2 New Products Make Stucco Patching Easy

Thanks to two new types of patching material now available to the consumer, repairing a hole in a stucco wall or any exterior wall surface is a very simple job that even a child can do.

The products are known generically as “non-shrink” spackling compound and are sold under the brand names of California Lite Stucco Repair, which is grainy for patching rough stucco surfaces, and Dap Fast ‘n Final Exterior Spackling, for patching smooth stucco, wood, brick, concrete and most other exterior wall surfaces.

Both products are paintable and are sold in quart- and gallon-size containers at most home centers and building supply stores.

The beauty of these products is that they are sold premixed for easy application, they are lightweight so that they will not sag even if applied over a fairly large area and they will dry firm without shrinkage so that one application is all that is needed for a complete repair.

To patch a hole in an outside wall surface of up to 6 inches in diameter, follow these steps:

1--Assure that the patch area is dry and remove any loose material or dust.

2--If patching a grainy area stucco surface, use stucco patch compound, otherwise use the exterior spackling compound.

3--Create a backing with heavy canvas “duct tape” (available at any hardware store) by either applying the tape in strips adhered to the inside surface of the wall to cover the hole, or by attaching the tape to the sides of the hole and “building it up” to fill the entire opening.

Either way, the depth of the hole after the backing is in place should be from one-half to one-inch thick.

Do not worry that the tape seems loose or moves around easily. The tape’s adhesive is very strong and it will be more than adequate to hold the patch in place as the compound dries.

4--Apply the patching material using a putty knife in a four-directional pattern (i.e. horizontal, vertical, cross-diagonal) working the material into the hole to create a complete seal. Continue to fill the hole until the surface of the patch is even with the surrounding surfaces.

That’s it! The patch will be ready to paint immediately with latex paint, or after 72 hours, with oil-based paint.

To patch holes larger than 6 inches in diameter in stucco, follow steps 1 and 2, then proceed with this method:

1--Cut away any jagged edges of the hole with a hammer and chisel so that it is “squared-off,” but leave a 1- to 2-inch perimeter of the stiff retaining wire around the edge of the hole.

2--Cut a piece of dry wall or plywood to fit inside the squared-off hole as a backing, leaving a one-half-inch gap on all sides.

3--Wedge the dry wall or plywood into the hole against the wire so that it is recessed about one-half inch below the surrounding wall surface. The wire is strong enough to hold the backing tightly in place.

4--Apply the stucco patching material with a putty knife as described above. To obtain an even rougher surface, brush the wet material lightly with a whisk broom.

Finally, what used to be a rather lengthy three-step process can be done in a fraction of the time by a complete novice.

Both of these products are 100% weatherproof when dry, so they last outside without paint if so desired. The exterior spackling compound can even be used in place of caulk to fill cracks around doors and windows.