Have you grown tired of the textured look of your home’s stucco exterior? Does it feel dated or dull compared to more modern siding materials? If so, you’re not alone. Many homeowners with stucco decide to install new siding right over the existing surface for a fresh new facade.

What is Stucco?

Stucco refers to a type of durable plaster coating used on building exteriors across the world, especially in arid climates. The material consists of sand, cement, water, and lime which are mixed to a specific consistency and troweled onto walls and surfaces. After drying, stucco forms a concrete-like, watertight finish.

While a popular choice, stucco can crack, discolor, or show other signs of aging after many years exposed to the elements. Plus, trends change and stucco’s regional look may not fit your personal style anymore. If your home’s stucco has seen better days, installing replacement siding over stucco creates visual interest, adds color, and boosts curb appeal.

Why Choose Siding Over Stucco?

Siding over stucco offers many exciting benefits compared to fully removing or replacing your existing stucco:

Cost Savings

Removing stucco completely takes skill, effort, and materials for hauling away debris. It also requires parging the underlying surface. Comparatively, installing new siding over stucco saves thousands in demolition and rebuilding expenses.

Less Mess

Tearing off stucco makes quite a mess with dust and chunks of material to clear. Covering your stucco with fresh siding contains debris, keeping your renovation cleaner.

Greater Speed

Because you don’t need to take away or replace stucco, the project moves along faster. New siding goes up swiftly right over the prepared wall surface.

Material Options

From vinyl and fiber cement to engineered wood and metal, today’s siding styles range widely in texture and appearance. With so many choices, it’s easy to find an overlay material that achieves your ideal aesthetic.

Added Dimension

The depth and shadow lines created by installing layered siding over the existing dimensional stucco profile adds extra visual interest to your home.

Increased Value

A modern new siding facelift can boost your property value by giving your home an updated, fashionable look that appeals to buyers.

Thermal Performance

Adding insulating backing under new siding improves thermal insulation, potentially lowering energy costs.

Now let’s look at key steps for completing this exciting upgrade!

Getting Started: Inspect and Prep the Stucco

Success with any remodeling project hinges on adequate prep work. With siding over stucco, that means starting by thoroughly inspecting for any moisture issues, cracks, spalling concrete, or other damage. Identify and repair all problem areas first.

Here’s an overview of important pre-siding inspections and repairs:

Seek Out Leaks

Water trapped between stucco and new siding causes potential moisture buildup and damage. Scan walls to identify leaks from missing or broken sealants, open top edges, flashing failures around openings, and similar culprits. Perform thorough repairs to keep the structure dry.

Evaluate Overall Condition

Look at the full area getting covered by new siding, checking for:

• Cracks wider than 1/8 inch
• Signs of spalling (crumbling stucco)
• Previous patching failing
• Evidence of past leaking
• Areas sounding hollow if tapped
• Discoloration or staining

Damaged spots must get repaired for sound anchoring of siding.

Clean Thoroughly

Use pressure washing or chemical cleansers to remove all dirt, efflorescence, mold, mildew, and other buildup from the stucco walls. Rinse well. Allow all surfaces to fully dry before moving to the next stages. Clean walls help new siding or finishes better adhere.

Apply Bonding Agent

Special adhesives called bonding or Stucco Conditioning Agents prepare stucco for accepting coatings or siding overlays. Applying product specifically made for conditioning stucco changes the pH balance and improves adhesion. Use a bonding agent compatible with your siding type.

With prep work complete, the wall now gets ready for furring strips!

Add Support with Furring Strips

Furring refers to long, thin wood or metal strips installed on walls to serve as a base for mounting new siding over existing surfaces. Think of furring as creating a new frame over stucco capable of holding another layer.

Why Use Furring for Siding Over Stucco?

Furring strips provide several important functions, including:

• Forming a flat, level base for keeping siding even
• Producing a rain screen space between stucco and siding to allow drainage
• Avoiding dependence on stucco integrity for hanging siding
• Preventing irregular stucco surfaces from telegraphing under siding

Pick Proper Furring

What’s the best furring option for your siding over stucco project? Consider:

• Wood furring – inexpensive, not moisture resistant
• Steel furring – resists twisting, doesn’t rot
• Plastic furring – won’t corrode, stable dimensionally

Choose furring strips thick enough to stand out past the thickest points of the stucco by at least 1/4 inch. This helps the siding hang flat and not dip unevenly.

Install Furring Correctly

Attach furring horizontally across the wall using recommended fasteners and spacing for the weight of your siding choice. Nail or screw into framing or blocking as possible to anchor securely. Keep courses level and modular spacing even for proper siding alignment later. Watch furring ends to avoid potential snagging problems during siding insertion.

With a framework in place, let’s insulate next!

Insulate for Added Comfort and Performance

Installing additional insulation over stucco before adding siding improves thermal protection, sound dampening, and comfort inside your home. Fortunately, the furring just installed makes placing insulation simple. Some options to consider:

Batt Insulation

Fiberglass batt insulation fits nicely between furring strips. Secure snuggly on the sides facing the stucco to prevent sagging without compressing and harming R-value. Use unfaced batts and consider moisture resistant types if concerned about water exposure.

