Home Services Guidelines and Best Practices
Stucco Installation
Stucco Installation guidelines, FAQs and unit pricing information
January 2017
Are you looking for independent, trustworthy advice about Stucco Installation? Do you need to understand common installation options? If your project calls for Stucco Installation work, the following guidelines and best practices will help you understand: Is a subcontractor really necessary for Stucco Installation work? Will a permit be required? What are common problem areas? How much will Stucco Installation labor cost? What are the important Stucco Installation quality checks that should be included in the work requirements?
Stucco Installation - Frequently Asked Questions
| What is a fair price for Stucco Installation? | Costs vary with project size, job quality and time of year. For typical Stucco Installation expect to pay between $1.07 to $1.44 per square foot. Additional fees are typically charged for small projects or rush jobs. |
| Is a permit needed for Stucco Installation work? | Design approval and permits from your local building department are not required for Stucco Installation. If your home is subject to homeowner association (HOA) covenants, you should verify that your Stucco Installation project complies with association guidelines. |
| Is it worth using a professional to perform Stucco Installation work? | The appearance, functionality and useful life of the stucco may be compromised by poor installation. Hire the service provider carefully and tie payment milestones to appropriate quality checks (use the list below). |
| Is Stucco Installation something that I can do myself? | This is not a project recommended for the do it yourselfer. A successful Stucco Installation requires the work of skilled trade contractors as well as special materials, tools, fabrication and installation techniques. Do it yourself mistakes may be expensive to remedy and will likely reduce the marketability and value of your home. |
| How many days are typically required to complete the Stucco Installation work? | This work can be completed in 3 to 7 days. |
Stucco Installation - Options, Quality Checks and Important Details
Use the list below to document your expectations for level of detail and finish quality for Stucco Installation. Make sure that relevant information is included in any written contracts or work orders on your project. Before any Stucco Installation work begins, review the checklist with the service provider. Tie payments to satisfactory completion of this checklist.
- The layout, location, style and finish appearance of ALL materials used in Stucco Installation will be approved by owner, before any work begins
- No stucco or clean up residue will be left on adjacent finished surfaces, trim plates, fixtures or grilles
- The stucco finish will have uniform color depth and appearance in all lighting conditions
- All stucco edges at surface edges and trim intersections are sharp and crisp, forming a clean, straight line
- Adjacent surfaces, materials and fixtures will be protected from stray stucco finish; any stucco finish clean up will be performed by safe, non-destructive means, only after owner approves of clean up method
- The stucco surface and surface finish will be free of surface defects, irregularities and any physical damage
- There will be no stucco on hardware, trim plates or fittings; attached hardware and fittings should be removed prior to stucco application, whenever possible
Stucco Installation - Work Milestones and Project Reminders
The following list summarizes work tasks commonly performed during Stucco Installation. These tasks help ensure proper completion of the stucco work and compliance with common manufacturer and vendor warranty requirements. Make sure that either you or your service provider takes responsibility for each of these tasks. All service provider task responsiblities should be clearly called out in the written contract or work orders.
- Complete written contract, including scope of work, quality checks, warranty, timing and payment terms; ensure that contract is signed before work begins
- Review material choices for Stucco Installation with the homeowner before work begins - consider toxic exposure, allergic risks and environmental factors; purchase construction materials only after approval
- Select, specify and order stucco; verify that type, grade, finish, size, color, any options, and quantity are clearly identified in the order; make sure that delivery date, terms and damage provisions are included in the order
- Prepare area for safe, efficient work; move items that restrict work access or are vulnerable to damage; cover and protect items that cannot be moved
- Apply lath uniformly, per manufacturers instructions
- Apply scratch, brown and finish layers of stucco successively, over a a secure lath base.
- Reinstall pre-existing fixtures, fittings, finish plates, knobs, pulls, grilles and trim
- Inspect Stucco Installation and verify that all quality requirements and punch list items are completed correctly
- Save and label extra stucco for future repairs; make sure that manufacturer, model, color, lot and any other identifying information is noted on the label
