How To Apply a Fog Coat on Stucco
The fog coating can be applied to traditional hard stucco coating, using a spray or brush application process. When applied correctly, a fog coat can last several decades, as it will become an integral part of the stucco wall. Applying the fog coat is generally straight-forward: the product will be applied using a pump type of sprayer, which can be found at your local hardware store. After you have cleaned and allowed the stucco to dry, the fog coating can be sprayed all over the surface of the stucco, and then it will begin to seep below the surface and get to work immediately.
Why Fog Coat Stucco?
A fog coating is generally one of the steps of the initial application process, and it is done to keep the color of the stucco intact. After the initial construction of the stucco, it may be beneficial to reapply a fog coating after a few years, or when you notice any discoloration of your siding. A fog coat will rejuvenate and bring back the original color of your stucco, without having to go through a painting process. Any variation in color can be solved using the fog coat, which will even out the coloration and make your stucco siding or walls all one uniform color.
Fog Coat Colors
There are specific stucco colors that you can choose from, and it is worth looking into the color options each manufacturer offers before making a decision about the coloring for your stucco.
Color Charts
Many manufacturers will offer color charts, displaying the color options they have available in the fog coats. If you are applying a new hard stucco siding to your home, explore the color charts and determine which manufacturer has the best options for you. If you are trying to apply a fog coat to an existing stucco home, you can use a color chart to try and match the color to the existing color on the home.
Custom Colors
Most manufacturers can also make a custom color, if you bring in an example or a sample of what you are looking for. Since stucco is an earthy material, you will need to stick with muted and earthy tones for the coloring, and manufacturers cannot produce a vivid, brightly hued custom fog coating for your home. If you are trying to do a color match through custom colors, be sure to ask for a sample so you can make sure the fog coat matches the color of the stucco you are trying to revive.
Cons of Fog Coating Stucco
While fog coating is an earlier process than painting stucco, there are a few drawbacks that are worth noting.
Color Limitations
While it is possible to change the color of your stucco using a fog coating, the true purpose is just to revive an existing color, and as such there may be limitations with how much the color can change. It is not intended to fully change the color in a drastic way, so before trying to change the color of your home using a fog coating, we recommend spot checking using a fog coat sample and seeing how the color change turns out, before applying a fog coating to your entire home.
Limited Applications
Fog coating will only work on the traditional hard stucco, that is cement based. The porous factors of cement work well by absorbing the fog coating, allowing it to last for many years and provide the revived color that homeowners desire. This limits the fog coating to only homes with the traditional, cement based stucco sidings and will not work on any acrylic-finished or painted stucco surfaces.
Color Options
As mentioned above, you will not be able to pick any bright or vibrant colors when fog coating your stucco home. Due to the cement base of the stucco, fog coating can only be made in neutral and earthy tones, limiting the color options available for homeowners to choose from.
Types of Stucco Finishes That Can Accept Fog Coats
One of the drawbacks was the limited applications, meaning that the only type of stucco finish that accepts a fog coat is the traditional hard stucco. Once a stucco surface has been finished with acrylics or paints, the surface becomes less porous and will not work with the fog coating, which needs to be absorbed to work properly.
The team at Titan Stucco is here to answer your questions about reviving the color of your stucco, whether you are working with a traditional stucco siding that needs a fog coating or a synthetic stucco siding that can be revived through painting. Contact us today to learn more about upping your curb appeal with a fog coating on your stucco siding.
