Stucco siding is popular because it’s durable, long-lasting, low-maintenance, and attractive. However, over time, the color can fade or gather grime, and moisture can permeate it causing mildew and mold. 

If stucco siding is neglected, it can start to deteriorate but newly formulated paints are a great way to bring it back to life and ensure its durability and longevity. Great Guys Painting shares 5 essential reasons why you may want to paint your stucco siding:

1. Improve Curb Appeal

No doubt about it, painting your stucco siding will do wonders for your home’s curb appeal. 

  • If the stucco color has faded, painting your siding is an ideal time to update the color. 
  • Or, if you’re planning to sell your home, a fresh coat of paint gives potential buyers the impression that your home is well-maintained. 

2. Protection From Excessive Moisture

With the right paint, your stucco siding will be protected from excessive moisture and will be weather resistant. When we say ‘the right paint’, it’s important to work with an acrylic latex paint that will allow the stucco to naturally breathe. 

  • Stucco is made of Portland cement, lime, sand, and water – therefore it has a natural ability to allow atmospheric moisture to move through the material. An oil-based paint will act as a sealer and keep moisture from moving through the stucco. When the stucco is sealed, excessive moisture can accumulate in the framing, causing mold build-up and wood rot. 
  • Acrylic latex and elastomeric paints have the ability to expand and contract along with the stucco material, allowing it to breathe and keep your home protected.
  • Stucco siding is very common in dry, arid climates like the southwest. But if your stucco sided home is in a climate that gets a lot of rain or humidity, you’ll need to keep the siding protected from moisture with a more frequent maintenance/painting schedule.

3. To Cover Stains

Depending on your climate, your stucco siding can be susceptible to rust, water, mildew, and mold stains. These stains, commonly seen around windows, door frames, and chimneys, can ruin the look of an otherwise beautiful home. 

Unfortunately, most stains are permanent and can’t be removed by washing the stucco siding. Stains must be cleaned of dirt and dust, primed, and then covered with a high quality acrylic latex exterior paint that’s especially recommended for stucco. 

4. Paint Can Fill Hairline Cracks

Although they’re common in stucco, especially as your home settles over time, hairline cracks aren’t necessarily a problem. But if hairline cracks are left untreated they can turn into large cracks that allow moisture to enter through the stucco. When moisture enters, your wood framing is susceptible to wood rot. Although you’ll need to fill large cracks with masonry caulk, a good quality paint can fill in hairline cracks

5. Your Paint is Over 20 Years Old

If your stucco siding hasn’t been painted in the last 20 years, it’s probably time to give it a fresh coat of paint. Old paint doesn’t have the modern ingredients that can protect your home. Today’s paints have UV protection that helps maintain the color and prevents the sun’s harmful rays from breaking down the paint. 

  • If your stucco siding is covered with old paint, it’s likely that the stucco is weakening. Weakened stucco leads to moisture damage, discoloration, and cracking.
  • It’s important to inspect your siding every few years to make sure there are no large cracks, peeling, or chipping. Even if you see hairline cracks, you should fill them with a good quality paint so they don’t continue to open up and allow moisture to enter. 
  • If you do see damage, you’ll need to make the stucco repairs as soon as possible so that the framing and interior of your home are properly protected. If there are a lot of repairs to be made, it can be tricky to match the new paint on the patched areas to your current paint. Your home will look much more attractive if you paint all of the stucco siding after making repairs. And actually, professional painters recommend that all of the stucco walls on your home should be painted at the same time. 
  • It can be tempting to take short cuts and just paint the walls where the majority of repairs have been made, but when you do, it’s very likely the paint won’t match the other walls and you’ll end up with an amateurish paint job.

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Just be aware that if you’re planning to paint new stucco, it will usually need at least 60 days to cure properly before painting. You’ll also want to read product labels to know the manufacturer’s recommendations on how long to let caulk and patches dry before painting, and how long to let the primer and first coat of paint to dry before applying another coat.

Painting stucco siding is a fairly easy DIY project that can improve the value, look, and longevity of your home. But knowing how to prep, repair, and paint your stucco siding properly is critical to make sure the benefits are long lasting. 

You’ll be guaranteed high-quality results when you hire a professional stucco painter to do the job. Great Guys Painting maintains a network of vetted painting professionals who are knowledgeable about the proper prepping and right kind of paint to use for stucco siding. When you’re ready to talk to a pro, Great Guys Painting will connect you with a trustworthy expert near you. It’s simple – all you have to do is ask for a fast, free quote!

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If you’re considering painting your stucco siding, you can get started today with a quick quote from Great Guys Painting. Save time searching for a painting pro you can trust and get a free quote now!