Choosing Stucco Colors and Textures
When you begin to consider ways that you can refresh your home’s appearance, stucco is going to be high on the list. This incredibly adaptable material has been changing homes for years, and frankly, it’s easy to understand why. From understated earthy colors to colorful statement choices, stucco offers a diverse array of options and can transform the way your home feels and appears.
Breaking Free from Basic Beige
Let’s be honest — we’ve all seen enough off-white stucco to last a lifetime. There’s nothing wrong with classic neutrals, but why settle for the status quo when there are so many gorgeous shades out there? You’d be surprised how much personality the right color can bring to your home’s exterior.
Many homeowners are drawn to shades of the earth, such as warm adobe, cream, and buff – with good reason. They are lovely colors in that they blend well with Alberta’s natural surroundings and never seem to get old. But if you’re a bit less timid, perhaps it’s time to venture into more adventurous color realms and experiment with the likes of sage green or terracotta — even pair them together, our sophisticated slate gray is divine when combined with prairie skies.
What to Consider Before Choosing Your Color
Here’s what you should be considering before arriving at a decision:
- The architectural style of your home (certainly classic Calgary bungalows have different color needs than an ultra-modern build)
- The natural setting of your home
- Neighborhood or city color restrictions you have to adhere to
Pro tip: Before you commit to a color, always check in with your homeowners association or local municipality. Who wants to mess with compliance once it’s all said and done!
Bringing Texture Indoors
Who says stucco needs to stay outside? Interior stucco walls are having a moment, and it’s easy to see why. Texture on walls is undeniably cozy in a way that painted drywall can never be.
Interior stucco has some major benefits to offer. It instantly infuses a room with character and warmth, needs next to no maintenance once installed (and because the color is mixed in with the material, you’re not going to need to repaint your walls every few years like regular painted ones).
Understanding Your Exterior Options
Hard Coat Stucco: The Slinger of Mud
This is what people mean when they refer to stucco. Hard coat is a process of a stucco application with one or two top coats after applying the base. For many Calgary homeowners, it’s the perfect choice — affordable and extremely durable. You’ll see it on homes ranging from Kensington character to newer Cranston builds, and the material is available in acrylic, painted, or pre-coloured finishes.
EIFS: The High-End Alternative
Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS) are the high-end of stucco. This synthetic product includes polymers that increase flexibility and the ability to cope with building movement and vibrations. It’s lighter than traditional hard-coat stucco and comes in some pretty impressive finishes, such as hand-troweled marble or silica textures that can make your home look like a million bucks.
Why Stucco Makes Perfect Sense
There’s a reason stucco has persisted for so long (pun intended). Here’s what it takes to impress these homeowners:
Budget-Friendly: The upfront cost is affordable, and the long-term costs associated with it are low due to how easy this carpet material is to take care of.
Attractive to the Eye: With so many possible color and texture combos, you can create literally any appearance you desire.
Made Long-Lasting: Stucco does not peel, chip, or fade as some other types of siding may. It also weathers Calgary’s temperature extremes, from chinooks to harsh winters.
No Maintenance Gimmick: Because the color runs throughout, there are no touch-ups and repairs to be made when you have steel siding.
Versatile: No matter if your home is traditional, modern, or something in between, there’s a stucco style that will be perfect for it.
Finding the Right Masonry Contractor
This is where things become critical – your stucco systems are only as good as the contractor installing them. A talented mason can make sculptural even the most basic stucco, and bad craftsmanship will mangle it with the best materials.
Make sure they have the proper licensure and certifications to work in your area before you hire anyone. Request references from current local jobs and actually follow up with those homeowners. Learn about their experience working with stucco and whether they will obtain permits for you. Seek out masonry contractors who are members of professional trade organizations and provide a real contractor’s warranty on their work. The good ones further their education and keep up with new techniques and high-quality materials.
And yes, that might cost a tad more money out of the gate – but trust me: It’s better to have things set up in such a way than it is to spend countless hours troubleshooting headaches down the line.
Making Your Decision
Stucco is just one of those rare materials (all too few in number, by the way) that happens to be practical as well as good-looking. Whether you’re thinking of giving your exterior a complete makeover, introducing some texture into interior walls, or just interested in looking at options that are available to you, the blend of durability and versatility —not to mention its look — makes stucco hard to beat.
The secret is taking the time to choose your color and texture, knowing what you have available as options, and getting a qualified contractor who can do it right. When all of those elements align, then you will be getting results that’ll put a smile on your face every time you come home.
For more expert tips and advice on stucco, check out our blog for in-depth articles that will guide you through every step of your stucco journey.