Traditional stucco is simply a variety of concrete, which is applied in several layers to create a strong adhesion to the wall. Stucco is popular for many reasons, including its low cost, resistance to earthquakes and its permeability in humid climates. This article explains the exterior applications of stucco on wooden or steel frames, or on a solid wall. This project is truly advanced, but within the range of an experienced amateur in domestic do-it-yourself jobs.

Apply stucco to a framing wall

Check the weather forecast. The ideal climatic conditions to apply stucco are a cloudy day with little wind and temperatures of 50˚ to 60˚ F (10˚ to 16˚ C).  Delay work if the forecast predicts the temperature will be below 40° F (4° C) or above 90° F (32° C) over the next week.

Place the coating materials. You can put the stucco on any rigid material attached to the support beams. The most common surfaces for stucco are plywood, oriented chipboard (OSB), cement slab and gypsum exterior cladding. Be sure to follow the building codes of your location while installing the siding material.

• It is possible to stack over an open frame, but it results in a less level and structured wall. If you wish to follow this path, place nails in the middle of the beams, accommodate vertically in intervals of 5 to 6 inches (13 to 15 cm). Extend a wire horizontally along the protruding nails.

Cover the plywood with two layers of construction paper. Most codes require at least two layers of “D-grade” construction paper or a water-resistant equivalent barrier. You can use asphalt felt or some type of waterproof membrane, but do not use waterproof plastic membrane that is not designed for stucco. Overlap the paper by at least 4 inches (10 cm) and fix it with roof nails.

• Since most codes do not require it, an air gap between the two layers is recommended to prevent wall decay. One way to do this is by placing a mat between the two layers.

Install perforated channels and trim. Install the trim as a plaster stop at the corners of doors and windows. Install the perforated channel at the base of the wall for better drainage.

• For this project, these two materials are not interchangeable.

Join a metal ribbon. Selecting the right ribbon and installing it properly is one of the most difficult parts of this project. It is recommended to consult with an expert. In most cases, you must nail or staple the batten to the joists (not the liner) at intervals of not less than 7 inches (18 cm). Overlap the slat at a distance of at least ½ inch (1.25 cm) on the long side and 1 inch (2.5 cm) on the end, but no more.

• In all exterior stucco applications, you must use a hot dip galvanized G-60 lath.
• Choose a batten with at least 6 mm (¼ inch) mesh or build a non-mesh batten using battens or nails. Without this mesh cover, the stucco will not adhere properly to the ribbon.

 

Install control joints. To avoid cracks, divide the wall into rectangular panels using control joints, separate them by no more than 18 ft (5.5 m). Also install control joints where there are uneven walls. If the batten is expanded metal (instead of stucco mesh), cut it behind each control joint to completely separate this rigid material from the panels.

Build panels in the most square shape possible and no more than 144 sq ft (44 sq m).

Mix the scratch layer. Mix the scratch coat with 1 part of cement and 2¼ to 4 parts of gypsum sand. If you are using type I Portland cement, you will have to add your own hydrated lime: count the final cement and the lime mixture as “1 part cement”. Mix with enough clean water so you can remove the stucco, no more.

• The aggregate in the cement must be clean and well formed.

Remove the scratch layer on the ribbon. Apply the scratch coat at a 45˚ angle, pressing firmly on the ribbon. This layer should be ⅜ inch (9.5 mm) thick.

• It may be easier for you to use a palette in some parts of the application.

Lightly mark the scratch layer. This first layer is called a scratch layer due to the horizontal flat lines marked with a palette of grooves. This will ensure a good fixation with the next layer.

Dry the scratch coat using moisture. When stuccoing on a beam structure, the coarse striped layer should dry for 48 hours. During this time, it is important to protect the stucco from drying out. Moisten the stucco twice a day unless the humidity is above 70%. Protect the wall with a shield if necessary.

Mix and apply the brown coat. Mix another batch using 1 part cement and 3 to 5 parts sand. Apply another layer of 3/4 inch (9.5 mm) stucco and spread to level the thickness up to 3/4 inch (19 mm). When the brown coat loses its shine, rub it in a circular movement to smooth it.

Moisten to dry for at least seven days. The first 48 hours are the most important, but you must continue spraying or moistening during this time, whenever it seems that it is going to dry.

Cover with the last layer. This last layer of 1/8 inch (3 mm) determines the texture of the stucco wall.  Apply and soften as you did with the brown layer, but this time use 1 part of cement with a ratio of 1 1/2 to 3 parts of sand. You can buy a finish that already has coloration or finish the coat and paint it when it has dried for at least a week.

• Color stucco finishes are best in pastel shades.
• If the finish has color, moistening the surface during smoothing can cause mottling. A wet layer can make the color more uniform.
• Many decorative textures are possible when applying this final layer. Measure the façade from at least 30 ft (9m) before installing it to the eye.

Becoming a carpenter takes years of education and training. Most people can not only choose the tools they need to do the work and start building a masterpiece. Some woodworking tools are better for certain types of work, while others require only a few pieces.

