How Expensive Is It to Add Stucco?

How Expensive Is It to Add Stucco?

July 4, 2019

Stucco has existed for thousands of years as part of building construction. It’s used for siding in buildings, as well as other forms of architecture and art. It is beneficial in that it can be formed into any desired shape, making it highly versatile. Today’s stucco is much harder and more durable than that used centuries ago, and it is particularly popular for Spanish-style homes as a siding material.

But how much can you expect stucco work to cost on your home? Here’s some information from our stucco company in Bluffton, SC.

Pricing a residential stucco job

When pricing out your stucco job, you must first consider that stucco gets applied in three coats. There’s a scratch coat that allows the second coat to stick to something that will support it, the second, heavier coat that sticks to that scratch coat (known as the leveling coat or brown coat) and then a third finishing coat that ensures an attractive appearance.

The national average for stucco jobs is about $6 to $9 per square foot for installation, with materials costing about $9 for an industrial 80-pound bag of the mix. Each of those bags covers about 25 square feet when applying at 3/8” thickness. In addition, the stucco you use for the finishing coat will cost more—between $17 and $22 per bag, on average, though you won’t need as many bags for this coat since it is applied thinner.

You need to consider the total square footage of the stucco job, then. Based on these averages, a 1,000 square-foot stucco job would require somewhere in the range of 80 to 90 bags for the first and second coats, and another 15 to 25 for the finishing coat.

Of course, there are other factors you need to consider beyond just the cost of materials. Installation and labor are also costs you’ll have to pay, and a general rate is $40 to $50 per hour for the labor, likely over the course of three to five days. The amount of time can vary, though, depending on weather conditions at the time of the job. If you expect extreme temperatures in either direction, it can take longer for the stucco to cure.

Finally, you also need to consider the cost of paint, and then the painting labor itself. Stucco doesn’t necessarily have to be painted—it’s usually either a natural tan or gray color. However, paint can either be applied on top of the finished stucco, or mixed in with the materials. The costs of paint vary based on the coat thickness and the brand and type of paint.

Once all of this is taken together, you’re looking at a significant investment, and it’s worth noting that prices vary from market to market. Your best bet is to contact a stucco company in Bluffton, SC to get a quote for your job if you’re interested in moving forward with stucco on your home’s exterior.

To learn more about the stucco installation process or get a quote, reach out to Spring Construction today!

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