Stucco?

Drywall1

How many of you all do any type of stucco along with drywall. A lot of big companies round the midwest here do as with our company (not big). Just wondering.

Nate

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Rockin the Midwest from the time I could walk.

savant

Not much stucco up here in the NE. I have an R-tex, but I only use it for spraying Structolite on gyp lath or second+ coats on metal expanded. (interior plaster work)

Drywall1

Its gettin very popular on new home const. here in the Midwest. Very little Efis (commercial only), either the Carrara in my web site or the old school hard coat. If I can only get a little piece of that commercial pie.

Got any ideas on gettin an architect to spec what you want and not foam? I think I know the answer though.

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Rockin the Midwest from the time I could walk.

savant

I'm sure that if you've got a working relationship with an arch, (done 2-3 projects) you could convince him by bidding a very small job for a mutual client at a price that's competitive w/EIFS. and asking him to spec Carrara as an alternate(as a favor to you). When the job's done, get the client to write a detailed testimonial to the arch. thanking him for "specifying" Carrara. (and mail it yourself to make sure it gets there)

The arch will probably be begging you to bid the rest of his jobs in Carrara. The bit lost on the first is just advertising. (you could also send copies of the testimonial to other architects along with some sample literature when you bid jobs that they drew.)

JCardoza

My Dad's drywall company just picked up a stucco crew last summer... He hasn't made any money yet I don't think LOL. Another drywall contractor I work for sometimes had one for about a year... then decided it wasn't worth it. The profit is high... the risk is higher. You have to know what you are doing not just hire guys that say they do.
(*remembers trying to scrub drive-it of two roofs behind other guys... one and expensive radius roof)

tburritt

When I replace front entry systems I provide a complete install. Most of my repairs are made on the inside if possable, but I do have stucco repairs on many. I found that the stucco thrower (looks like a hand fertalizer machine) works great to tie in your patch.

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A small fish in a big pond making a difference one job at a time!

jay.robinson

I'm down in TX and there's not much stucco here either.

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schumacher homes

!!Furnishing

Is there something like this in WA?

Whitey97

I think I would like to get into that, it's very popular here and has been for a while, However I don't have the experience and don't want to put myself at risk yet to do it.

rhardman

I can help with this, I did a lot of stucco in Portland. Started out doing patches, then small additions and eventually entire buildings. Didn't like the big jobs (got screwed a couple of times on payment) so I went back to matching textures on remodels.

The material handles differently than drywall mud or thin wall plaster. You have to add what they call bonding agent (though it is really elmer's glue in a different package).

Most textures can be matched with a hopper, brush or trowel and you want to get to know the sizes of silica sand fairly well. River sand cracks easier where silica "bites" into itself and makes a stronger wall.

A typical mix is:
1 part Portland Cement (or a good plastic cement)
1 part lime.
3 parts sand.
This worked well in Portland's climate and may need to be slightly different where it get's hot. But you never apply it in hot weather or the water evaporates and cracking will result.

Older jobs around the turn of the century had a high content of Lime and like the old lathe and plaster, had a ton of horse hair in it.

Back in the day I could usually get twice the amount for a day's labor than for drywall. But be prepared, it gets nasty dirty at times.

Let me know if I might be of assistance.

Rick

Whitey97

I may have to youtube this topic up!

R.E. Plaster

We do a lot of E.I.F.S. or ( Drivit ) as a lot of people around here call it I've done it for about 19 years as well as a lot of interior plaster and of course drywall work. If I had my choice I would do nothing but E.I.F.S. I like being outside regardless of the weather. Plus there is good money in it which is always a plus, but around here you have to be licenced to even buy the products. Check out our site www.replasteringinc.com

rhardman

I always suspected the Dryvit was the inspiration of someone that applied thin set tile morter to styrofoam. Absolutely brilliant idea! And having the license is good too as it ensures only the properly trained guys put it on. But do you know if the BASF line of EIFS products also need a license? I strictly did the old style 3 coat stucco and don't know that much about it.

I got minorly electricuted one time...it was raining and I was standing in about 1/2 inch of water when around the corner of the house the heavy stucco coat sagged and fell into a live light box. Electrified the entire wall and me...

I don't think the EIFS would do that as it's a much thinner coat.

EIFS is great stuff, easier to apply and no cracking.

R.E. seems to be the guru here.

A+ Texture LLC

I've really been wanting to get into this market, the two big drywall outfits here do either rock and stucco or rock and painting. Got a commercial modular coming up and the dealer wants me to do stucco. I really want to but have no experience, and when looking for people they always seem to highly "inflate" their experience. Like the guy I hired that said he was real good with the bazooka and boxes, then the first job we used them he held the taper upside down and tried to tape a corner from top to bottom. Anyway I've been trying to read about EIFS and came across this http://www.dspinspections.com/eifs_facts.htm Has some history and potential problems and how do deal with them etc. Hope it's helpful.

R.E. Plaster

E.I.F.S. systems are really good products some brands I prefer over others, the main thing to remember is that with any system you have to install it properly. I would say one of the biggest problems with either traditional or synthetic stuccos is that of water management. One of the best kind that I have used is with either Sto or Senergy products they have a product that you roller apply and when it dries it becomes like a rubber membrane that you can then glue your foam to with the base coat so you have no screws or mechanical fastners therefore you have no penetrations into your plywood or osb board, you also have to follow the rules for expansion joints and treating windows and doors making sure you bacarod and caulk plus making sure that any were you have a roof system ending into a wall you must divert water away from the lower part of the wall which any E.I.F.S. supplier will carry a kicikout flashing.

As for being electricuted not with E.I.F.S. I did get a charge not to long ago when replastering a kitchen remodel I hit that box and my trowel went flying, glad there was nobody in the way. As for the BASF line thats were my licence is through, plus I had to meet with my suppliers, took a test things like that plus my hands on experince played a part as well, but like anything else when done right it's a great product.