Knowra Stucco Stucco Stucco is a durable plaster coating made from a binder, aggregate, and water, applied to walls or shaped into architectural ornament. Traditional formulations use lime or gypsum; modern exterior stucco commonly uses Portland cement.
Lime plaster : A plaster made with lime, sand, and water that hardens as lime reacts with carbon dioxide. It is the traditional binder in many stucco formulations.
Plastering : The craft of applying plaster to walls and ceilings to create protective or decorative surfaces. Stucco is applied through plastering techniques, usually in successive coats.
Ancient Roman architecture : The architecture of Rome and its territories, known for concrete construction, monumental buildings, and extensive use of plaster finishes. Roman builders used stucco for smooth wall finishes and molded interior decoration.
Exterior insulation and finish system : A multilayer exterior wall system combining insulation, reinforced base coats, and a thin finish coat. Its synthetic finish can resemble stucco, but the system differs from traditional thick-coat stucco construction.
Building envelope : The physical boundary separating a building’s interior from its outdoor environment. Stucco forms one layer of the envelope and must work with its drainage and weather barriers.
Portland cement : A hydraulic cement that hardens through reactions with water. Modern exterior stucco often relies on this binder for strength and water resistance.
Carbonation : A chemical reaction in which carbon dioxide reacts with a substance, including lime, to form carbonates. Lime stucco gains strength as atmospheric carbon dioxide converts lime into calcium carbonate.
Minoan civilization : A Bronze Age civilization centered on Crete, known for palace complexes and elaborate painted decoration. Minoan buildings used plastered walls as surfaces for vivid frescoes.
Fresco : A painting technique in which pigments are applied to wet plaster and become part of the wall as it dries. Stucco provides the plaster surface on which fresco painting is made.
Moisture damage : Deterioration of building materials caused by unwanted water or persistent dampness. Trapped moisture behind stucco can damage sheathing, framing, and the finish itself.
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