How to Apply Stucco on Concrete Columns
- 1). Wash the surface of the concrete columns with a concrete cleaner and a scrub brush. Remove any traces of dirt from the column surface as it may interfere with the stucco's sticking to the concrete. Wash off the cleaner with a garden hose. Allow the column to dry for about three or four hours.
- 2). Cover the column with a layer of concrete bonding agent to assist the stucco with adhering to the older concrete. Roll the agent onto the column from the top of the column to the bottom using a paint roller with an extension pole. Allow the agent two hours of drying time.
- 3). Pour the dry stucco mix into the bucket, then add water in the amount listed on the stucco manufacturer's instructions. Mix the two together using an electric drill with a mixing paddle attached. Add color to the stucco by adding concrete dye to the bucket while mixing. Make certain you get all of the dried stucco from the bucket edges to ensure a smooth mixed consistency throughout.
- 4). Place the first layer of stucco onto the column with a steel trowel. Firmly press on the trowel during stucco application and spread a layer of stucco about 1/2 inch thick. After spreading the stucco, run a small concrete float over the layer to smooth it out using small circles over the stucco surface. Wait for the stucco to dry to a firm state, which should be one to two hours.
- 5). Scratch the stucco with a mason's scratcher, covering the entire surface to create a texture to which the finish coat adheres.
- 6). Cover the scratched stucco with an additional 1/4-inch-thick layer of stucco as a final coating. Texture the coating as desired using brushes to create rough surfaces, sponges to smooth the surface out, or texture rollers to create patterned surfaces running down or across the column length.
- 7). Cure the stucco for two days. Keep the surface of the curing stucco damp by misting it with a hand-held sprayer several times a day. If it dries before it cures, the stucco will develop cracks, ruining its appearance and stability.
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