Monument Stucco
Synthetic Stucco Installation in Albuquerque, NM
Acrylic based synthetic stucco installed over a prepared wall and finished in the texture and color you choose.
Synthetic stucco is a different system from traditional cement stucco, built around a layer of rigid foam board rather than lath and sand. The foam goes over the prepared wall first, then a base coat with a mesh reinforcement is applied over that, and finally an acrylic finish coat gives the color and texture. It is lighter than cement stucco and adds a layer of insulation, which is part of why homeowners choose it.
The trade off is that synthetic systems do not breathe the way cement stucco does. If water gets behind the foam through a bad seal at a window, door, or roof line, it does not dry out the way it would with a traditional system, it stays trapped. That is why the drainage plane and flashing details around openings matter more here than almost anywhere else in the job.
Getting synthetic stucco right in this climate means paying close attention to those transition points, since Albuquerque's summer monsoon storms can drive rain sideways into any gap left at a window or door.
How it runs
- Wall prep The existing surface is checked and prepared so the foam board has a flat, stable base.
- Foam installation Rigid foam panels are fastened over the wall to create the insulating layer.
- Base coat and mesh A reinforced base coat is applied over the foam for strength and crack resistance.
- Flashing and sealing Openings and transition points are flashed and sealed since these are where synthetic systems are most vulnerable to trapped water.
- Finish coat The acrylic finish is applied in the chosen texture and color.