Rigid Foam Boards

Foam insulation adds maximum insulation value in the thinnest profile. Foam boards stand up well to moisture while providing a uniform backing for siding. Use adhesive or mechanical fasteners to hold in place securely.

Spray Foam Insulation

Foam sprayed directly between furring offers custom full contact around irregular stucco. This method prevents gaps that reduce effectiveness but also remains expensive. Consider for filling odd sizes or sealing challenges batts face.

Now for the exciting part – picking and installing dazzling new siding!

Select the Perfect Siding for Your Vision

Home improvement stores now offer innovative siding technologies with every look imaginable from sophisticated wood grains to sleek contemporary profiles. Consider what aesthetic appeals most before visiting showrooms. Weigh visual desires like texture versus minimal maintenance materials before deciding.

Today’s top siding over stucco styles include:

• Fiber Cement – Wood-look, durable, fire/impact resistant
• Vinyl – Budget-friendly, vast colors, insulation options
• Composite – Realistic wood without upkeep
• Metal – Sophisticated appeal, great curb view
• Engineered Wood – Affordable, easy-maintenance

Hang New Siding for Great Results

Installing siding requires proper techniques to perform correctly long-term. While products vary, good rules of thumb for attractive durable installation include:

• Start siding from a level line near the base
• Overlap upper pieces over lower for proper water drainage
• Allow clearance around windows, doors, roof lines, other openings
• Interlock pieces and stagger seams from row to row
• Double check level and alignment periodically as you go
• Follow all manufacturer instructions

Work carefully up the wall attaching siding securely into the furring strips or structural framing based on siding type and weight. Harsh weather, poor alignment, or weak fastening causes problems later so focus on quality installation.

Complete the Renewal with Perfect Finishes

The final step for a successful siding over stucco upgrade involves properly incorporating essential details like trim, caulking, painting/staining and more to get a polished finished product. Don’t forget these vital finishing touches!

Window and Door Trim
Carefully flash and install trim around all openings to protect edges and provide a neat appearance. Choose durable maintenance-free materials that coordinate with the new siding’s color and style.

Caulk Perimeters
Acrylic or urethane caulking offers weather-tight sealing around the edges where siding meets windows, corner boards, roofing, foundations, and other transitions. Caulking also allows for expansion and contraction of materials.

Exterior Paint or Stain
Properly prepping and coating siding completes the fresh facade. Stain and paint not only protects siding but also provides endless options for customizing the color scheme. Consider harmonizing trim, decking, and other exterior elements.

Now take a step back and admire the dramatic, beautiful improvement quality siding over stucco offers! But before deciding, weigh a few additional considerations.

Pros and Cons of Siding Over Stucco

While this resurfacing technique modernizes home exteriors, several pros and cons deserve reflection:

Pros

• Cost effective upgrade
• Preserves existing stucco integrity
• Less demolition work and mess
• Features endless siding style options
• Enhances visual interest and depth

Cons

• Needs furring strip installation
• Potential moisture issues ifpoor installation
• Loses regional look of true stucco finish
• Little insulation improvement without adding

Overall, the project expands design flexibility quickly and affordably. Compared to full tear-off solutions, siding over stucco also causes less disruption to your landscaping and home life during exterior renovations.

What’s the Project Investment?

What can homeowners expect to invest for this meaningful change? Exact expense varies based on factors like:

• House size
• Siding type chosen
• Amount of prep and repair work
• DIY or professional install

According to most projections though, covering stucco with new siding runs approximately $6-10 per square foot. Using this estimate, a typical two-story 2,800 square foot suburban home costs around $16,800 to $28,000 for this upgrade.

Compare this to full stucco removal priced at $10-25 per square foot. Going over the top can save 50% or more in many cases. Shop multiple siding brand and pro installer options to keep within budget.

Caring for New Siding Over Stucco

Low maintenance constitutes one of the main perks homeowners want from exterior materials. Follow proper care and cleaning methods to keep your investment looking its best:

• Inspect siding yearly for damage
• Repair cracks immediately to prevent water infiltration
• Use mild cleaners and low-PSI washing to prevent harm
• Re-caulk perimeter joints every 3-5 years
• Spot paint/stain as needed to cover scratches

Also monitor for any moisture accumulation if you experience interior condensation issues. Catching and repairing problems quickly prevents costly headaches.

Conclusion: Revive Tired Stucco with Siding

Installing replacement siding over existing stucco offers an exciting, cost-conscious option for homes needing an exterior update due to aging, changing styles, or owner preference. Acting as a protective overlay, modern siding materials provide long-lasting durable coverage that handles weather beautifully. Added insulation also boosts efficiency.

Compared to full stucco removal, this ingenious resurfacing technique also cuts time, money, and mess considerably. Just take care to properly evaluate and repair any underlying defects first for ideal performance. With a sound wall and quality professional installation, fresh siding over your stucco delivers curb appeal and comfort for years ahead!