Patching and Plastering - Stucco patching

I've recently installed central a/c & furnace into my home and as a result, removed my existing a/c wall units. I'd like to tackle patching the exterior walls where the a/c wall units once lived, and since I've never messed with Stucco, I'd consulted a contractor regarding doing the job right. Please confirm what I've been told and feel free to drop any helpful hints/tips my way.

The studs and plywood have been installed. From this point, I've been told to place the tar paper first, then the Stucco netting and staple them to the plywood. Then fill the area in with something called "Brown coat cement". When that cures, mix the Stucco and apply it with a trowel over the Brown coat, and sponge to match.

The existing Stucco has been there for over 4 years now, and the previous owner left me one bag of what was used, so I'm guessing that matching won't be a huge issue.

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

You were told right. Try to get the felt paper overlapping on the bottom and tucked under at the top. Could go a step further and use some roofing compound to make sure it's all sealed. It's likely that you won't ever have a prob, but now would be the only shot you got.

Brown or scratch coat. You can buy mason's cement, mix it fairly dry. Trowel it up 3/8" or so thick and as it's setting up, scratch it so the subsequent finish coat will have something to adhere to.

Don't expect too much in the colour matching thing. A lot of it depends on how much the area has been exposed, but it also varies with the amount of water used in the mix, air temps, etc. But, at least you can get close.

Good luck

Thanks for the additional tips and the luck Sonnie. I'm going to need it to tackle this project this morning.

you may well be through by the time you read this post, but just remember....

the force is with you :)

knock off a beer for me when you're thro' eh?

Well, I got as far as filling all three holes and applying stucco to just one. So far, so good. All of the information in this thread has been accurate, and you were also right about the stucco color matching, as nothing I did would narrow the gap between the new and old stucco. I guess I'll live with it until it's time to throw on some new paint.

It'll take about 30 days for the colour to settle out to be what it's gonna be. It'll be closer than it looks now, I think, maybe :)

I wonder if you have any idea which way the color will lean, on the lighter or darker side? I'm using kind of a Navajo White, and right now it's about twice as light as what's there now.

Paint settles out darker.

Most cementitious materials settle out lighter.

In California, nothing changes, so you go figure :):)

Not to worry, you can touch it up with some paint and a sponge after oh,,, say July 4. You'll never know it's been repaired if the texture's right. Like I said, the water content of the finish coat is very important. I've never had one match, without the after-colour, paint.

Oh, and I wanted to "ax" you (as we're prone to say here), is it true stucco, or an EIFS product. Not a lot of stucco done around here, but I don't know of ready-mixed colours available in true finish stucco. Sorry if that came across as tho' I'm doubting your knowledge. Just courteous curiousity. You mentioned Navajo White and got me thinking.

best regards

I knew literally "nothing" about stucco prior to this past weekend outside of "the stuff that coats my exterior walls." I still know nothing about stucco itself. The previous owner left me a half full bag that says "stucco mix" printed on the bag with a small label indicating the color. I saw the same bags at Home Depot recently with a color chit hanging out in front of the pile, so I'm assumming they come premixed in a variety of colors. I have no idea what EIFS products even are, but I'm game if you'd like to fill me in.

You don't wanna go there...

stucco's fine. :)

Since your tips have been beneficial up to this point, I'll take that at face value and move on.