Stucco Recoating & Color Coat in Minneapolis, MN

Stucco recoating, sometimes called a re-dash or a new color coat, puts a fresh finish layer over existing stucco. It is the closest thing to repainting for a stucco house, but instead of a film of paint it adds a thin layer of colored stucco or acrylic finish that becomes part of the wall. Recoats suit houses whose stucco is solid but faded, stained, patchy from years of repairs, or covered in fine map cracking.

Is your stucco a good candidate?

A recoat only works over stucco that is well bonded and dry. Before quoting, we tap the walls for hollow spots, look for soft or crumbling areas, and repair cracks and damaged sections. On homes built from the late 1980s on, we recommend probe moisture testing first. Woodbury and other Minnesota sources document widespread hidden water damage on stucco homes of that age, and a fresh color coat over a wet wall only hides the problem for a while and makes it harder to spot.

Cementitious finish versus acrylic finish

• Cementitious color coat: a traditional stucco finish coat with color mixed in. It is breathable, matches the character of traditional stucco and can be applied in dash, float, sand and other textures.
• Acrylic (polymer) finish: a flexible finish with better color retention and some ability to bridge fine cracks. It is less breathable than cement finishes, so it is a better fit for some walls than others.
• Elastomeric coatings: thick, paint-like coatings that stretch over hairline cracks. They are very water-resistant but trap moisture if the wall behind is not dry, so they need the right wall.

On older lime-rich stucco, a breathable finish usually works better than a tight elastomeric coating.

Choosing color and texture

A recoat is the chance to change color entirely or return to the original. Integral color in a finish coat wears with the stucco rather than peeling the way paint can. Texture can match what you have or change it, within limits set by the wall below. Samples on the wall help, especially on south and west faces where the sun changes how color reads.

Weather windows in Minneapolis

Finish coats need dry walls and moderate temperatures to cure. The National Park Service advises against cement stucco work below about 40°F or when frost is possible, and acrylic products carry their own minimum temperatures on the label. In Minneapolis, recoats are usually scheduled from late spring to early fall.

Preparing for a recoat

Prep makes or breaks a recoat. The wall is cleaned of dirt, chalk and growth, cracks are repaired and allowed to cure, failed sealant joints are replaced, and windows, trim, roofs and landscaping are covered. Where old paint is on the stucco, we check whether the new finish will bond to it or whether it needs a primer or removal.