Complete Stucco Systems
Full stucco application for new builds and full re-stucco work.
A complete stucco system is the whole wall assembly, not just the surface you can see. We install stucco over block and over wood or metal frame, on new construction and on homes being stripped back and redone from scratch.
What a full stucco system actually includes
On frame construction, the assembly starts with a weather-resistive barrier and lath fastened to the substrate, then builds up in coats: a scratch coat keyed into the lath, a brown coat that trues the wall flat, and a finish coat that carries the texture and colour. On concrete block, the barrier and lath usually come out and the base coat bonds directly to the block.
The parts nobody sees are the parts that decide how long it lasts. Weep screed at the base so trapped moisture can escape. Casing bead and control joints where the wall needs somewhere to move. Proper laps and flashing at every window, door and penetration. Skip those and the finish can look immaculate for two years and fail in five.
Building for Florida, not for a catalogue
Tampa Bay puts a specific set of stresses on an exterior: sustained humidity, hard afternoon storms that drive rain sideways into walls, intense UV, and hurricane season every year. Coastal properties add salt exposure on top of all of that.
That changes real decisions. How much movement the wall needs to tolerate, where control joints go, which finish and coating combination holds colour under that much sun, and how aggressively the base of the wall needs to drain. We build for the actual conditions the house sits in.
Finishes
Texture changes the character of a house more than almost any other exterior choice. Sand and fine-sand finishes read clean and modern. Knockdown gives a softer, more traditional surface that hides minor irregularity well. Dash is coarser and highly durable. Smooth is the most demanding to execute and the most striking when it is done properly.
We will walk the options with you on site, against your actual elevation and light, rather than off a sample board in a showroom.
New construction and re-stucco
On new builds we work to the plans and the schedule, and coordinate around the other trades so the wall assembly goes together in the right order.
Re-stucco is a different job. Existing walls come with existing problems, and what looks like a cosmetic tear-off often uncovers moisture damage or a substrate issue behind it. We would rather find that at the start and tell you plainly than discover it halfway through.
Common questions
Can you stucco over concrete block?
Yes. Block is extremely common in Florida and takes stucco well. The build-up differs from frame construction — the base coat generally bonds directly to properly prepared block rather than going over lath.
Do I need to re-stucco, or can the existing wall be repaired?
It depends on how much of the wall is affected and what is happening behind it. Isolated cracking and damage is usually a repair. Widespread failure, or moisture that has got into the assembly across a whole elevation, often means the wall needs to come back to the substrate. We will tell you which one you are looking at.
How long does stucco need to cure before painting?
New stucco needs time to cure before it takes a coating, and rushing it is one of the more common causes of premature coating failure. The right window depends on the mix, the weather and the coating, and we will give you a straight answer for your specific job.
Do you handle permits?
Permit requirements vary between the cities we work in and the unincorporated county areas. We will tell you what your particular job needs before we start.
