--for outdoor use. I have a stucco wall that has been painted and in one spot high on a wall the paint has eroded. As a result, the stucco itself is bleeding onto a lower level window whenever it rains. To repaint it would never match perfectly and the whole wall would require re-painting. Is there any kind of clear, colorless sealant, like polyurethane that would help seal the stucco and yet not change the color of the painted surface??

There are truly clear polyurethane finishes on the market these days. Lowe's, Home Depot or any of the other retaiers should carry them. I'm really not sure of the advisability of pursuing this remedy, but if I were going to do this I would definitely use a matte or flat finish.

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Originally posted by teeceeum:
I'm really not sure of the advisability of pursuing this remedy, but if I were going to do this I would definitely use a matte or flat finish.

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Is there such a thing as a flat or matte finish clear polyurethane? And why are you reluctant about advising this remedy ?

Polyurethane is a very durable and tough finish, but some surfaces don't hold onto it very well. For example, I used a gloss polyurethane to seal an old ceramic tile floor in one of my bathrooms. I had carefully cleaned and prepped the surface (except I didn't use any acid) and applied three light coats. For two years it looked great, but then began to flake and peel. I finally had to remove it which was one nasty and labor-intensive job.

I don't know much about stucco, but if it is crumbling I suspect that there is more going on than it just being unprotected. It is, after all, cement/mortar which withstands weather very well.

And yes, there is matte finish polyurethane.

The Stucco is bleeding?

Does this mean that the cement/sand mixture is falling apart?

If so, you may not want to just paint it, you may need to take a wire brush to it and clean off all the loose stuff.

If there is any way that you can get a bit of colour off the wall (paint chip) you can get a reasonably good colour match from any paint store.

I have actually gotten new paint to match weathered paint chips very close to where no one was able to tell the difference.

It would be best if you did try to match the color already on the walls and get a paint that is suited for stucco.

A home center is good, but a paint dealer is better in this matter - if there is a problem with the stucco itself, you will need to repair that before you paint.

There are several stucco repair compounds on the Market, find one that is elastomeric (plastic, moves with the temperature of the rest of the wall) and patch any cracks or thin spots first.

Stucco material is not water tight, just water resistant - if it is thin, moisture can be getting behind it and that will lead to mold, mildew, rot and water damage.

Cheers

David <><

I am working on a job right now with stucco. We are using a "Penetrating Sealer" rather than a polyurethane. Go to a paint store and ask them about it. Sonneborn makes a good sealer.

The bad thing about polyurethane is that it discolors in sunlight. The other thing, as mentioned above, is that it doesn't bond to all materials... it could peel.