What is stucco?
Stucco is a plaster wall covering that is made of aggregates like sand, water, and a binder. It is applied wet to ceilings or walls and hardens a very dense solid material. To make it stronger and more flexible, additional additives are added into the stucco such as fibers.
It is often used as a wall or ceiling decoration and as a sculptural and artistic material in architecture. Another purpose of stucco is to cover less visually appealing construction stuff, such as concrete, cinder block, metal or clay brick, and adobe.
Stucco adds a nice touch in front of your house or building. Having a stucco attached to lattice panels in your backyard helps your vines to grow accordingly.
It looks like an easy task to do. You just need to drill a hole, insert the anchor and from it, hang the wind chime. But there are a lot of things that you need to learn in drilling into the stucco. You must have the right tools, follow the right process, and read on some helpful hints and tips to do the job smoothly.
Two types of Stucco
1. The cement-based stucco
Commonly known as the traditional cement-based stucco, this kind of stucco is tougher. It is made of water, cement, sand, and lime. It is used to cover wall sheathing. Try to tap on the wall cover of this material and you would not feel any hollow at all.
2. The synthetic stucco
Commonly known as Exterior Insulation Finishing System (EIFS) or the modern stucco. It is an acrylic-based product that is used to cover a layer of foam insulation. It is made of fiberglass mesh, foam, synthetic stucco, and a top coact that holds it all up. Try to tap on the wall cover of this material and you will feel kind of hollow.
How to drill into stucco
Now that you already have a background about what stucco is all about, you can start drilling through it using some easy steps to follow.
You’ll need the following materials:
- Pencil
- Measuring tape
- Drill or cordless hammer
- Turkey baster
Step 1: MEASURE YOUR HOLES
Measure your holes properly so that you can make sure that they will be done at the right points along the stucco wall. You can use a pencil to make them. This will make the drilling process hassle-free.
STEP 2: HAVE THE RIGHT SIZE OF BIT
If you’re thinking what kind of drill bit fits for drilling through stucco, try a masonry bit as it is best for hard surfaces like concrete. Make sure to select a bit that matches the size of the holes. Having a smaller bit might cause damage because you’re going to try hard to push it into the stucco. However, having a bigger bit might cause the screws to sway and will not remain securely in place.
STEP 3: USE YOUR DRILL
You will need a hammer drill if you are drilling through a cement-based stucco. Switch on the hammer drill trigger once the masonry bit is pinned on the pencil mark you’ve drawn on the stucco. Grip the drill firmly and point it forward against the mark.
STEP 4: REMOVE ANY DUST
Remove any dust caused by drilling the hole using a turkey baster. Avoid blowing it out as it will cause the dust to land in your face and eyes.
Step 5: USE STAINLESS SCREWS
Use stainless steel screws instead of the screws that come from the anchor bolts.
Step 6: APPLY ACRYLIC CAULK INTO THE HOLE
Before inserting a plastic anchor bolt in, you must apply a little amount of acrylic caulk into the hole. Check if the anchor bolt fits well into the hole.
Once your job is done well, the next thing that you should do is clean the mess such as dirt and debris, and start hanging the decorative items into the nail.