Grind off a stucco texture, Grind off a stucco finish coat
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Hello everyone, in this video I am sharing some advice in regards to the age old question, Should you ever grind off a stucco texture.
Kirk Giordano Plastering Inc.
Please also see our web site at http://www.StuccoPlastering.com
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Should you ever grind off a stucco texture or finish coat
Plaster Nerd, Stucco Geek, Plaster Wannabe Guru
Should you ever grind off a stucco texture, grinding off stucco, grinding off plaster, why grind off stucco, grind off a stucco texture
there is an under appreciated artistry to this work. aside from knowing how… the eye and the touch someone gets from experience is pretty amazing. I know I took it for granted before I started looking at videos on how to do my block walls. I have learned enough by watching your videos that I can see where the people that did my house before I bought it were hacks.
Easy Big guns, this is a PG channel, sorry they butchered your place.
Kirk giordano
LOL on the big scoop! Field laborers here use to use real short hoes to thin lettuce in the field but Cesar Chavez filed a lawsuit and the government outlawed short hoes. I wished they would have outlawed sledge hammers, picks and shovels when I was young! Thanks guys!
Hey Gee, a long hoe works better than a short one if you understand leverage.
I agree with him, but all the tools necessary for real work will always be the same, as that wheel needs no improving.
Best wishers,
Kirk giordano.
NiCe….
Thank you sir, best wishes
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Man! Kirk I looked away for 3 seconds and you had spread a bunch already. Great technique
Just takes practice, my brother, thanks for watching,
Kik giordano plastering tips
Kirk!!! yet another great video. How are those planters coming? 😉
Evening Dusty dude, thank you,
man, those planters have not made it past the thought process yet?
You building a boat yet?
Kirk giordano
Nope. trying to sell one though.
Dont worry thinking of the plans for the planters. ill send you plans once I have built mine. Glad to see you are doing well my friend.
Awesome videos thanks for sharing , I'm in the trade been a plaster for 15 years and I'm always trying to learn . so thumbs up keep up the good work!!!!
as always great job and video had to giggle at the guy that sued…. Thumbs up as always
Howdy Mac Plastering, me fellow plastering contractor, you and me have our hands full always with covering our arses.
Best wishes with your projects,
Kirk giordano plastering on small repairs
@Kirk Giordano plastering Inc. We sure do thanks man hope you all have a great week 🙂
Kirk do you have any advice on what the best thing to do is when youv'e mixed your plaster or stucco with an accelerator but you weren't fast enough to get it all out of the bucket? In the past i've waited for it to dry out then take a hammer to the sides of the bucket to set it free and it usually falls out. Is there a more gentle approach? I ended up hammering a hole in my bucket! haha
Hi goldenalex, I have this issue also, sorry, no quick fix as this stuff sticks well,
Cheers.
Kirk giordano
The story about the guy breaking his arm using the scoop.. Priceless!
Evening Dazza skillz, sounds goofy or like bullshit, however Tom Verrata told me the story who work with Westside building material as the purchase man,
(Go to guy with all our complaints)
for the last 25 years heres these true but strange and typical stories.
The fella who broke his arm was more than likely ill nourished and or had weak and brittle bones no doubt, brought on by perhaps incorrect choices of food for years on end.
Cheers and have a groovy evening.
Kirk giordano plastering
Hi Kirk, can u advice on lime render skim. How to prep and will it cover cracks that have been filled? External walls over existing lime render. I have the stuff just need to mix. Do i need bonding agent, which i have? Will lime render adhere to painted surfaces alone? Appreciate your reply. Thanks.
Hello Truthislight, I would first pressure wash, apply a bonding agent then resurface. Take a bit of practice to understand materials.
Best wishes and have a Fantastic Day, Kirk Giordano’s DIY plastering tips
Hi Kirk. What advice can u give on prep and filling cracks for lime render skim. thanks
Kirk & Jason, thanks for this and all your other videos! I have been grinding the exterior of my house because I HATE the ugly rough finish. It just looks so cheap and unprofessional. However, as you say, it makes a big mess and takes for ever. I'd hire you but I live in Florida so that would be a bit of a drive…. I'm going to give this a try on my own and see how it works out.
