There are so many siding options available to you, whether you are building a new home or looking to update what you already have. One of our favorite options, is stucco. There are so many reasons to go with stucco, the most popular being that it is incredibly low maintenance and easy to take care of! You don’t want to entirely leave it alone, but with minimal work, you can keep your stucco siding looking new!
Cleaning
Because stucco is a porous material, it is natural for it to attract dirt and get a few stains. With most stains and spots, it is a simple and quick cleaning! Simply use a damp nylon brush to scrub at the dingy spot, then rub at the buildup with a damp microfiber or cotton cloth to remove it.
If your stain is settled in a bit, you might need something a little bit stronger to lift the stain. Rather than using a standard household cleaner, you’ll want to use something a little heavier. What you’re looking for is a chemical solution called trisodium phosphate, or TSP. Make sure that before use, you ventilate the area well, and wear gloves and eye protection. It isn’t a dangerous material, but you still want to be safe with it! You’ll dilute the TSP with water with a ratio of one part TSP to fifteen parts water, and then apply it to the stain with a nylon brush. Let it dry for a few hours before rinsing the stucco off.
Patching
Sometimes, patching up your stucco siding can be necessary. If it cracks or chips, don’t worry! It’s a simple process to patch it up. We recommend a DIY stucco repair kit, which you can purchase at your local hardware store.
You’ll want to clear away any of the loose material before getting started. If the crack isn’t already at least a quarter of an inch thick, you’ll want to use a chisel to carefully widen it, to make sure the patching material is able to have enough space to grab onto. Next, moisten the edges of the crack, especially if it’s really hot or windy. You’ll mix the material, and then using a putty knife, very carefully fill the crack. If your stucco is textured, you can use a stippling tool to match the texture of the patch to match.