The basics

Carpenters need to have an arsenal of tools for most jobs; however, the need for more specialized tools as the difficulty of projects increases. All carpenters need to have a strong hammer. Hammers with a wood handle are more stable than those with a metal handle and are less likely to break. For finishing work, a lightweight hammer can also be used. Carpenters should have a variety of screwdrivers in different sizes in their tool box and must also have a drill with drill bits and accessories of different sizes. Companies such as Stanley and Cobalt make robust hand tools while Black and Decker, Dealt and Craftsman offer high quality tools and accessories.

Miter saw

Miter saws are used for a variety of projects that include timber. This tool allows a carpenter to make a perfect cut at an angle of 45 degrees so that the pieces can be put together at corners. These are most often found in furniture and cabinetry work but are also used for installing molding. Miter saws can be costly, however, there is a more affordable option. A battery powered miter box can be purchased for a fraction of the price of electric miter saw and does not require a power source to operate. Bosch miter saws are considered the elite in terms of power and precision.

Milling machine

Mills have a wide variety of uses and make the work of a carpenter easy to complete. These can be used to create or join together joints but are more often used because of their ability to carve intricate designs into wood. Instead of completing the finishing work and carving with a hand tool, carpenters today use routers to speed up the process and make more accurate sculptures. With the first models difficult to use, routers have undergone many changes in recent years. Today they are light and have numerous accessories making the use of the tool easier than ever. Milling incisions are common and can be used to make holes in the center of a piece of wood.

Biscuit joiner

Joining two pieces of wood can be difficult for many carpenters. While there are several methods of bonding, one of the easiest and most widely used methods is the use of a tool known as biscuit joiner. This machine cuts a small sliver of wood off the edge of the two parts to be connected. The cut is large enough to contain a small round disk called a cookie. When the cookie is inserted into one, you can easily connect the two pieces of wood; the cookie provides a solid bond between the pieces. Only a few companies produce biscuit joiners and Porter Cable Tools has the widest selection.

Sander

No carpenter wants to present a finished project that has sharp edges, splinters or rough patches. The traditional role of sandpaper or sanding block can be used for small projects, but larger projects require a motorized sander to complete the job faster. Sanders can be equipped with sandpaper of different thicknesses depending on the project. Orbital belt sanders are the most common types of power sanders acquired by its versatility. Large jobs like sanding a floor may require the use of a drum sander. Sanders are manufactured by many companies such as Skill, Hitachi and Black and Decker.

Plaster walls do not present a challenge to drill into them, however, you have to be careful when drilling drywall to prevent damage or drilling in the wrong place.

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A metal detector device can work well on a wall with plaster, but does not determine the location of studs behind drywall. You may be able to get close to the location of the studs in the wall using one of these devices.  Once you find a stud, you can estimate that the others are about 16 inches (40.64 cm) apart from each other. If you’re still unsure about the exact location of the studs, drill pilot holes in the wall with a small mason bit. If you feel that the drill bit touches an air pocket behind the plaster, this indicates no studs. If you encounter resistance, you hit into a stud.

Perforated technique

When drilling plaster, you cannot use excessive force because otherwise you run the risk of forming cracks in the drywall and the plaster crumbling. This means that if the drill has a hammer motion, do not use it, although the plaster may resist at first drilling. You must drill slowly at first, because the plaster is slippery on the surface and the drill can jump through the wall, entering at a wrong point.

Masking tape

An old plaster wall may collapse or break when penetrated with a nail or a drill, unlike new walls. The outer surface of drywall is where it would start to crumble, as it is broken by the force of penetration. To combat the tendency of the plaster to crack and crumble, place a piece of masking tape in place where you want to puncture the wall. The tape keeps the drywall in place, instead of leaving it to break apart and crumble. When you have finished drilling, remove the tape from the wall without fear of the paint coming off.

Enlarge the hole

You can widen the hole you drill into a plaster wall if you need one wider to fit a stand. Sometimes the biggest drill bit you have available is smaller than the hole you need to use to hang an object on the wall. In such a situation, you must insert a long, thin instrument that fits inside, like a knife or a screwdriver. Use the tool to that will make the hole the size you need using circular motions against the sides of the hole.

Perhaps the best way to identify the sources of energy wasters in a home is a professional home energy audit, including a blower door test and thermo graphic inspection. Here, Erik Lindberg, a specialist in home energy with Enervation Inc., comments on one of the main areas included in the audit: the furnace and heating system. And DIY Home Energy Savings, gives advice for some home energy tests that homeowners can do themselves.

Furnace Inspection

It is important to get your furnace inspected every two years professionally – or at least every few years. Some people even opt for an annual inspection and tuning. Furnace maintenance includes removing dust from the air tubes, and cleaning the burners and ensuring that they are operating safely and efficiently. Make sure the furnace filter fits into a slot cover. Home furnaces are equipped with replaceable air filters designed to remove dust and other impurities from particles in the air as it circulates through the heating and cooling system. Filter openings that do not have an indoor allow air to infiltrate the furnace system, and this partially defeats the purpose of the closed trunk-line system. A filter can also be a security issue.

