exterior cladding
Traditional 3-coat stucco
Portland-cement-and-sand stucco applied in three coats (scratch + brown + finish) over wire lath. Hard, durable, and the dominant cladding in hot-dry climates.
Cost tier
MID
Cost / sqft
$7–$14
Install
specialty
Durability
high
Maintenance
medium
Moisture
fair
Cost notes
Works best in arid climates; prone to cracking and moisture issues in cold-wet zones.
Aesthetic
- Finish: smooth, sand-float, dash, lace, Santa Barbara
- Color range: white, off-white, tan, earth, warm pastels
- Visual weight: medium
Climate suitability
— Hot-humid
✓ Hot-dry
— Mixed-humid
✓ Mixed-dry
— Cold
— Arctic
Code notes
IRC R703.6 governs lath, scratch coat, and weep screed. ASTM C926 + C1063 are the primary install standards.
Source
Architectural Graphic Standards — Architectural Graphic Standards (Ramsey/Sleeper) — Materials chapter
Tags: stucco, traditional, fire-resistant