Stucco: One Coat Stucco vs. Three Coat Stucco

Stucco Tools
Choosing the right tools can help a project for speed and ease. A stucco sprayer can be many times faster than the old hawk & trowel. Read more…

“One coat stucco” and traditional “Three coat stucco” are a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water. It is applied wet and hardens to a very durable solid. It is used as a finish coat for interior walls, exterior walls, ceilings and decorative detailing.

Originally stucco was made of hydraulic lime, sand and water. Three-coat stucco (aka “Traditional Stucco) is made from blends of lime, cement, sand, and water. Lime is added to increase the water resistance and workability of modern stucco. The three coats, which are the scratch coat, the brown coat, and the finish coat provide a total thickness 3/4 of and inch or more. Each coating or layer would have finer sands or more lime than the coat before it.

One Coat stucco is a newer application that is similar to traditional stucco. “One-Coat” is also a misnomer, as at least two coats, a base coat and a finish coat, are applied. The One-Coat system offers design flexibility, durability, and water management. Additives such as acrylics and glass fibers are added to improve strength and flexibility and reduce cracking. Each one-coat system is a proprietary mix of Portland cement, fiber reinforcement and secret ingredients. As a blended proprietary mix, One coat stucco manufacturers provide the extra training an instructions to ensure their products are used within their specific guide lines.

As building speeds have increased, more masons are turning towards One Coat as a faster method while still having the durability of traditional cement exterior stucco.

The National One Coat Stucco Association can be a good resource for additional One-coat Stucco information.

Stucco Sprayer for Walls

The Tirolessa USA Stucco Sprayer can be used for applying plaster, shotcrete, papercrete, earthen mixes, plastering a stucco house, traditional one coat or three coat stucco, GFRC, stamped concrete, stucco fences, organic sculptures, and more!

Wall & Ceiling Stucco Sprayer

The new Wall and Ceiling Combination Sprayer has a stainless steel hopper for unmatched durability. The unique hopper angle and overflow flap allows for application on ceilings or higher areas. It can be used to spray mortar, plaster, small scale shotcrete, papercrete, earthen mixes, and more!

3-Hole Plaster Sprayer

The Plaster Sprayer is a favorite tool of concrete artisans and plastering professionals. The stainless steel hopper is extremely durable and easy to clean. The extension handle and hopper handle are designed to give you good control, balance and comfort while you are applying material.