Category Archives: How To

Stucco is used both outdoors siding and indoors wall finish, to ensure stucco looks and performs its best patching may be necessary and cleaning and with the right combination of products and tools, any homeowner can get the job done. Indoor stucco may need some paint sporadically, however as outdoor stucco are exposed to the elements, the sidings will most probably need cleaning and repair. To clean indoor stucco it often requires water and some elbow grease. Simply scrub the dingy stucco with a dampened nylon brush to saturate the surface, then rub away the buildup with a moistened microfiber cloth (or clean cotton rag). A chemical solution known as trisodium phosphate, or TSP maybe needed for deeply set stains. Homeowners must take the precautions when applying the solution, such as ventilate the area by opening windows and running a fan, wear rubber gloves, protective eye-wear, and long-sleeve clothing. Home centers and hardware stores usually have available the solution and they can advised how to use TSP safely. Combine the TSP with water in a bucket, diluting to water-to-TSP ratio of 15 to 1. Finally, apply the TSP to the affected area by means of a nylon brush and allow the stucco an hour or two to dry. KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• The good news is that cleaning indoor stucco usually takes nothing more than water and a bit of elbow grease
• Don’t give a minor crack the chance to become a major headache. Take swift action.
• In fact, due to its unique formulation, you get the job done in remarkably little time.

"if the existing surface features a smooth finish, then no problem—you can smooth the patch to an equally smooth finish with a traditional plastering tool. If, however, you need to match a decorative effect like stippling, then you may wish to take a cue from the pros who often employ ad hoc tools like sponges and kitchen whisks to create the desired effect. Once you have finished the patch to your satisfaction, you can more or less call it a day." Original Source: http://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-maintain-stucco/?#.V85vB5grLIU