Stucco has been used for centuries in construction. Traditionally, the walls were filled with lime, sand and water, or other mixtures based on salt and limestone. Today, putty is obtained by mixing Portland cement, sand, lime and water. The stucco is applied to ruined walls or ceilings and is applied to the damaged surfaces in a circular, wavy or cross pattern. To fill a wall you will need to have the necessary material and the time to devote to the preparation of the stucco and the wall. This article will tell you how to proceed.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Prepare the Wall
Step 1. From the area where you intend to putty, remove paintings, carpets and anything else that is not too heavy to be carried away
If you plan to grout the ceiling, move the furniture. Cover everything with tarps and secure them with masking or masking tape.
Step 2. Clean the surface to be grouted with household cleaner mixed with warm water
Apply the mixture with a sponge (in the case of an inner wall) or a vaporizer (in the case of an outer wall). Rinse with hot water and let it dry completely.
If there is dust or dirt, the putty will not adhere to the walls. Thoroughly clean the wall to ensure that the adhesive cement adheres optimally
Step 3. Protect any electrical outlets, window sills, and panels with painter's tape
Take some time to make the tape adhere well, trying to do a professional job.
Step 4. Fill the grooves, holes and cracks with putty paste
You can apply it with a putty knife or paint scraper. Wait for the paste to dry for at least eight hours before moving on to the actual grouting.
Method 2 of 3: Choosing the Grout
Step 1. Go to a hardware or paint shop and choose the putty or textured paint that's right for you
If you intend to cover a large number of stains with putty, you will need to purchase a significant amount of paint putty. If you want to get thick coverage, know that 4 liters of paint filler cover approximately 2.5 square meters of surface.
- Ask the shop owner to recommend a product that meets your needs. He could advise you not only the most suitable product for grouting, but also the tools needed to complete it, since filling requires the use of more tools than traditional painting.
- For exterior walls, you can choose fine, medium or coarse-grained putty. Ask the shop owner for advice on which strain is best for the job you have in mind.
Step 2. If you want, mix the grout yourself
Grout is generally composed of Portland cement, sand, hydrated lime and water. Although there are several ways to mix these ingredients, you can get a good result by mixing cement, sand and lime in a ratio of 4: 12: 1, and add plenty of water to the mixture until it reaches a creamy consistency.
If you want, you can add a little mortar color to the grout to "age" its appearance, making it more in tune with that of the wall to be repaired and making it easier to re-paint it. If the colors do not match perfectly, know that you will have to recolor the entire wall
Step 3. If you only need to repair a small portion of the wall, consider purchasing premixed grout
The premixed filler exists in both coarse and fine grains, and is immediately ready for use. If you need to do a small repair and don't feel like spending too much time mixing the grout, this might be the solution for you.
Method 3 of 3: Apply the Stucco to the Wall
Step 1. Spread a layer of putty on a plywood panel following the type of texture you are going to use
Below you will find the most common finishes used in grouting: try them all before deciding which one to use.
- Use a paint roller to create a mottled effect. It is not the most suitable option for grouting irregular or stained walls.
- Take a trowel and spread the grout irregularly, giving it a rather thick layer. This is the best way to grout heavily stained walls, and is often used for grouting exterior walls.
- Use a sponge to create a check pattern. You can dip the sponge into the grout and apply it directly to the surface (randomly or following a geometric pattern).
- Once the grout is applied, use a stiff brush or comb to furrow the surface. You can make a wave, striped, circle or cross weave.
Step 2. Prepare the wall for grouting
To make the grout adhere in the best way, prepare the wall before applying the first coat. Obviously, the type of preparation depends on the characteristics of the wall:
- Concrete, brick or block walls: apply a layer of cement binder and let it dry before continuing.
- Wooden walls: Nail tar paper to the wall, then cover it with wire mesh (buy a 45m roll, with 1mm diameter wire). Nail the mesh to the tar paper using galvanized roofing nails.
Step 3. If necessary, roughen the wall with a first layer of putty using a trowel and cleaning trowel
This layer is usually applied to a large mesh trellis which is then scraped off, which ensures better adhesion of the second layer. Doing or not scraping depends largely on the size of the surface to be grouted: it is recommended if you intend to grout an entire wall; it is less necessary if you intend to patch the wall in small spots.
- The rough coat should be about 1 cm thick.
- When the first layer of putty has solidified but is not yet dry, make horizontal notches on it using a notched trowel (with teeth 1 cm deep). This step is of fundamental importance and ensures that the second layer of putty grips the first effectively.
Step 4. Apply the second layer of putty (the leveling one)
Again, try to make it about 1cm thick. If you work in the sun, periodically wet the grout with water using a vaporizer, in order to make it malleable.
Step 5. Go over the second coat of putty with the end of a plank or a trowel to make it smooth
First wet the trowel, then align it perpendicular to the wall and use it to smooth out the grout.
After smoothing out the second layer of putty, let it dry for 7-10 days. In this period, any cracks and imperfections may appear that you will need to correct before applying the last coat
Step 6. Apply the final coat and make the wall surface more or less smooth
The last layer of putty should be quite thin (less than half a centimeter). At this stage you will have to spread the new layer of grout so that it matches the old one, while in case of new grouting you can follow your personal taste. To give the last coat of grout you can act in several ways:
- Mix the grout with more water to make it more liquid. Then use a paintbrush to quickly spray or brush the paint over the previous layer of putty.
- Spread the paint with a rough rubber trowel. Move the trowel circularly by pressing hard on the wall.
- Give a touch of originality to the work by using a sponge, a rag, a brush, etc. to spread the grout according to your tastes.
Advice
- If you buy premixed grout, the store where you buy it can give it the color of your choice (which is not feasible if you decide to mix the grout yourself).
- To make an external wall smooth, wait for the last layer of grout to dry, then dip a large sponge in the water and pass it over the surface of the wall starting from the edges.
- Unless you are a professional, it is best to use pre-mixed putty. Doing it yourself could be annoying and not lead to the desired results.
- If the grouting job seems particularly demanding to you, consider contacting a professional. This will save you time and effort.
- If you need to put the stucco on the outside, choose a covered day to apply it on a south-facing wall.
