Colorful stucco addition in Arlington, Virginia

Here's how we did it:

Concrete foundation is covered with metal flashing in Arlington, Virginia

Concrete foundation is covered with metal flashing, angled away from the house. Flange on flashing is overlapped with tarpaper and lath.

Note the concrete is chipped for a good bond.

Weep holes are drilled in the stop.

Weep holes are drilled in the stop at the bottom. Scratch coat on concrete has a chemical bonder.

Outside corners are defined

Outside corners are defined by nailing up one by four wood strips.

Wood strips for the window returns

Wood strips for the window returns are aligned with a string line.

Wall is ready to be filled in.

Wood strips set. Wall is ready to be filled in.

Wall is filled and rodded off between the strips.

Wall is filled and rodded off between the strips.

Top is filled and run with our tool.

A horizontal screed is set using a string line and a 6 foot rod.

window returns are formed

After the wall sets up, the window returns are formed by nailing wood strips square to the window jamb.

Window and door returns are filled in

Window and door returns are filled in.

Lintels are formed with on bys

Lintels are formed with on by's. Metal lath is nailed on to make sure they don't fall off.

A gap is left around the edge

A gap is left around the edge. This makes sure you only see the color coat.

Grooves are made with a wire brush.

Grooves are made with a wire brush. These look like the grooves cut with a limestone saw.

A color is put in the finish coat

A view from the top.

Stucco Lintel

The truth is we used the same color for the lintels as the sills. The color was changed on the lintels by splotching with water.

Water table sills

Water table sills are formed using one by lumber.

Sills formed.

A gap allows for a 3/4" projection.

Forms are filled

Forms are filled and straightened. Note the angle for good water runoff.

Joints in the stones are made using masking tape

Joints in the stones are made using masking tape. When the finish coat starts to set, the tape is pulled off leaving a joint.

showing the split faced stones

Fast forward to the finished wall showing the split faced stones.

Note the gap at the bottom that lets the water out of the wall.

Finish is done by splattering the wall

Finish is done by splattering the wall with mortar using a brush.

Mortar is knocked down with a trowel

Mortar is knocked down with a trowel when it starts to set.

finished wall

A view of the finished wall

Stucco scored to look like block

Area below the sill is scored to look like block.

Stucco on the bottom of the existing house was scored to look like block

Stucco on the bottom of the existing house was scored to look like block.

Our finish should discolor to match this in 117 years..

Finish coat is white portland, lime, and white sand

Finish coat is white portland, lime, and white sand

Color is mixed in a garbage can

Color is mixed in a garbage can with our liquid mix of flex con and water.

formula for the brownstone

Here's our formula for the brownstone. It is sherwin-williams "hummingbird" mixed double strength.

black softens the color.

The red color is "Foxy", with a lot of black added in.

The black softens the color making the color more earthy, and less pastel..

Peace symbol hidden in the texture.

Peace symbol hidden in the texture.