Stucco installation in Central Florida
Stucco installation in Central Florida’s climate has specific requirements that contractors from drier states don’t always handle correctly. Florida’s humidity, daily rain cycles, and hurricane wind loads mean stucco needs proper drainage planes, weather-resistive barriers, and minimum cure times between coats.
We install traditional 3-coat stucco systems: a scratch coat (3/8 inch), brown coat (3/8 inch), and finish coat (1/8 inch) over expanded metal lath fastened to the wall structure. Total thickness: about 7/8 inch. Each coat needs to cure properly before the next is applied, typically 24–48 hours depending on humidity.
What’s included in a stucco installation
Surface prep (cleaning, repairing wall sheathing if needed), weather-resistive barrier (WRB) installation, casing beads and corner aids, expanded metal lath fastened to manufacturer spec, 3-coat stucco application with proper cure times, finish texture (sand, smooth, swirl or custom), and color (integral or applied).
Florida climate considerations
We schedule stucco work to avoid rain during cure days, install proper weep screeds at the base of walls, and use rain screens behind stucco in areas prone to wind-driven rain. These details prevent the moisture intrusion that causes stucco failures in 5–10 years on improperly installed jobs.