Design a Striking Exterior With Stucco and Siding Mixes
Blending stucco plaster with contrasting siding creates dimension and interest for home exteriors. Mixing materials like wood, fiber cement, and metal sidings paired with textured stucco offers many possibilities to upgrade your curb appeal. The combinations not only provide visual allure but also durability and low maintenance.
Benefits of Stucco and Siding Combinations
Stucco is a cement-based plaster that forms a thick, sculptural coating over exterior walls. It comes in varied earthy hues like sand, tan, grey, and terracotta. Applying stucco creates texture and relief to otherwise flat facades. While stucco itself has superb weather and impact resistance, it can develop hairline cracks over time. Combining stucco with horizontal or vertical wood, fiber cement, or metal sidings offers reinforcement to vulnerable areas. It also provides aesthetic contrast.
Since both stucco and today's sidings boast extreme durability and need minimal upkeep, the combo is very low maintenance. You'll save on exterior painting and repairs. Properly installed and sealed, quality stucco resists moisture damage for decades with proper flashing around openings. Backed by warranties, composite sidings like James Hardie resist moisture, rotting, and pests. The projected lifespan for fiber cement is over 50 years.
Curb appeal and resale value increase with exterior upgrades like stucco and siding installations. Dimensional combinations modernize traditional styles. Vivid stucco colors enliven neutral siding backgrounds. Mixing materials creates welcoming textures and light interplay. This visually raises perceived home value compared to dated, monotone exteriors needing repairs.
Choosing Siding Materials
Popular sidings to integrate with stucco plaster include natural woods, fiber cement composites, and metal panels. Consider climate resilience, longevity, and maintenance needs when selecting.
Wood
Traditional wood sidings like cedar, redwood, and pine horizontally lap over one another along exterior walls. Wood offers a warm, organic look but requires frequent staining or sealing to resist weathering. In damp climates, wood may warp or rot when coupled with stucco. Where winters are harsh, thick cedar and redwood boards offer the best protection.
Fiber Cement
Top brands like James Hardie manufacture wood-composite fiber cement boards that mimic profiles of wood grain and cedar shakes but outperform them, lasting over 50 years. The sturdy cement and cellulose fiber materials withstand moisture, prevent rotting and pests, and resist fire. Plus, the textured plank styles beautifully complement stucco.
Metal
Metal sidings include galvanized steel, aluminum, and copper panels or custom profiles. Metals offer extreme durability but are prone to dents from storms or impacts. Costs are higher than wood or cement options. However, the industrial look of corrugated metal or sleek copper pairs nicely with rough, organic stucco textures.
Pairing Siding Styles with Stucco
Choosing complementary siding orientations, widths, and colors creates a harmonious finished exterior with stucco. Mix various elements for custom designs.
Horizontal Lap Siding
The most common orientation, horizontal lap siding, flat boards that overlap one another along exterior walls. Whether smooth or featuring visible wood grain, the uniform layers contrast beautifully with bumpy stucco. The simple lines and layered effect keep the look clean yet dimensional.
Vertical Board and Batten
Turning vertical siding boards 90 degrees provides a more dynamic, modern look compared to horizontal laps. Gapping the vertical boards slightly then installing solid wood or metal "battens" over the seams adds charming shadow lines. This orientation pairs well with both contemporary and farmhouse styles when coupled with neutral or pastel stuccos.
Shake Siding
Shingle-style shake siding recreates the dimensional look of uneven wood shakes but with resilient fiber cement planks. When combined with swirled stucco, the mix of irregular edges and overlaps creates delightful organic texture. Both cottages and luxury homes can achieve a cozy yet polished look with this rugged combo.
Factoring Regional Climate Conditions
James Hardie's HardieZoneTM system helps determine the best fiber cement products for local weather across zones 1-9. The brand's fiber cement lap, vertical batting, and shake sidings hold up beautifully against humidity, intense UV rays, freeze/thaw cycles, and salt air when properly sealed and installed per zone specs.
Visually Balancing Color Combos
Choosing exterior colors that coordinate across stucco, siding, trim, roofing, gutters, and accent elements creates a cohesive, upscale look. Contrasting light and dark values also adds appealing dimension.
Match Stucco and Siding Hues
Selecting the same hue for both stucco and siding, then varying only the texture and profile keeps an exterior color scheme clean and elegant. For example, pair ivory stucco walls with smooth, ivory-colored fiber cement lap siding. Or combine fog grey scratch coat stucco with matte charcoal grey corrugated metal sheets.
Contrast Light and Dark Shades
Alternating light stucco with a darker siding shade adds appealing light interplay and dimension. For instance, couple light tan stucco walls with rich espresso-colored vertical cedar batting. Or, try soft white stucco against slate blue fiber cement shakes.
Coordinate With Roofs and Trim
Incorporating three coordinated colors across stucco, siding, and roofs/trim pulls everything together. Consider environmental factors like sunlight exposure, overhangs, and drainage. For example, pair warm beige stucco with redwood planks over cream fascia and gutters. Or, mix slate blue stucco with gray cement shake siding together with matte black roofing.
Achieving Cohesion With Width and Lines
Aligning edges, repeating horizontal and vertical elements, and minding caulking gaps also helps stucco and siding exteriors look tailored and intentional versus disjointed.