Air filters are designed to allow air to flow through in one direction. When installing a new filter, make sure it is installed with the air direction indicator pointing in the right direction – with the arrow pointing toward the furnace. The ductwork in heating and cooling systems should be maintained as well. Some owners choose to have ducts cleaned professionally. According to Erik, duct cleaning is a measure that will probably do little to improve energy efficiency, although there may be other benefits. Making sure that the joints are sealed ducts is useful. High quality expensive paper tape is suitable for sealing ducts. In warm weather, ducts that run through attics should be sealed very well.

To carry out a Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audit requires a large window fan and incense.  First, make a list of the areas of your home that have the potential of drafts. Then close all exterior doors, windows and flues of the chimney. Turn off all combustion appliances such as gas burning furnaces and water heaters. (Remember to turn them back on when you are finished with the audit.) Turn on all exhaust fans (generally located in the kitchen and bathrooms). If you do not have exhaust fans, use a large window fan to blow air out of the house. The movement of fans increases infiltration through cracks and leaks in the building structure – making them easier to detect. As DIY professionals, you can use incense sticks lit to locate the source of the leaks. Air currents will cause the column of smoke to waver or flow in the direction of air leakage.

Tips:

• As an alternative to the use of incense smoke, you can use your damp hand. Air currents can be detected because they feel cold damp skin.
• Check air movement around switches and sockets – often overlooked as sources of air penetration.
• Check shutters to make sure they fit properly and do not break.
• Inspect all windows and doors to make sure they sit tight in their frames. See if you can feel air flow while they are closed. Movement indicates possible gaps that may be the source of air leaks. Look for visible daylight through cracks around door frames and windows.
• Once you have located the problem areas, you will have to take steps to correct or you will continue lose money each month on utilities.

If you are aware of the new trends in home decorating, you know that decorating the home with picture frames is something that has always been popular, but today it’s done in a different way.  We are not going to just put a photo frame with an image and mix it with other frames without any sense, today the final collage is what matters.

We will give you a few ideas to decorate with photo frames that can be arranged in a very original way, with or without photos, with decorative details and many varied colors. Creativity is the new trick to decorating differently, avoiding use of photo frames in the traditional way.

Decorate only with photo frames

There is a trend that is very interesting to try to use picture frames as decorative items in themselves, not just to frame a photo. In this case the frame becomes the protagonist and must be given the most importance. When decorating with photo frames we must choose frames that are similar in tone and style, that is, modern frames with simple shapes with varied and elegant outlines. They have to have something in common even if they are not the same size or color to create a homogeneity that is good when decorating.

Photo Frame Compositions

Right now there is a trend that we see in many homes, in which different compositions of photo frames are used. In these arrangements you can look for symmetrical shapes, but the most common feature is that the set is asymmetric, so that it is more natural and original. You can try to buy different frames in different sizes and tones but in a similar style, and make configurations by rearranging until you find the positions that you like. This is a creative way to decorate the walls.

Original Home Frames

Among these photo frames we can also find original frames. There are attractive designs full of details, and others with intense color or decorated with feathers, glitter or other crafty items. A photo frame is no longer a way of framing a photo to become a decorative object in itself, so it becomes very important when decorating spaces.

Mark DIY

Many of picture frames can be modified ourselves to create totally new appearances. You can paint them colors that match with the decorations in the space if you do not find the exact tone. You can also add stripes or glitter to give a bright touch. Other frames can be decorated with feathers, buttons or branches. There are a thousand craft ideas to create different photo frames and make them personalized. If you see that the frames you have are boring you, you can look for inspiration on the web. There are craft shops where you can find all kinds of spray paints and accessories to create frames for you.

Vintage Photo Frames

Vintage photo frames have a lot of charm, so if you find some, do not let them escape. Mixing several vintage frames of different shapes is very nice. If you want to add some color, you can add paint with worn effect so that they continue to have that vintage look. This style is a trend sought today, so it’s time to rummage through the attic to find things like these.

Decoration inside the frames

In general photos are put in frames and give a homogeneous look, that is, if you have all black and white photos for example. But today we do not have to limit ourselves to only photos, but you can decorate the frames with other things, with wallpaper and colored stamping for example. They are different and special ideas that serve to create a new and more original decoration. Inside you can also put nice decorative sheets, which are trend and come in many different designs and colors.

Composition of colors

When decorating with frames on the walls, you must take into account the tones that dominate in your decoration, so that the set is beautiful. If there is a color in the room that is more prominent, you can use base tones such as white and gray and add that color in small brush strokes. You never have to fall into the excess when decorating with colors, and that’s why it’s better to add just touches than to overdo it. And you know, if you do not find frames in the right color, you just have to buy spray paint to make them the color you want.