EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT STUCCO*

*but were afraid to ask.

Even with the rain yesterday, the stucco men got a good start on their work. Stucco (true stucco) is a cement base finish. We are filling in the old openings by chipping away any loose material (as you saw in earlier photographs) and attaching metal lath (screening) to the sheathing of the building. Then a brown coat is applied with pushes through the lath is used to hold the stucco to the building so the solid attachment is needed. However, space must be left between the lath and the sheathing so that the brown coat can be embedded by the lath. This is the stage we are at now in the stucco application process. We will then stop the stucco work until all the sheetrock is hung inside the building. The exterior walls undergo some stress and movement during the sheetrock process and we do not want the finish coat of stucco to crack. All existing stucco is being repaired and will then be reskimmed so that no patches appear and the old cracks and patches are no longer in site.

Infill of the old tiny arch windows on the Main Facade
The brown coat is mixed in the parking lot and then moved to each work area in a wheelbarrow. Not an easy task. It must be the correct mix to stick to a vertical surface, not sag after it is applied and still be maleable enough to trowel to a rough finish. This rough finish then gives the finish coat somthing to attach to.

It can be a very messy job, but as you see, the masons have covered the work area to protect the concrete. The windows and frames are also protected.

Working up on the scaffold, this mason puts the finishing touches on the plastic wrap for the clerstory windows in the Reception Hall. As of the end of the day, all the scratch coat had been completed!


Stucco is just one of the exterior finishes while both have cement as part of their content. The Hardi siding has been completed and is awaiting some final weatherproofing at the windows so that we may install the trim. Below you see the view toward the BAC Courtyard.


View to the Nap Room and Enrichment Class Room


The North Elevation including the BAC Porch.


The miles of electrical wire are being run while the plumbers and HVAC contractors are getting close to requesting inspections.

More on Friday!