Stucco

Stucco is an exterior plaster render, traditionally made from lime or Portland cement, sand and water and applied in multiple coats over masonry, lath or a modern synthetic backing, used for building exteriors since antiquity across the Mediterranean world and, later, colonial Spanish and Mission-style architecture in the Americas. Its finish can be troweled smooth, textured or sculpted into decorative relief, and its light color and reflectivity historically suited hot, sunny climates, part of why stucco became closely associated with Mediterranean, Spanish Colonial and Mission Revival architecture. Modern synthetic stucco systems, sometimes called exterior insulation and finish systems, add a rigid insulation layer and polymer-modified base and finish coats to the traditional cement-and-sand recipe, improving thermal performance but requiring careful detailing to avoid trapping moisture behind the cladding.