About Odus Sweetin Expertise For over 30 years my profession has been a full time homebuilder and remodeler.The range of my projects has been from a few hundred to 750k. Since the home improvement laws` inception, I have been a TN State Licensed Home Improvement Contractor, involved in remodeling and repairing homes. Evolving from the older lead carpenter system of the mid sixties, I have been a master carpenter, a journeyman plumber, and a journeyman electrician. If you are interested in asking someone who actually has qualified as proficient performing the task, ask me. I am willing to try to help you.
Experience Starting in 1969, I have continuously been a residential home building and remodeling contractor. During the seventies and early eighties, I was a residential electrician. During the early to mid seventies, a residential plumber. Now I still advise and lead my sub crafts in all phases of residential and light commercial remodeling. We limit our commercial work to light office remodeling.
Licensed Tennessee State Home Improvement Contractor Certified Master Carpenter Former Licenced Journeyman Plumber Former Licensed Journneyman Electrician
As a long time of the local Home Builders Association affiliated with the NAHB for many years, I have received numerous awards including Remodelor of the Year for 1997 and 2000, President's Award, etc. Chairman of the local National Association of Home Builders associate HBA of Southern Tennessee Remodelors[tm]Council. Published nationally as an example in Remodeling Magazine.
Question Thank you! One last thing, you mentioned putting the color in the stucco mix, is it possible to just put the stucco up and then paint it? I know that is an extra step but I might have someone volunteering to help paint it afterwards so that is why I ask. Thank you very much!
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Thanks for all the great info. The cinder block wall that encloses my yard is about 6 to 7 feet tall and I believe it does not need any kind of reinforcement, it seems pretty solid and was there when I moved in. I am pretty opne on what I want to spend but I am trying to jkeep price down which is why I am considering doing it myself. The final look I want is basically a stucco finish, how much texturizing will kind of be up to my wife. Since the wall is not in need of any kind of reinforcing would your recommendations still be the same? Is there something that you would suggest over another. I plan on being at this house for a while so I want it to be good quality too, and to last. Thanks agian!
Richard
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I have a cinder block wall enclosing my back yard and It does not look bad but I would llike to imrpoe the look. I have seen a number of cinder block walls that have had a texturized coating put on them. My question is how is this done and is it a project that a homeowner (me) could do? Thank you in advance for your assistance!
Answer -
Hello Richard,
There are a myriad of answers. Question are, how much do you wish to spend? Does it need reinforcing? What do you wish for it to look like?
Elastomeric coatings work great for reinforcing and great looks of stone, brick, marble, or just a plain color of your choice.
Surface bonding cement coatings will also work great. The ones with the fibermesh in them reinforce the walls too. Put on a coat of fibermesh mix, and then a coat without the fiber in it. You can give this a washed stucco look or troweled finish. The instructions are on the bag. Brands are Sur-Wal and Quick-Wal, or you can use the formula for mixing up your own at about half the cost, but twice the labor.
Plain stucco mixes do a good job if reinforcing is not needed. Again you can give this a troweled or washed stucco look. Mixing masory color into it can color it your choice of available colors.
The brick yards and lumberyards can be great places to look for these products.
Manufactures include www.stocorp.com
Here is a good informational link on Sto's site; http://www.stocorp.com/webfiles.nsf/htmlmedia/coating+catalog.pdf/$file/coating+...
Yes, you can apply most any of these yourself. If you use a brickyard for the supplier, they are usually great places to receive advice and instructions on the products you select for use.
Have a good day,
Odus
Answer -
Hello Richard,
A washed sand stucco finish will probably be the lowest priced. Costs add up to around 50-60 cents per sq ft. Elastomeric will probably be the highest at about 2 dollars per sq ft.
If you put color in the stucco mix, you can try a sample on a board or other, and dry with a hair dryer to see what it is going to look like after it cures. Proper proportions are necessary for color matching from one batch to the next. Arrive at a formula, and stick with it.
You can keep a bucket of water to wet brush just before it drys for a sanded stucco texture look.
The brickyard can give you the local formula for stucco. Areas do vary on the specifications.
Have a good day,
Odus
Answer Hello Richard,
Yes, it is possible to paint it, but it is not that simple. That stuff soaks up paint like a sponge so a masonry filler paint would be a first suggested step.
At this point, you still have another option. You can still apply a stain, but it is applied like paint. Check to see if a sealer would be advised for a final coat or initial coat? The pro will know, or know who to get there in the store to answer the question.
Considering all of the buy outs by corporations, Sherwins Williams is probably your best store to go to for suggestions. They have made a lot of great stain companies in their purchases during the last 10-15 years.
They probably own the company that makes the paint or stain you will pull off the shelf anyway, so why not let the pros advise you on every step? If you do not have a S-W store, go to another professional paint supplier. HD and Lowes are the last place I go for these products because of the great information that can be learned from the pros.
Odus
