BajaNomad

Best way to stucco a new block wall in Baja..?

Dave - 4-10-2005 at 12:35 PM

You dont want to seal it. Stucco will adhere well to concrete block. Throw a scratch coat on and then come back with whatever finish you want.

comitan - 4-10-2005 at 12:40 PM

Pompano, here in La Paz the area of foundation and up maybe 1/2 meter they put on impermiabilizante(sp) waterproofing the rest is just thrown on generally in verticle rows so they can scrape off the extra. The person who did your foundation knows how to plaster i'm sure the only thing to insist on is the waterproofing. Also a waterproofing powder should be put into the concrete for the foundation.

Thanks Dave...no sealer then.

Pompano - 4-10-2005 at 12:44 PM

that's what I am looking for...how to avoid mistakes and save some money in the process. No need to buy primer/sealer! How much of a scratch coat should we do...and what is the best method of doing that? I am thinking... use a short 2X4 with 1/8" spikes?

bajalou - 4-10-2005 at 05:20 PM

What I've seen here(and had done) they don't put the scratch coat on concrete blocks, just one thin smoth coat and the color coat. The scratch coat us used when the have to build up the cement thickness as with strawbales etc. I ain't done it but I've watched it done.

:biggrin:

comitan - 4-10-2005 at 05:26 PM

Pompano, I don't see any rebar or armex in that foundation?

Diver - 4-10-2005 at 05:39 PM

I would use a scratch coat to even out the block, fill the joints and voids.
Use a modified mortar or an adhesion additive if you can find one for the scratch coat.(It's probably not needed - no frost)
For the finish coat, use a modified mortar or a waterproofing additive.

You can white wash anytime but if you want to paint, wait 30 days for the stucco to cure then prime and paint (latex acrylic helps with waterproofing also). (You can also buy colored stucco or add powdered tint to the mix.)

Dave - 4-10-2005 at 05:44 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Pompano
that's what I am looking for...how to avoid mistakes and save some money in the process. No need to buy primer/sealer! How much of a scratch coat should we do...and what is the best method of doing that? I am thinking... use a short 2X4 with 1/8" spikes?


I take it you're going for an adobe finish?

Wet down and thin skim, then random score with a scratch trowel. When you throw on the finish more will build to the scratch giving you a smooth but uneven thickness. Have fun.

the secret...

eetdrt88 - 4-10-2005 at 06:18 PM

the secret is in how you mix the stucco...if you mix it to wet it will just make a big mess,if you mix it to dry you will have ahard time sticking it to the wall....at least thats what i've found in my experiences with it

Mexray - 4-10-2005 at 07:35 PM

Pompano....

This project sounds a lot like a Tom Sawyer/Huck Finn kinda project...:moon:

I've done that scratch coat/color coat thing several times...it's really easy if you can find the stucco type mix to work with. The best part is you'll get to discover some muscles you haven't used in a while...slopping on all that stucco will build up your arms!...:spingrin:

I once built a block building to house my air-cooled diesel generator, way up in northern Nevada. There I used a dry, pre-mixed stucco like stuff (available in several optional colors) that had short pieces of glass fibers mixed in. I poured a slab for the floor with some re-bar wired and stuck in vertically. I then stacked the concrete blocks for the walls WITHOUT any mortar (over the re-bar - the hard part). The glass-fiber/stucco stuff was mixed with water like regular stucco, and applied to the inner and outer surfaces of the walls. I then poured the cores with the rebar inside with regular concrete. I filled the other cores with sand to help deaden the noise of the diesel genny. I used about 10 layers of 1/4 plywood for the roof - it was dunnage from rail cars that I got for almost nothing! This ply/roof also helped deaden the sound - worked great. I don't remember the trade name of the stuff, but it would be good for any kinds of walls - as long as you poured some of the cores with concrete.

Capt. George - 4-11-2005 at 06:07 AM

Manuel II looks like one of the Smith Brothers, is that really a beard??

First time I've seen a Mexicano with a full beard......

Just curious and sorry, no knowledge of stucco............

Capt. G

Very good tips and advice coming in...thanks..

Pompano - 4-11-2005 at 08:08 AM

Capt. George...indeed, Manuel Dos does have a full beard. Which would not be my choice in the coming hot months..but it's his face.:spingrin:

Comitan...we are building this wall baracho-style..with a few mistakes here and there. The M&M's and I got going that first day with a few more Pacificos than usual...mixed up a huge batch of mud and dumped most of it onto the rocks and plastic..and somehow forgot to put in the re-bar and armex (castillos?) and whatever. Next morning we were admiring our handiwork and slowly came to the realization that we had a pile of rebar laying around and none sticking up from the footing. Carumba! SO... out came the chisels and we did it baracho-style by chiseling out for the uprights and castillos, mudding them in, and remembering to do it right on the next pour. As we asked for another round of Pacificos, Manuel Uno's wife, Carmen, gave us a smug look. But we fooled her, because we remembered the re-bar on the next pours.:smug:

I am reading over all the tips and advice on apply stucco and will try to decide which is best for our decor..they all sound good to me.

We will finish the foundation (with rebar!) and bond-beam (with re-bar!) today and tomorrow start on the blocks. I will discuss all the advice given here with my two co-workers and maybe we can pick up some of the stucco stuff in town when we make the next beer-run. It looks like a hot one today.....

We will be stucco experts by the time we finish this wall...unless our livers give out.

comitan - 4-11-2005 at 08:41 AM

Pompano, that looks profesional now. Fester makes a good waterproofing, black goo, you can thin it a little with gasoline.

Pompano - 4-11-2005 at 09:23 AM

Comitan...that 'Fester', is that like the black stuff called ..chapapote? I think it is thinned with a little diesel...but maybe that is for wood and insects? Getting things mixed up, here, I suppose.

burro bob - 4-11-2005 at 10:25 AM

Mexray
I think the stuff you are talking about is called Q-Bond.
I once helped build a house where the blocks were just stacked up. Every four feet a rebar reinforced cement pillar was poured that the 2x8 plate, that the truses are nailed to, attached to. The rest was then stuccoed with 2 coats of Q-Bond inside and out.
That was about 20 years ago in Colorado and the house is still standing. I guess it works. Have never the stuff for sale here in Baja though.
burro bob

comitan - 4-11-2005 at 11:58 AM

Pompano, Fester is just a brand of waterproofing, I would guess you can thin with diesel.

Bruce R Leech - 4-11-2005 at 12:02 PM

best way is hire the best man for stucco and let him tell you . let me Know if you want his name. hi is the best .and he works cheep.

Pompano - 4-11-2005 at 12:16 PM

Well, Bruce...that's a kind offer. In case we 'burn out'. Who is the guy? I might know him.

comitan - 4-11-2005 at 12:18 PM

Pompano, I think Bruce has the solution to all of your wall problems, Let him do the block it will be straight, and you will git the plastered wall which is very hard work and will be done simply and correctly.

Arthur - 4-11-2005 at 03:11 PM

Great thread. What's the plastic in the ditch in the bottom for -- to take the place of wood forms and keep the concrete from running all around? The forms would ordinarily be down there below ground level and extend up above ground, right?

Santiago - 4-11-2005 at 07:05 PM

God I love this board.......

Bruce R Leech - 4-11-2005 at 07:31 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Pompano
Well, Bruce...that's a kind offer. In case we 'burn out'. Who is the guy? I might know him.


Francico