Living in Texas, you may be wondering if getting stucco on your house is worth the cost? Does it last long enough in Texas to make the cost beneficial?

There are many very old stucco homes in Texas. When properly installed, stucco can last several decades and, in some cases, a hundred years or more. Texas has stucco homes that pre-date the civil war many of which still look outstanding.

How can you know that stucco will last long enough to make it cost-effective nowadays to install on the exterior of your home in Texas? To learn more, read below.

How Long Does Stucco Last in Texas?

At one point, the Sebastopol House and approximately a hundred other homes were built with a stucco exterior on them in Seguin, Texas. Seguin had so many stucco houses that it was even referred to as the concrete city since stucco is made from:

  • Cement
  • Lime
  • Water

Most of these homes were built in the 1800s before the Civil War.

There is also a historic Mediterranean-style home in Dallas, Texas, built-in 1917 that is stucco. This beautiful home is just one of many examples of beautiful stucco homes in Texas that have survived for over a hundred years and are still looking incredible.

Today about twenty stucco homes still stand in Seguin, Texas. Including the Sebastopol House referenced above that was built in 1856. As you can see from these examples, homes, when properly stuccoed+, will last decades and, in some cases, even hundreds of years.

These houses built before the Civil War did not use the same process as stucco houses today, but the materials are still very similar. Nowadays, they add polymers and some other materials that have significantly increased the flexibility of stucco.

Moisture Versus Stucco

While most homes that are correctly stuccoed do fine in Texas, there are instances where homes need to be repaired that have stucco in cities with a lot of rain or high humidity. This is especially true if they were not correctly stuccoed when built.

The best way to prevent damage is to follow the correct procedures for stuccoing a home and using the best materials available.

Why Stucco is Worth It

There are many reasons you might want to have a stucco house in Texas. Not only does a stucco home last a long time if installed correctly, it can also act as extra insulation for your home. Stucco homes are more energy efficient.

Stucco materials last for an hour when on fire before they deteriorate, making them a fire retardant. The stucco also insulates from outside noises more than many other materials.

You can customize the color of your stucco by using colored sand or pigments. Stucco will give you a seamless look that will accentuate your home’s architectural design and features. A crew can stucco a house in a matter of a few days. This type of exterior works as a natural repellant against rot, mold, and mildew.  

You have several types of stucco to choose from, including:

  • English Stucco, which is a traditional look.
  • Smooth Finish
  • Textured Finish can include a fine, medium, or coarse finish.
  • Santa Barbara Finish is a smooth but irregular finish.
  • Dash Finish is a fine, heavy, or knockdown look.
  • Sand and Float Finish is either fine, medium, or coarse type texture.
  • Lack and Skip finish can be fine, medium, or coarse textured finish.

You can even use stucco on your interior walls.

How to Maintain the Stucco on Your House

No matter what kind of exterior you have, maintaining your house is essential to keep it looking nice and protecting your investment. Here are a few tips to help protect your investment if you have a stucco exterior on your home.

  • Take a high-pressured hose every few months and wash your stucco to clean it. Do not use a pressure washer on it, so you do not damage the stucco.
  • If you see any efflorescence or white moisture stains, use white vinegar to clean, rinse the vinegar off after a few minutes.
  • Check for moisture regularly, and at the first sign of trapped moisture, you will want to address it right away to avoid further damage.
  • Check the outside surface for any signs of cracks. You should do this every few months and repair any as soon as possible.
  • Gutters will help direct moisture away from the stucco. If you do not have gutters, consider adding them, and if you have them make sure they stay unclogged so the water can flow away from the walls.
  • Adding a coat of water-repellent paint over the stucco will help protect it. Make sure it is breathable paint. Acrylic-based flat paints work best.

These steps will add life to your stucco finish and help it continue to look great for many years.

To Conclude

Stucco homes in Texas look tremendous and will last 50 to 100 years or more if you install them properly and adequately maintain them.  Stucco helps with energy costs by adding an insulating layer to your home and look fantastic for years to come while continuing to be an excellent investment.