In some parts of this country, the most predominant home exterior in many communities is composed of beautiful stucco work, and this kind of popularity is largely due to its durability, resistance to all kinds of weather, and general attractiveness. In many sections of the country, you usually can’t drive very far in any direction without seeing a stylish and appealing stucco exterior featured on the majority of houses in a given neighborhood. Residential stucco, for example, is one great bastion of stucco exterior homes..
But there’s also a very long history behind this amazingly versatile building product. For literally thousands of years now, stucco has proven itself to be one of the most useful and versatile products available for both artistic endeavors and building construction, and the practical and aesthetic qualities it offers are highly valued, even to the present day.
Ancient stucco usage
In ancient civilizations, stucco was commonly used in artistic endeavors, with Etruscan, Minoan, Persian, Islamic, Indian, and Egyptian stucco reliefs being very popular during the flourishing of their individual societies, many of which have survived into modern times. Roman artists also used stucco extensively to decorate burial vaults, and it was even preferred over marble because it was much lighter and better suited for use in archways. It also found tremendous usage in Renaissance times in wall paintings and various forms of architecture.
Modern usage of stucco
Today, stucco is used primarily as an external coating for buildings and as a covering for concrete in various applications. It has a much different composition today than it did in ancient times because of its more widespread usage on residential stucco exteriors rather than as an interior coating or artistic material. Even so, the composition of modern stucco can be changed in literally hundreds of different ways depending on its intended usage.
For instance, it can be strengthened tremendously by adding synthetic acrylics or fibers, and this can also increase its flexibility to minimize any cracking. Stucco can also be mixed with many different colorings to provide a beautiful appearance to an exterior without having to paint it or otherwise enhance its color. This can be a tremendous benefit, because painting does not allow an exterior to breathe and instead seals in the exterior, which has the potential to eventually cause problems.
Advantages that add to its appeal
It’s popularity as a building material for the siding of homes stems from stucco’s tremendous durability and its low maintenance requirements over a long period of time. It also has the ability to provide as much as a full hour of resistance to fire, which means that it will act as a flame retardant if any kind of fire should break out in a home. That kind of protection might be the difference-maker in helping occupants escape from a burning building.
Stucco is very commonly used to cover over other building materials that are far less attractive—for instance, cinder block, metal, concrete, or brick. This can be an ideal arrangement when structural strength is required but you don’t want to sacrifice visual appeal or overall attractiveness. You can also get really artistic with some kinds of stucco exteriors, adding such materials as glass chips and stone into the stucco mixture to create a stunning appearance.
Cracked Brick and Stucco Repair from CDP Stucco
CDP Stucco has repaired cracked stucco for homeowners throughout Florida. If you are unsure if the cracks indicate foundation failure, a representative from CDP Stucco can provide an inspection to give you back peace of mind.
Contact us today for an inspection of your cracked stucco repair! If you are interested in Stucco Installation or Stucco Repair, call the experts at CDP Stucco now at 850-259-2283