One question. Do you think it would be a good idea to just grind off the high peaks so I don't have to add so much stucco? Otherwise I'm going to have to put on a good 1/2" to 3/4" to smooth it out and I am concerned that the bonding agent won't be able to hold that much weight. FWIW, The house is 25 years old and block wall construction.
Thanks again for your videos!
@Brian 1 Hi Brian, thank you,it will hold if properly prepared, if it's easier for you with your skill level to grind or hack off high areas, this can be done too. Best wishes,
Kirk giordano
Thanks for producing all the great videos. I am looking to change from a very rough finish to a smooth Santa Barbara finish. I was was going to use a dustless grinder but it seems you do not need to. I am going DIY.
From what I understand I just need to apply a "bonding agent" to the painted stucco and then a base layer, then the smooth finish layer.
Could you tell me what type of bonding agent to use and what type of stucco to use? Also how long does the bonding agent sit on the stucco before the first layer. How long does the first layer dry before the smooth finishing layer is applied? What type of finishing layer stucco should I use?
Thanks for your help with all the questions!
Hello Edward Ferguson, I generally use Weld-Crete as my bonding agent, weld crete can be left on for up to 10 days before a skim coat. I usually apply same day or the day before, myself.
The cement plaster I chose depends on how rough and or thick the texture is that I would be going over, I typically use regular portland cement plaster for my skim coats.
Skim coats should set about two weeks, depending on the depth.
Then your ready to apply you smooth finish.
This type of process take a bit of time in.
Best wishes,
Kirk Giordano
+Kirk & Jason Giordanos DIY plastering and stucco tips
Here is our problem. We are having a muralist do signage on the stucco part but for some unknown reason the side has this super rough area. I was thinking I should grind it down a little before doing the treatment you suggest – just because it is such a heavy texture. Advice?
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204007044610643&set=a.1462604819311.56556.1659190760&type=3&theater
+Vivalaleta Godfrey
There are no near neighbors on that side, Won't a layer of bonding agent plus more stucco make the wall thicker on that part?
Hi Vivalaleta Godfrey, yes, applying more stucco will make any wall thicker.
There are methods that can give the thinest application like BMI's 690 cement plaster with fibers, but even this quality product with very tiny sand will make any walls thicker, here's my tip, rather than grind the heavy finish down, which soon enough you will find will be a bad idea, is to apply the BMI, 690 but only as thinks as the thickest texture on the wall now, in other words skim coat it real tight, if you do this properly you only filling in the low spots.
Best wishes,
Kirk Giordano
You are so kind to take the trouble to give us so much information. Thanks so much. I'll let you know how it goes.
Howdy Godfrey dude,
Tot kind just wish to inform all you folks so I can quit this plastering stuff 🙂
Teaching the world to plaster one video at a time.
Cheers!
Kirk giordano
Hi Kirk, these videos are great. Thanks for sharing your skill. I just purchased a house that has a really rough stucco finish and I'd like to reapply a smooth Santa Barbara finish. Can that finish be accomplished with no grinding as well?
Evening kurt, yes it can but first you must pressure wash the home then apply a bonding agent then skim coat the home with stucco or apply a two coats of smooth stucco finish, this really takes some time in however,
cheers,
kirk giordano rendering
Hey Kirk, cant seem to find anything on line for this so thought i would ask you. Wish you were in SoCal. I want to install ceramic tile on an exterior stucco wall. Was going to grind it smooth until i saw this video. Any recommendations on how to prep a stucco wall to accept a ceramic tile? Thanks for sharing, these videos are great.
Howdy Liz, I would clean the wall and use La Habra's polybond myself.
Cheers, live long and plaster
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Hi Kirk! Just wanted to say I love your video and I got to yours after the mess up.
