There are many advantages to having a stucco exterior. It helps in insulation and making your heating and cooling system energy efficient. It can also make your home less susceptible to fire and can reduce the outside noise. Stucco can also last for decades given the proper care and maintenance. That’s why if you find any crack or hole in your stucco, you must fix it immediately. 

In this article, you can learn how to fix the cracks and holes using some tips and techniques to ensure that your stucco will last over a decade. 

Fixing Large Holes in Stucco

Repairing a hole in a stucco wall will need a little patience and some knowledge. Probably, the hardest part is matching the appearance of the original stucco to the patched stucco. You can do that by combining a small amount of tinted stucco to closely resemble the original. Performing some trial and error using different batch to small boards will allow you to determine which mixture is the closest match. 

1. From the hole, take off the loose stucco using a cold chisel and ball peen hammer. Clean the specks of dust and staple new wire mesh over any damaged one. Spray with water. 
2. Using a mason’s trowel or putty knife,  apply the first layer of stucco within 1/4 inch of the surface. Once it is solid and firm, scratch using a nail. Let it sit for two days. 
3.  Cover dampened first coat with the second coat within 1/8 inch of the surface using a mason’s trowel or putty knife. Make the stucco smooth and let it rest for two days. 
4. Finally, apply the last coat over the dampened second coat using a metal float or mason’s trowel. Smoothen the texture as preferred. Allow resting for four days.
5. Paint if preferred. 

Note: For deep holes, fill the patch with several successive layers. Let each layer dry before applying the next. Match the texture by touching it up with a small brush. 

Fixing Small Holes in Stucco

Small holes measure less than 6 inches wide. 

1. Clean the hole using a brush. If the brush cannot fit and is too big for the hole, you can use an awl or nailset to scrape out any loose debris. You can blow out the dust or wipe it away with a soft bristle brush. 
2. Using a putty knife, apply a patch of stucco mixture. Fit it tightly into the hole and make sure to fill up to the surface. Allow it to rest until stiff or solid.
3.  Apply a top coat of patching mixture. Blend the surface using a putty knife so that it matches the wall. Allow this to dry. 

Fixing the Cracks

This is a common problem since stucco is not very resilient and is made of cement. 

The right method to repair these issues depends upon the crack size. 

Hairline Cracks

This is quite easy to repair especially if the crack is very thin. A coating of acrylic latex paint that matches the siding will do the job. It the crack is a little wide to be covered by paint, use a latex caulking compound to patch the crevices. Allow this to dry before painting the surface. 

Wide Cracks

Use an all-purpose filler such as pre-mixed bridging and patching compound that is designed for stucco repairs, if the cracks are wide.

Fixing Stained Stucco 

Stucco can look weathered or stained over time despite its hard surface. If this is the case, you shouldn’t use ordinary house paint to paint stucco. Otherwise, it may peel or blister as interior moisture can get behind the paint. 

If your stucco is white, a temporary and easy solution is to wash with a mixture of water and white cement.