First Stucco Coat Completed Around Entire Exterior of Studio

The first (scratch) coat of cement stucco has been completed on the Studio.  The second (final) coat will contain coloring of an earthen shade TBD.

The decision to go with cement stucco and not lime plaster which is a departure from traditional adobe building methods was done for practical reasons.  The first building on my property was an adobe block pump-house that I had plastered with lime externally.   The 40-50 degF temperature swings each day in this area of southern Arizona results in repeated 'thermal' expansion and contraction which eventually works to separate the lime plaster from the wall.  This has resulted in frequent maintenance to remove and replace cracked and fallen sections of plaster, especially the South and west walls.  

Due to the size of the studio, I didn't want to get into the same situation where I spend my retirement years up on scaffolding repairing sections of lime plaster.

Looking back at my previous blog entries, you can read and see how I first wrapped the building in wire mesh to help hold the stucco to the wall and strengthened the scratch coat with the mesh.  

Below are photos showing the completed north side: