If the exterior of your home has seen better days, it might be time to consider stucco replacement. However, before you tackle this job yourself, learn about your options and the positives and negatives of each one. Here's a quick guide, but for a more personal evaluation of your own house, ask professional siding contractors for their expert opinions. Option Wholesale ceramic igniter heater1: Traditional StuccoReal stucco is a mixture of sand, lime, water and a few other ingredients, typically cement. Because the material is designed to be hardy, it can be quite difficult if you need to remove it from your home. The process is a laborious one and while many people are tempted to take a sledgehammer to remove the material, this is a terrible idea. You'll want to use a small hammer and chisel and work in small sections to remove it from the house.Once everything is removed, you can start to replace it.

Tar paper, galvanized metal screening or even # chicken wire is applied to the surface. This is then covered with the new mixture. Because this process is such a tedious one, with many opportunities for disaster, many homeowners choose to hire a siding company to finish this project.If you do choose to use a traditional material for your house, know that it isn't maintenance-free. Many people choose to paint the surface instead of redashing (i.e. applying a new layer directly over the old) because painting is about one fifth of the cost of redashing. However, this is a terrible idea! Painting this exterior material actually seals moisture into your home instead of allowing it to escape out of it. This leads to mold and moisture issues and it can eventually cause problems inside your home.

Option #2: Synthetic Materials Some homes that appear to have this type of finish really don't. These homes are instead covered in a synthetic material. One of these materials is known as Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems or EIFS. It's mostly used in warm dry climates and is not recommended in many northern climates. This is because unlike real stucco, any water that penetrates EIFS products does not evaporate. Instead, it is drawn into the home, where it reaches the wood sheathing. Because it can't go anywhere, the sheathing can remain damp, leading to mold problems. Option #3: Fiber Cement Siding PanelsIf you contact a siding company for help, make sure to ask them about fiber cement siding panels that look like stucco.

These have the same durability and maintenance-free surface as regular fiber cement siding, but the appearance of actual stucco finishing. Look for fiber cement that has a factory-finished color that's baked on to reduce fading so your home's exterior will look great for years and years to come.Whether you have a home that's already covered in stucco or you're building a home and want a unique exterior surface, consider calling siding contractors to see how they can help your house stand out. If you're looking for a surface that's maintenance free, yet looks like the real thing, ask them if fiber cement siding is right for your home.