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Stucco finishes are beautiful, long-lasting and fairly maintenance-free. In certain areas of the country there are stucco buildings that have not been touched in 75 or more years and look as great as the day they were plastered.

However, accidents happen. A car bumper may hit the side of a building or something may fall on the side of the house and break off a small piece of the stucco. This could leave a gaping hole and instantly make the house look shabby.

One of the problems with patching stucco is that each mason has his or her own way of finishing so this texture has to be copied. A tradesperson with a good eye can do this. The second problem is blending the color but this can work out well if the surface is painted. It takes painting the whole side of the home but it will work.

1. Clean the Hole: With a small chisel work the loose pieces of old stucco out. Then take a hammer and gently tap the pieces that are stuck on the mesh.

2. Scratch Coat: Mix up 1 part portland cement; 1 part hydrated lime; 2 ½ to 4 parts sand. Work this into the mesh with a small trowel until it is about 1/2″ below the level of the finished stucco. Thenwith the tip of the trowell put small striations in to hold the finish coat.

3. Finish Coat: For large holes mix up 1 part portland cement; 1 part hydrated lime; and 1 1/2 to 3 parts sand. If the stucco is white use a white stucco finish you can buy in a bag. When the finish has been applied blend the texture in use the appropriate finishing touches. Feather the edges.

If the color is not perfectly matched this may not be a problem unless it is right in the middle of the wall facing the street. And even if it is you may be the only one who notices it. It’s either that or paint that side of the home.