HOUSE AND GARDEN 
82 
August, 1910 
It is possible to secure dark stucco very easily, either 
of mineral coloring matter 
A house at Greenwich, Conn., that is of a type now being erected 
very widely in England with fairly smooth stucco walls 
finishes for stucco as will 
give both natural color and 
pleasing texture. It would 
be well, therefore, to ex¬ 
pose to view the aggregates 
used and avoid as far as 
possible exposing the bond¬ 
ing material, Portland 
cement. 
There is no artistic rea¬ 
son for allowing only the 
bonding material to be dis¬ 
played to the eye. On very 
large wall areas the sur¬ 
face can be cleaned off by 
means of a sand blast, and 
on smaller jobs the surface 
may be cleaned so as to ex¬ 
pose each grain of sand by 
means of muriatic acid in 
dilute solution, 1 part com¬ 
mercial muriatic acid to 4 
or 5 parts clear water. 
Where white aggregates 
(the gravel, marble chips 
or sand that is used with 
the cement) are used the surface may be cleaned off with a solu¬ 
tion of sulphuric acid: 1 part acid, 4 to 5 parts clear water. The 
sulphuric acid leaves a white deposit and therefore should not be 
used excepting where the aggregates are white. 
Another method is to scrub the surface while yet green, say 
within twenty-four hours, with a house scrubbing-brush and 
clear water. This is more difficult than the others, for the reason 
that if the stucco is allowed to remain too long before scrubbing, 
it will be too hard to remove the coat of neat cement from the 
outside of each particle of sand or other aggregates; while if 
scrubbed when it is too soft the surface may be damaged and 
difficult to repair. 
If the character of the available aggregate will not present a 
pleasing surface when exposed, the following surface treatment 
may be used: 
While the last coat is still thoroughly damp, apply a Portland 
cement paint, composed of 1 part Portland cement, 12 per cent, 
of the volume of the cement of well hydrated lime in pulverized 
form, and 1 part of fine white sand. Mix 
with water to the consistency of cream 
or the ordinary cold water paint. Stir 
constantly and apply by using a whisk 
broom, throwing the paint on with some 
force. 
Keep this finish surface damp for at 
least six days, or longer if economy will 
permit. Do not allow it to dry out in 
any one place during the week. If neces¬ 
sary, protect by hanging tarpaulins and 
using a fine spray of water playing upon 
it several times during the day, by means 
of a hose. This will give a pleasing 
light gray color of excellent texture. 
Stucco may be applied to various 
building materials. There is hardly any 
reason at the present time for stuccoing; 
stone buildings; the procedure at best is 
difficult and hardly to be recommended 
unless the stone is of an inferior quality 
and color. Our building stone is usu- 
In contrast with the above a rough-surface stucco wall seems to show a more appropriate 
use of materials. Lawrence Buck, architect 
by the use of colored aggregates or by the addition 