Issue; I put some Sika Pro Select (sandy) Ready Mix Stucco Patch on some cracks (existing is rough stucco)., with a spatula as per manufacturer directions. 3 repairs looks like the nightmare from hell & I like to get house prep & painted for Xmas. The rough stucco sits on cmu (I'm in Florida)., any who, the patch work is very noticeable. I want to maybe use stucco patch by DAP Pre-Mixed Stucco Patch except (existing stucco is rough). Please advise asap any specifics on grinding off the new stucco patch repairs whether blade or brush?
Not so worry about creating dust I have no near neighbors (I'm in the country)..I can always wash the house down I'm desperately in need of your advise.
Thank you.
Evening Wanda, I would do what we are showing in this video,
Or if it's just cracks i would use Mor-Flexx caulking,
Cheers,
kirk giordano plastering
Just the question I have been trying to find the answer for. Thanks Kirk. Great stuff. Thanks for making all your videos.
Good Evening Brad Dude, no worries,
thank you and best wishes,
FYI, all of us here at the giordano plastering channel we wish to thank all our subscribers and those of you who accidentally stumble on our channel a happy and prosperous new year
kirk giordano plastering
Kirk. Thank you very much. Great information. The same as others here, I have a home with rough finish and would like a smoother finish. Any suggestion for cinder block walls where the portland has started to fail and is separating from the walls? I assume the failed portion of Portland would need to be removed and redone?
Howdy Tim, this is correct, there are no shortcuts.
Cheers, live long and plaster
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Hello Kirk, with a painted surface, would the paint need to be sand blasted or will pressure washing be sufficient?
Howdy Tim, I only pressure wash as sand blasting is not accepted in my area.
After proper pressure washing apply a bonding agent and remember nothing adheres to a dirty or dusty surface and your new coat is only as good as to what it's applied over.
Cheers, live long and plaster
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I'm a plaster myself, recently became a patch man & as you certainly know that's different so I wonder.. how do you personally tell the difference between la Habra or el Rey stucco colors to do a patch &a try to avoid the fog-coat part? Thanks! And greetings from beautiful Colorado
Howdy Alegria, I can't tell the difference between La Hara, Western , BMI or any of the other 20 manufacturers of colors, the best you can do is explain this to all the folks you work for,
I do, so there's no expectations that are beyond my control.
Cheers, live long and plaster
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Thanks very helpful!
Good evening David, no problemo
Live long and plaster
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haha.. i have a stucco/rough cast home here in New Zealand and started grinding like he said he did..could see myself going thru 3500 grinding discs and 20 years of my life.;(((. This guy is the Robert Redford of plastering.. enjoy watching these, Awesome, cheers Kirk 😉
Good afternoon 310 Dude, I like your style, thank you
Live long and plaster
teaching repairing your number 1 investment your home
Hi, I'm in NZ too and watching this wishing he could come down here and help me sort my house! He makes it look so easy. Glad I found this though as I did think I'd need to grind down somehow. Did you smooth yours out? I'm thinking of doing this too. Currently have very rough stucco. Did you have any issues finding all the right supplies here in NZ? Cheers, TC
"I HATE YOUR VIDEOS!!" Because I don't get anything done!!! I can't stop watching them….lol Thank you so much for your great informative video's. I am a do it herselfer…My question is this (i am sorry for so many questions!), my house is older, built in 62, it has a combo of finishes!! The front has HUGE swirls, that in my opinion, really dates the look. Under the patio (awning), it is just plywood, the back of the house has more of a finish that I like, which is more of a smooth look, but has seam marks where they took out a window, so you can see the seams. Also, along the bottom, especially by the water shut off and where there is more water build up, it is all chipping away (which I watched how you repaired that about 8 video's ago, lol. What I like is the finish that they are doing on the new homes in the high end area around here is a texture that has paint in the stucco, which leaves kind of a rubberish feel to it…supposedly never needing to paint again. But it looks so clean and polished look. I hear it is very expensive to do this, which that is not an option for me then…due to the fact my father supports me and all my projects due to a cancer illness, so I try to keep the price down as much as possible, but still making sure it is a complete job done well. (again Im sorry for such a long message), So, what I wanted to know is this, can I take out those big huge swirls, at least so it is not such a huge difference, then do as you said as far as getting all the loose stuff off and then pressure washing it, then the bonding layers on before doing another look of more updated and smooth? As well as under the awning, over the plywood and then continuing it to the back to make it all one look and one design of texture? But after you et all the chipped loose off and pressure wash it, doesn't pressure washing it make more loosen up? Then you would have to chip it again, then wash again, to get all the new dust off…Is this going to be a viscous cycle? Thank you so much in advance, and I really appreciate all your informative videos, please keep them up, for someone like me, it really is a life saver!!! Thank you.
