Types of Stucco Finishes & Textures

A branch of Builder Boy, Stucco Boy takes more pride in their custom finishes and textures than anyone in town. From multi-colored Venetian finishes to complex mission style finishes, Stucco Boy can match or duplicate any texture imaginable. Stucco Boy’s signature finish is called “the trowel down.” This can be applied over any preexisting stucco finish with proper preparation. This is a cost-efficient way to create a new, timeless look for your home. Stucco Boy has several years of experience in window and door patches, from new custom homes to early 1900’s vintage homes. No patch, stucco finish, or color is too difficult for the experienced crews at Stucco Boy.

SMOOTH FINISH STEEL TROWEL

Most popular choice

A smooth stucco finish, also known as a fine cement based finish, is one of the most difficult textures to achieve and is also the most popular among homeowners because it’s easiest to clean and offers a finish closest to looking like a painted home.

The difference between Smooth Finish and Spanish Santa Barbara finish is the burnish rustic final look. And even though both are labor intensive and applied with a steel trowel, Smooth finishes can be customized by adding different colors to get a “mottled look” leading to a Spanish Santa Barbara finish.

Santa Barbara Stucco

SPANISH SANTA BARBARA FINISH

Semi-Smooth Irregular Texture

Often confused with a smooth finish, a Spanish Santa Barbara stucco finish is formulated to achieve a semi-smooth, irregular texture similar to the early California adobe style buildings.

To achieve it’s unique texture, the brown coat is not flat like in the smooth coat, giving it depth, character and elegance. Depending on the materials used, it can be applied with a trowel or sprayed on.

Santa Barbara consists of a nearly completely smooth surface with underlying undulations.

LACE TEXTURE

Most Common Stucco Finish on Homes

The lace finish is the most common found on homes and is usually what people think of when they think of stucco. This texture can hide many imperfections and is great for virtually any application, residential or commercial.

Lace texture finishes have more visual appeal with a look similar to an ornate lace pattern. This texture can be either “heavy” or “light”, with the latter having a finer texture on the top coat.

Dash Stucco

DASH FINISH

Rough Stucco Finish

A dash texture finish is a rough stucco finish with small peaks of stucco sticking out. It can be sprayed on and can be applied light, medium or heavy in volume to create a unique look.

This texture can be applied by hand (for smaller areas) or sprayed on (using a small hopper gun). Two to three coats are usually applied to achieve a uniform coat.

Sand Float Stucco

SAND OR FLOAT FINISH

Popular Commercial Texture

Float texture finishes, also called sand texture finishes, look like grains of sand on the home. This is a basic and simple kind of texture that is popular in commercial applications.

It can be fine, medium or coarse in appearance and varies depending on the manufacturer. It is troweled down and finished using quick floating strokes.

Trowel Sweep Stucco

TROWEL/SWEEP FINISH

Decorative Stucco Finish

Trowel finish is the most common and popular finish of concrete used for major types of applications. After the concrete is laid in the formwork and leveled, the trowel is used to smooth and fine-level the surface of concrete.

Then a coat with fan-shaped strokes, lapping each other so as to form narrow, high ridges where mortar flows over the toe of the trowel.

CAT FACE FINISH

The Vintage Look

Also called Montalvo finish, this finish features a top coat smoothed down with a steel trowel, leaving bits of the textured base coat peeking through in either a random or a designed pattern.

These rough areas are what we call “cat faces.” This is because they look as though if cats are peeking through the texture.

VENETIAN PLASTER

Specialty Finish – Special Order

Authentic Venetian plaster is not a faux finish. In fact, it’s the most authentic veneer wall finish you can have. When natural, lime-based Venetian plaster is applied it will eventually return to it’s original state, which is lime and marble. Unlike paints which must be reapplied over and over, Venetian plaster is a lifetime finish. The material is self-healing, much less likely to crack than cement finishes, and naturally mold-resistant, resulting in beautiful walls that will withstand the test of time. These beautiful finishes add a touch of prestige to the interior and exterior of residential, commercial, hospitality, or any other building where a rich aesthetic is desired. Venetian plasters can be used for old-world or contemporary designs, and even historical restoration.

STUCCO COLORS

A World of Finish Coat Options

Stucco Boy is only as good as the materials we use. Our product knowledge and experience include materials provided by these fine vendors. To see your color, texture, and finish options, please speak with a Stucco Boy representative. Otherwise, we recommend visiting our vendor’s website for all the many options available. Click on the link below to see a list a vendors we purchase our materials from and check out all the stucco colors they have to offer.

Stucco Color Charts

READY FOR A NEW LOOK?

Schedule a free estimate for your next stucco project

If you’re ready to take the next step on your home improvement project or just looking to get an idea of how much it will cost, please do not hesitate to contact us now to start planning your stucco project. Whether you’re seeking an estimate for a re-stucco job or a quote for stucco patchwork after you have had new windows installed on your home, we’ll come out to you. There is no obligation to purchase any of our services as every estimate is sent with no strings attached.

Schedule an Estimate

4th Street Manhattan BeachJune 6, 2024 - 4:39 pm
Huntington Beach Smooth Stucco InstallationApril 3, 2024 - 4:48 pm
Locust Avenue Smooth Stucco ProjectApril 3, 2024 - 4:45 pm
Neptune Avenue: Huntington Beach Stucco & Siding InstallationApril 3, 2024 - 4:33 pm
Stanbridge Stucco & Siding ProjectMarch 27, 2024 - 5:41 pm