Stucco and plaster jobs in progress #192
Updated November, 2026 !
Major stucco repairs
Historic Finn Castle
Delta, Pennsylvania
The main house was built between 1819 and 1830.
Apparently, the downspouts were probably stopped up for some time in the past. The stucco was particularly bad at the outside corners.
The original stucco was scored to look like limestone blocks. This technique was popular in the 1820's.
Stucco was scored using a speed square. You may have seen where we have done this before.
The original mortar for the basecoat and for laying stones was sandy dirt. The finish coat was lime.
We stripped off all the loose mortar.
Finished end of the house.
The wing in the foreground was built about 1850. The original house was built between 1819 and 1830.
Toll Brothers chimney
Reston, Virginia
This 19 year old chimney is another monument to mediocrity.
Top leaks like crazy. Water stains and moss show water is coming out of chimney.
The top is covered with a rubber membrane and metal lath for new stucco. This chimney won't leak, PERIOD.
The top is finished with a three step band and REAL white cement and REAL white sand. NO CHEAP STYROFOAM.
The chimney shoulders are covered with our signature flagstone. These won't leak either, PERIOD.
Backwards flashing was ripped off and new flashing was put on under the stucco. This won't leak either, PERIOD.
Paper thin one coat stucco was easily scraped off these deteriorated blocks.
A view of the crumbling masonry. Don't build them like they used to.
Another chimney re-done
in Middleburg, Virginia
The competition put synthetic finish on this old chimney.
The top was porous mortar that leaked like a sponge.
Our rubber membrane will never leak.
Finished top. Spark arrestors are bolted and mortared in place.
A view of the finished chimney. Finish is real cement stucco. We added a color so it wasn't such a bright white.
Original stucco was paper thin. Don't ask me why we don't use metal corner beads. These beads rusted out years ago.
Flashing was over the stucco, not under the stucco. Wood underneath was wet.
The new flashing goes under the stucco.
The back of the finished chimney, showing the new flashing and the drip band at the top.
Chicken leg scaffold was clamped to the ribs on the roof.
Simulated stone stucco repair
Washington, DC
Stucco was failing due to a bad window installation. The stucco window sill was level on top, and not angled. Note the rust stains from water soaking
through.
Water flowed freely into the wall through this gap below the window.
A new window sill was framed.
New tar paper and metal lath.
Stones are scored and finished.
Finished stones, just like the 50's. Top of window sill is correctly pitched away from the building.
Thanks for visiting my site. Please check back. We have more cool jobs coming up.
