. There is no rule that says you have to grout the stone if you like the look.
5. Seal – Wait about a month and then use a high-quality sealer to seal the outside of the stone veneer. You will need to reapply the seal on a periodic basis to keep the stone looking its best.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on December 18, 2022.
You can apply stone veneer over stucco that is unpainted or painted. You will need to clean the stucco and then apply a scratch coat to allow the stone veneer to adhere to the wall properly.
Related Articles
Can You Put Stone Veneer On Concrete/Cement Foundation? (How To)
Can You Put Stone Veneer Over Brick (Painted Or Not)? (How To)
Can You Put Stone Veneer Over Fireplace? (How To)
Can You Put Stone Veneer Over Drywall? (How To)
ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on December 18, 2022.
Can You Put Stone Veneer Over Vinyl/Wood/Metal Siding? (How To)