[miamicuse]

My house's exterior wall is CBS (concrete block stucco) and the stucco is textured with a vertical pattern.

This vertical pattern goes from top to bottom where the grooves are about 1/8" wide and spaced about 1/2".

I have approximately 450 linear feet of exterior wall textured this way.

Recently I have replace a few windows and during the process the existing stucco around the windows were broken off. I use a masonry grinder and cleaned up the area so now I have a few rectangular area to re-texture, one such area is shown below.

It is my understanding this texture was applied (in the 70s) with a sacrifier like this.

So I cleaned up the wall. and applied some bonding agent.

Then mixed some stucco.

I tried it in a small narrow strip above the window top. After I applied the stucco I waited a few minutes then used the scarfier over it slowly. The result is not as smooth and clean as the existing texture (applied in 1970s).

It looks like the finish of my stucco is more grainy. Is there another brand where the finish is more smooth?

Also. as I scored the lines with the sacrfier, the grooves made were not smooth and nice, there was some sand crumpled it looks uneven.

I am not too happy with the results. It's very coarse and the edges of the grooves are not clean like the existing.

Is the problem materials or skills?

Is there a way to create a smoother finish? Is there another brand or type of stucco I can use?

What is the best way to make it match the existing? When I use the sacrifier is it supposed to be be used perpendicular to the wall? As I pulled the tool down it scores the lines but the lines formed are not clean. I wonder if I should apply the sacrifier at an angle so as to "press" the grooves in instead of rake the grooves out? I can't seem tp get the clean edges like the existing.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[miamicuse]

two more questions.

(1) How long to wait after the stucco is applied to begin using the texture tool? Immediately after or wait?

(2) Should I use a sponge to smooth off the fresh stucco before using the texture tool, or use the tool to texture then lightly smooth? Or no sponging at all?

 

[Tscarborough]

The original was either molded or done at a much wetter stage than your attempt. If nothing else, when you are applying the finish, use a thick section of tool, or hold it at an acute angle.

 

[Tscarborough]

Re-read your post. The texture was NOT applied with a scarifier, it was either molded or done with a molded tool. You could create a molded tool with the scarifier, you would need place something across the tines at the appropriate depth to mold that part of the finish.

 

[miamicuse]

I had a mason come look at it, and he confirmed it was applied with a scarifier, well the tool I have is not a scarifier but a "FLAT WIRE BROOM".

The reason we know it's not a mold is because the lines when looked at up close have uneven-ness and waviness in the pattern and depth. It is clear that it was hand applied but what I don't know if it's done with a 12" tool or 24" tool or 36" tool. I also know it's hand applied the mason pointed out a "seam" near the bottom about 18" to 20" from the floor, because the tool has to be used at an angle, they couldn't carry it all the way down, they had to stop, then start from the bottom and come up to meet, and that meeting point becomes apparent once he pointed that out.