Stucco, a versatile siding material, is very popular. It is an affordable and easy-to-install siding option that lasts a long time. There is a lot of stucco texture variation, and different finishes will result in very different results.

Stucco can also be found in many architectural styles. These include English countryside manor homes and Mexican adobe houses. You need to pick the right finish for your home. Understanding the various textures of stucco can help you make an informed decision. You will be able to choose the best stucco finish for your dream home.

1. Cat Face Finish

Montalvo and California finish are other names for this finish. Cat face stucco, as its name suggests, can often look like cat faces. But you will need to have some imagination. The wall will have a mostly smooth finish with some rough patches or inclusions. These rough patches can be either large or small and can be spaced closer together or further apart, depending upon your preference.

Technique

You can achieve cat face stucco by applying two coats. After allowing it to dry, a rough coat of stucco should be applied. This can be done with a trowel or stucco sprayer. Next, apply a topcoat and smoothen it down with a metal trowel. You can let the base coat show through, so the cat's face will be exposed.

2. Dash

The roughcast stucco, also known as dash, is one of the most textured stucco finishes. It's very rough and is usually sprayed. This gives it a rough, gritty appearance. There are many variations of dash stucco. These include heavy dash and fine dash, as well as knockdown and pebble dash.

Technique

The wall is given a base coat of stucco and then raked to create a stucco effect. Next, stucco must be sprayed onto the wall with a hopper gun. You can also use a trowel to "dashed" the stucco onto a wall. Finer sprays will produce a finer dash, and heavier sprays will create a heavy dash.

Knockdown Dash

A knockdown dash can be added as an extra step. This is accomplished by sanding the stucco with a metal trowel. You can knock down the stucco's peaks by using long, straight strokes.

Pebble Dash

Sometimes fine gravel and shell remnants may be added to the stucco blend. It is sometimes called pebble dash or roughcast stucco when gravel is added. After the base coat has dried, the mix is applied to the wall. The stickiness of the pebbles creates a pleasant texture.

3. Lace

Take your pick: lace, skip and lace, or trowel and skip. This unique finish can take many forms, not just the delicate lace for which it is named. This finish is the most widely used and common in stucco. This finish is popular because it hides flaws well.

Technique

Lace stucco has a very smooth base coat followed by a texture coat. You apply the texture by spraying it on and then dragging a wet trowel across the surface. You can create intricate patterns that are unique by skipping using the trowel. Depending on how heavy you apply the trowel, you can create fine or medium finishes.