AboutDan Donavin Expertise I can answer structural and aesthetic questions about natural and manufactured stone. Whether its out existing, future or current work. I can answer a few questions about brick and block work mostly about mortar issues. I can also answer questions about concrete regular and decorative. I cannot answer many structural questions about brick or block laying but I will try to steer you in the right direction if I cannot answer.
Experience I am the owner and main installer of a stone and finished works company I started five years ago. We install and repair all types of stone inside and out. We also do brick and concrete repair as well as tuck pointing.
Organizations Gorgeous Stone Stucco Tile Corp.
Concrete Network
Education/Credentials College of Du Page
Concrete Institute
I am doing some work in my backyard and one of the things I am working on is the wall that surrounds my yard. I have a cinder block wall that varies in height from 6 feet tall to 8 feet tall. It is very bland looking and what I want to do is texture coat the wall. I have gone to Home Depot about 5 or 6 times and each time I ask I get completely different information about what I am supposed to do to texture coat the wall. The first time I was told all I needed to do was get a bag of base/scratch coat and trowel it onto the wall. I got an 80 pound bag and mixed it per the instructions and found that it was very difficult to get it to adhere to the wall. I ended up thinning the mixture with more water and then it stuck better but some of it would still roll off as I tried to adhere it to the wall. So, finally, I took the hose and I misted the cinder block wall until it was damp and I got my best results doing it that way. One other thing, the bag said that I would cover 10 square feet and it covered less than half that amount. What I have done looks good and it has stuck to the wall but I am just wondering, is there a better way? and/or is their an easier way? I am a bit exasperated with Home Depot because they really act like they don't know or confident in what they are telling me to do, I have seen many cinderblock walls texture coated and I would think that there are some "cut and dried" methods for doing it. Can you please help me or point me in the right direction?
Rick
Answer Hi Rick,
The easiest way to put on stucco is with a rubber float like for grouting tile. Bonsal makes a reinforced stucco product is the easiest to apply and it is a one time application. It has fibers in it that adds to the texture of it. If you can, try applying it in half circles. Try different amounts of water in the mix till it gets easy to apply. I usually mix in a 5 gallon bucket with a drill and a paddle mixer. A surface bonding cement is what you want not a stucco product.
Good Luck
Dan Donavin
Gorgeous Finish Works LLC
gorgeousbuilders@yahoo.com
