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Stucco textures • Matched by hand

Stucco Textures, Matched by Hand

Texture is what makes a stucco wall look like stucco, and it is the first thing that gives away a bad repair. We apply every common texture and match existing ones so new work blends into old.

  • Sand & float finishes
  • Lace & skip trowel
  • Dash & smooth
  • Repair texture matching
Darrin Straub

Request a consultation & estimate

Residential or commercial. We’ll get back to you to set up an evaluation.

We never share your information. Prefer to talk? Call (888) 592-1304.

Texture is a craft

Why texture is the hard part of a stucco repair

Two walls can share the same color and still look nothing alike. Texture comes from the size of the aggregate, the tool used, the angle of the trowel and the timing of each pass as the material firms up. A float finish done early looks soft; the same finish done late looks coarse and open.

That is why a patch often stands out even when the paint matches. The original applicator had a rhythm, and a repair has to copy it. We study the wall in raking light, check the aggregate size, and practice on a sample board before touching the real surface. On large walls we work to a corner, control joint or trim line so the eye has a natural place to stop.

Homeowners usually come to us after another patch did not blend. Commercial clients need a texture to run consistently across long elevations with several crews' work over the years. Either way the method is the same. For finish binders see stucco finishes, and for damage repairs see stucco patching.

Close-up of a freshly textured stucco wall surface
Texture types

Common stucco texture styles

Most Georgia homes and buildings use one of these six. Many walls are a regional variation of one of them.

Sand finish

A fine, even grain from small aggregate floated flat. Quiet and uniform, common on newer homes and EIFS.

Fine and consistent

Float finish

Larger aggregate worked with a float to leave a swirled or rough open surface. Hides minor flaws well.

Coarser, forgiving

Lace or skip trowel

Material flicked on and knocked down with a trowel, leaving raised islands and smooth valleys.

Hand-made pattern

Dash finish

Material sprayed or thrown onto the wall for a pebbly, rough texture. Durable and common on older homes.

Rough, older style

Smooth finish

Troweled nearly flat for a clean, modern look. The hardest to repair invisibly because every flaw shows.

Least forgiving

Santa Barbara style

A smooth, slightly uneven hand-troweled surface with soft movement, inspired by old mission plaster.

Soft, hand-troweled
Choosing a texture

Texture, upkeep and how repairs blend

Coarse textures hide hairline cracks, small patches and uneven substrate. Smooth textures show everything, including future repairs. If you are choosing a texture for new work or a resurfacing, think about how the wall will be maintained in ten years, not only how it looks on day one.

Dirt and mildew also settle differently. Deep, open textures hold more dust on shaded walls, while fine textures wash cleaner. We can show samples of each before you decide.

Texture trade-offs
TextureHides flawsRepair blend
SandModerateGood
FloatWellVery good
Lace / skip trowelWellNeeds a skilled hand
DashVery wellGood
SmoothPoorlyMost difficult
Matching an existing wall

How we match a stucco texture

A texture match is planned before any material is mixed. The goal is a repair you cannot find from a normal viewing distance.

Read the wall

We look at the texture in low-angle light, measure aggregate size and note whether it was troweled, floated, dashed or sprayed.

  • Aggregate size checked
  • Tool marks studied
  • Break lines planned

Test on a board

We mix and texture sample boards until the pattern, depth and grain line up with the original, then confirm with you.

  • Sample boards made
  • Depth and spacing tuned
  • Approved before work

Apply & feather

The texture goes on the repair and is worked into the surrounding wall, then color is matched with custom pigment.

  • Edges feathered in
  • Color blended last
  • Checked from the street
Reviews

What our customers say

Homeowners and long-time commercial clients on working with ASR.

“I got quality of work with a quality product; the workmanship of his staff do amazing work. As a woman, I despise mess, I had none with the crew and the phenomenal way they cleaned up.”
Michelle R.Customer letter
“For over 10 years we have relied on ASR for all our stucco repair needs, but as well, for a number of other water intrusion related solutions. Their leadership are responsive and have trained their technicians well.”
Google review
Wilburn House10+ year repeat customer
“A quality honest contractor is hard to come by – I’d use ASR for anything I could.”
Google review
Joe WatsonGoogle review

Read more reviews

Questions & answers

Stucco texture questions

What people ask before a texture repair or a texture change.

Can you match an old or unusual stucco texture?
In most cases, yes. Unusual textures take more sample work, and very weathered walls may need the whole panel refinished to a break line so old and new age evenly.
Can I change the texture of my existing stucco?
Yes. A sound wall can be skimmed and refinished with a new texture, often as part of a resurfacing. The existing coat must be clean, bonded and dry first.
What is the most popular stucco texture today?
Fine sand finishes and smooth or Santa Barbara-style troweled finishes are the most requested on newer Georgia homes. Commercial buildings mostly use fine or medium sand finishes because they read evenly across large walls.
Why does my repaired patch look different from the wall?
Usually the texture depth or aggregate size is off, or the patch was painted with a different sheen. We can often fix a visible patch by re-texturing it and blending the color, without cutting it out.

Get a texture that blends in

Send a photo of the wall or call (888) 592-1304. We will look at the texture in person and show you samples first.

Get started

Request a consultation & estimate

Homeowners and commercial clients alike: tell us about the property and what you are seeing.

Darrin Straub

Send us your project details

Residential or commercial. We’ll get back to you to set up an evaluation.

We never share your information. Prefer to talk? Call (888) 592-1304.