Evening Taylor Dude, I just got these comments, After you, pressure wash wait a day,
Your right the water will loosen some areas such as old or loose paint, scrape those off with a scrapper then wire brush them if necessary, next apply the bonding agent then stucco.
If your going heavy you can do a couple coats when the first one sets, or if it's really thick buy Rapid Set stucco at home depot, you just add water and skim/apply up to an inch thick.
Sorry, plywood has to first be lathed first, paper and wire then the same cement plaster Rapid Set Stuco can be used to stucco these areas.
It's not difficult if you know how, but it does take practice,
Best wishes,
Live long and Plaster
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Good show.
Evening Al Dude, thank you
Live long and Plaster
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So what do you recommend when you have a texture that is about 3/8th to a 1/2 inch deep? I agree that most of the time you can just spread over the old but I would rather grind a very heavy texture then try to apply enough new material to cover up the old and if you cover up the old texture with a brown coat then apply the new texture, sometimes you end up with problems around the openings. So there are times when you need to grind the old texture off to achieve a clean finish in my opinion,
Evening J Jackson Dude, your right there are times to not only grind but to take a hammer and knock off high points.
I don't like grinding as it creates too much dust and we never know what's in that dust, lead or other toxins, plus it gets in many neighbors yards and lungs too.
Live long and Plaster
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Hello Kirk, great video. I have a few signage holes to cover and refloat the surface. The surface is already painted obviously. Do you recommend pressure washing the surface, applying a bonding agent, and refloating the whole surface?
Howdy GM, that depends on one's skill level, I'd prefer to just repair the hole and feather into existing.
If you're not comfortable with this option . with takes a good amount of talent in plastereing, go the long route and reskim the entire wall.
Live long and plaster
Jason and I will teach you, “how to render a wall.”
I love these videos! I am reassured that my quest to have a smooth coat applied to my house, over-top of the 3 existing finishes, is possible without grinding off and without much stress — even though I am not hearing that from tradespeople local to where my house is situated in the wet zone of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. 8 years ago I painted the house with an elastomeric paint which has protected and maintained really well the 2 different textures of stucco and cinderblock walls. Now however this causes big concern to the local plasterers as to how to have a fresh coat of stucco adhere for the long-run. I love to think that I can apply 3 or even 4 coats of adhesive over-top of what exists and then have a beautiful skim coat, perhaps with colour already in the mix. Can anyone speak to whether the difference in climate between Kirk Giordano's California and mine, and the elastomeric paint base, are factors enough for me to have to accept that I am only dreaming that life could be so easy that I could execute what I outline above? Even though the soffit overhang all around is a full 32"and the walls do not get that wet, I have been warned about the compromised breathability of the house after stuccoing over the painted walls, which could cause cracking with seasonal changes in temperature. I look forward to input! Thanks!
Howdy Lucinda, yes, climate plays a part, the fact is each coat applied has to be applied properly with the current base cleaned so well you can eat off it.
I would not recommend too may coats.
Wishing you and yours a happy and prosperous New Year.
Sound Plastering tips from your favorite stucco nurds
Hi,Kirk (ancient Scottish for church). Stay on the West Coast ,BC these NE people are bad .
Howdy Al, good advise.
Wishing you and yours a happy and prosperous New Year.
Sound Plastering tips from your favorite stucco nurds
So nice to see it done properly.