Align Edges and Seams
When turning building corners, take care to align siding and stucco edges for precision. Plan any overlaps or staggering ahead of time on drawings. Use level lines as a guide to install evenly across facades. Keeping lines and seams aligned makes the difference between polished and sloppy.
Repeat Horizontal or Vertical Elements
Echo lines across surfaces to establish visual continuity. For instance, if window and door trim shares the same width and color as vertical siding battens, the repetition helps unify everything. Or if horizontal siding laps and porch decking boards feature similar proportions and stains, the exterior flows better.
Consistent Caulking Gaps
Well-aligned seams should maintain a consistent width or reveal between siding/stucco joints for a tailored appearance. Precise gaps also prevent moisture ingress long-term. Carefully seal gaps with quality caulking and backer rod before painting.
Estimating Project Costs
Project costs depend on stucco and siding square footage, materials selected, existing wall demolition/prep work, custom designs, and regional labor rates. Expect to pay $6-20 per square foot for stucco and $5-15 for fiber cement or wood siding. Metals cost $10-25 per square foot installed. Most jobs run $10,000 to $60,000+. Get an accurate written estimate from at least three reputable contractors.
Material Expenses
Per square foot material prices: - Stucco: $4-$11 - Wood siding: $2-$7 - Fiber cement siding: $2-$5 - Metal siding: $3-$15 - Battens/trim: $2-$5 - Caulking/sealants: $0.50-$1.50
Labor
With proper equipment and experience, siding crews install about 100-150 square feet daily at $40-$65 per hour per worker. Most stucco applicators complete around 300 ft2 per day at $25-$40 per hour per person. Keep existing utilities, materials staging, access, and prep work efficient for crews to minimize labor hours and jobsite overheads factored into project costs.
Project Timelines
Completion times vary based on crews, weather delays, surface area, and materials selected. Smaller stucco and siding facelifts take around 5-7 business days end-to-end. Full home makeovers with scaffolding may last up to 6 weeks from start to finish. Define reasonable milestones with your contractor upfront.
Hiring Qualified Siding Installers
Vet and verify subs thoroughly. Ask for local references from last two years for exterior finish work comparable to yours. Review samples of completed stucco and siding projects firsthand. Documentation should cover liability insurance over $1 million per occurrence and worker's compensation for staff. Reputable contractors readily share such credentials.
Certifications
Legitimate siding and stucco contractors carry registered industry credentials such as NARI and JBPA certifications proving their expertise in those specialty trades.
Insurance
Only consider contractors listing worker's compensation and adequate general commercial liability coverage on project estimates and agreements. Otherwise, you could incur major liability for any worker injuries onsite.
Examples of Work
Vet candidate workmanship, quality, and service by visiting previous project sites first. Photos alone don't reveal flaws. Inspect current workmanship practices in person before signing any contracts.
Caring for Stucco and Siding Exteriors
With proper installation and sealing, quality stucco and siding only needs minor periodic maintenance to uphold durable performance and aesthetics.
Annual Inspections
Schedule contractor walkthroughs to examine for any sealant failures, moisture issues, foundation cracks, or damage needing repair yearly. Early intervention prevents major wall failures or water ingress.
Re-Sealing and Caulking
Inspect prior sealants and caulk beads around all joints, windows, flashings and openings annually before winter. Repair and refresh any deteriorating sealants to protect building integrity.
Gutter Cleaning
Clogged gutters lead to water splashing and pooling along foundations, accelerating erosion and leaks through walls. Have debris cleared from gutters biannually.
Gentle Power Washing
When stucco or siding appears dirty, lightly power wash surfaces with wide-spray tip on mild setting to avoid damaging materials. Harsh pressure washing can deteriorate finishes and seals prematurely.
A Bold and Modern Look with Black Stucco and Grey Trim
For a more modern and bold look, you can also consider using black stucco as the main exterior material. In this case, grey trim can still be a great choice.
As we know, black stucco is still relatively new in the market, and it requires a high level of maintenance. However, the combination between black and grey seems very promising.
It's not necessary to use pure black stucco. You can still opt for a darker shade that looks similar to charcoal.
Moreover, you may also consider applying different shades of black and grey to the design. This technique is called "gradient," and it can help create depth and dimension.
As for the door and window colors, you can still follow the same principles as explained in the previous points. White, black, or grey are the most suitable options.
A Fresh Look with Yellow Stucco and Cream Trim
If you want to create a fresher and more cheerful look, then yellow stucco might be the best option. It's a trendy color that is commonly used in Mediterranean-style houses.
In this case, you can pair it with cream trim to balance the design. The yellow tone in the stucco material will create a vibrant look, while the cream trim will add a more neutral and calm touch.
You can also use a lighter shade of yellow stucco to create a more subtle look. However, if you prefer a bolder and more vivid yellow, then you can opt for a darker shade.
Green stucco is a unique and uncommon color that is rarely used. However, it's a great option if you want to create a soothing and calming look.
In this case, you can pair it with beige trim to create a harmonious and natural-looking design. The green stucco will represent the lush vegetation and trees around the house, while the beige trim will represent the soil and earth.
Besides, you may also consider using different shades of green stucco and beige trim to create a more natural and organic look.