Q: The stucco on my home’s exterior looks faded. What can I do to make it look new again?

A:Stucco, like many surfaces, can fade – especially when it’s exposed to direct sunlight. But, making it look new again is easy. Quality paint can revive the look of your stucco, giving your home a fresh, new appearance.

Q: What if I want to completely change the color of my stucco?

A:No problem. Just like any surface (for example, wood siding), stucco can be repainted to suit your color preferences. If you want to achieve a darker shade than your original stucco color, and the surface is in good shape, quality paint can probably provide the coverage you need in one coat. Painting a lighter shade over a darker tone may require two coats. When selecting a new color, don’t forget to coordinate with other exterior colors on your home such as shingles and trim.

Q: There are so many exterior paint products on the market. How do I know which one will be the best for stucco?

A:Most exterior paint products are formulated for application on a variety of surfaces, from wood siding to brick and stucco. The knowledgeable sales people at Sherwin-Williams can tell you about products like Sherlastic, Duration® Exterior Coating, and SuperPaint® Exterior Latex Paint. Just tell them a little about your home’s exterior and your goals, and they’ll help you select the coating that will best suit your needs.

Q: Which are better, latex- or alkyd-based products?

A:Acrylic latex products perform the best on stucco. Most do-it-yourselfers find that latex products are easiest to use because they are easy to apply and they clean up with soap and water Acrylic latex paints also offer good gloss and color retention as well as good coverage that dries fast.

Superpaint vs Duration

Q: Do I need a primer?

A:If the surface of your stucco is in good shape with no exposed substrate, possibly not. However, if you need to make a lot of repairs, using a primer will make your finish coat look great and provide the beautiful, long-lasting results you expect. Ask the experts at Sherwin-Williams to help you pick the right product for the job.

Q: What else do I need to do to get started?

A:Once you’ve selected your coating, make sure you have the products you need to make minor repairs or fix cracks.The elastomeric properties of the coating keep it flexible to minimize the chance that cracks will reappear. After you’ve made your repairs, make sure the surface is clean and dry before you prime or paint.