I was 17 during the summer mom had me work for a contractor.. It was good to learn window replacement, aluminum siding,roofing and blocks. . but the stuccoing he was a butcher. .ok wire brush and bonder but we had some bluestone walls that are in & out some places 4" .. We nailed wire mixed it soupy just for it to stick to the wire..i wanted to fill in 1st but got screamed at for not listening. . It looked pretty but i didn't like leaving so much hollow..for me its like a fake wall in front of the wall we were supposed to straighten out..
I don't like heights, I went into plumbing service.. Love going to people's homes & solving their problems. .
Howdy Tom dude, you tried that is what is important.
If I said all my screw-ups in the past, I'd have to forfeit new years eve as there are many.
Wishing you and yours a happy and prosperous New Year.
Sound Plastering tips from your favorite stucco nurds
@Kirk Giordano plastering Inc. Happy new years to you and your family..
It was definitely not a fail i learned so much, and even more on the stuff being done wrong.. If it doesn't feel right, to people like us, we gotta find out.. I just loved doing plumbing services, and i worked in decent areas when i started.. The first year the supply house gave nickname the Dr.. I always could get things apart others couldn't, always found the leak the others couldn't, you know, it can't be done just send Tom. Then i learned heat 1 day course the 1986 New York Mets ticker tape parade, i had walking pneumonia, sitting 3.5 hours away in Kingston NY. Me and another tech, the course was one day a year..i didn't want to miss it..
I came back knowing all the ins & outs for residential heating. Hot water & steam. That was such a satisfing move. Now i was going into houses, always in a basement,find the problem & recommend repair or replace. .At that time i hadn't learned sales. But also a 25 year old guy coming to the door as "the man" wasn't as easy as you would think. After the heat was fixed I was always glad that they had heat and i recommend everything i thought should be done, in case tomorrow something different went that i advised them, never ever liked giving away work.. But you must know some stories..different side you're the boss/owner.. I was the guy that worked with the company 1st, i made the company $$ every job…but also managed discounts and company service agreements. .kkkkkk. The boss had a present wheel..every month tge #1 guy selling service agreements gets to spin to win an extra gift.. I spun every month..
BINGO! this is what I want to hung cabinets
Thanks, dude. You just saved me from making a big mistake.
Love this video and all your work! Can you apply a Santa Barabara skim coat over painted rough stucco?
U welcome very happy to see ur videos..
U make look so easy. I enjoyed the video thanks for sharing.
Unfortunately I am in a situation where I HAVE to get the old stucco off a concrete wall. It probably should have never been stuccoed in the first place, but now the stucco is coming off for at least 14" or so along the bottom (it falls off in chunks – probably our Canadian winter weather). I want to take the stucco off for this bottom section, smooth the cement wall off, and then paint it or something simple. Any suggestions on how to proceed?
I was going to grind but maybe I'll try to top coat it but it's the underside of a soffit …so like your other video on horizontal application..it falls out as soon as you put it up..I'm putting Senergy color coat over it and wanted a smoother look…I don't think Senergy can be floated that thick…any suggestions?
Thanks for the response Kirk…unfortunately, I messed up the first application but fortunately, there isn't that much to smooth out. I'll wet down the work area and wear an N 95 mask. I should have reached out to you before I started this project..it's actually the 2' overhang of a patio cover…to find out what is the best consistency for the stucco mix (I'm using a bag that has scratch/brown together) to apply to a horizontal surface…thinner so it gets into the mesh better or drier and push like crazy to hold it there…not much strength left in my arms so the pushing isn't that easy but any feedback would be appreciated..I've heard that Senergy can be built up with multiple coats..that's the next phase…..thanks for the Youtubes…I've watched at least a dozen of them to get info on trying to get it right..maybe I should have watched them twice…. Take care…be safe
Hey Kirk. Was it common to add asbestos into plaster back in the day? Im removing some stucco with my impact hammer and i normally wear my respirator but one day I let my guard down and didn't put it on and was just breathing through my nose. Now I'm all worried…I read silica dust is really bad but asbestos is even worse. I wear my respirator religiously now. Fortunately I'm almost done with my removal project. I hope my poor lungs will be ok.