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PAINT CALCULATOR

Stucco paint calculator

Stucco texture eats paint — the surface area is much larger than the wall's flat dimensions suggest. Fine stucco runs ~280 sqft/gal, medium ~225, and heavy "lace" or dash texture as low as 175. Two coats are non-negotiable for waterproofing.

HOW IT WORKS

Why stucco is paint-hungry

Stucco's actual surface area is 1.3 to 1.7 times the visible wall area, depending on texture depth. Add the alkalinity of fresh stucco, which can burn through some paint chemistries, and you understand why a typical exterior gallon goes about 30% farther on smooth siding than on stucco. The calculator sets coverage from the texture you pick:

  • Fine / sand-finish: about 280 sq ft per gallon; the smoothest common profile.
  • Medium / float-finish: around 225 sq ft per gallon; the typical residential texture.
  • Heavy / lace / dash: as low as 175 sq ft per gallon; deep, broken texture with lots of hidden surface.
  • Elastomeric coating: a thicker, crack-bridging film that covers far less, often 80 to 150 sq ft per gallon.

Roller and sprayer, in that order

First coat: 3/4-inch nap roller, working paint into the texture. Second coat: spray for a uniform film, optionally back-rolled. Spraying the first coat on heavy stucco bridges the voids without filling them, and you'll get pinholes that leak. Two coats are non-negotiable for a continuous, weather-resistant surface.

Prime fresh or chalking stucco

Let new stucco cure 28 days before you paint; until then it is alkaline enough to attack the paint binder. On new, chalking, or very porous walls, a high-pH-tolerant masonry primer seals the surface and stops the topcoat from disappearing into it on the first coat.

What it costs to paint stucco

Standard exterior acrylic for stucco runs about $30 to $60 per gallon, and because texture drops coverage, a 2,000-square-foot home needs roughly 10 to 15 gallons for two coats — call it $400 to $900 in paint, plus supplies, if you do it yourself. Elastomeric paint, which bridges hairline cracks, costs more at about $35 to $115 per gallon and covers far less, so it pushes both your gallon count and your bill up.

  • Standard exterior acrylic: $30 to $60 per gallon.
  • Elastomeric (crack-bridging): $35 to $115 per gallon, much lower coverage.
  • Pro, 2,000 sq ft house: about $5,000 to $12,000, or $2.45 to $4.75 per square foot.
  • DIY, 2,000 sq ft house: roughly $400 to $900 in paint plus supplies.

Labor is what separates the two — stucco prep, masking, and spraying every peak and valley eat the hours. For a full breakdown with labor by region, use thepaint cost calculator.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to paint a stucco house?+
A pro typically charges about $2.45 to $4.75 per square foot, so a 2,000-square-foot stucco home runs roughly $5,000 to $12,000. Doing it yourself, material is mostly paint at about $30 to $60 per gallon for standard acrylic, so a similar house lands near $400 to $900 in paint plus supplies.
How much does stucco paint cost per gallon?+
Standard exterior acrylic for stucco runs about $30 to $60 per gallon. Elastomeric, which bridges hairline cracks, costs more at about $35 to $115 per gallon and covers far less ground, so it raises both your gallon count and your bill.
How much paint do I need for a stucco house?+
Coverage depends on texture. Fine, sand-finish stucco runs about 280 sq ft per gallon, medium float-finish around 225, and heavy lace or dash texture as low as 175. Multiply your wall area by two coats, then divide by the rate for your texture.
Why does stucco use more paint than siding?+
Stucco texture makes the real surface area 1.3 to 1.7 times the flat wall dimensions, so paint has to coat every peak and valley. A gallon covers roughly 30% less ground on stucco than on smooth lap siding.
How long should new stucco cure before painting?+
28 days minimum. Fresh stucco is highly alkaline and can burn through the paint binder before it cures. If you must paint sooner, use a high-pH-tolerant masonry primer first.
Is elastomeric paint better for stucco?+
Elastomeric forms a thicker, flexible film that bridges hairline cracks, which helps on stucco that is already cracking. It covers far less ground, about 80 to 150 sq ft per gallon, so it costs more. For sound, uncracked stucco, standard exterior acrylic is fine.
How many coats does stucco need?+
Two coats are required for a continuous, weather-resistant film. New or very porous stucco may need three, since the first coat largely disappears into the surface.
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