Stucco remains very popular as an exterior building cladding, but not many realize that stucco, in one form or another, has been around for at least 9000 years. In today’s blog article, we would like to talk about the history of stucco.
Historically, stucco is known to have existed in many cultures around the world. There is good evidence that it was used in construction in ancient Greece, by the Romans, in Mesopotamia, in Iran and the Middle East, and even by the Aztecs. Ancient stucco was made of crushed limestone or gypsum, plus sand, and water. In some cultures, the recipe for stucco also included varying amounts of sawdust, straw, animal hair, mud, clay, marble dust, eggs and/or animal blood.
Early stucco was simply a good solution for achieving a smoother surface on interior rough walls. By the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, in western Europe, stucco was being used both inside and outside buildings to create ornate decorative details because of the ease with which it could be shaped and molded.
Once Portland cement became available after 1871, then in North America, stucco was composed primarily of some combination of Portland cement, sand, and water. Today, sometimes stucco includes some other additives such as acrylics and glass fibers for structural strength.
Stucco remains extremely popular because of its versatility. It can be applied with a wide variety of finishes and colours. It is also fire resistant, has insulative properties, is easy to repair, and lasts much longer than other types of exterior cladding or siding.
For questions regarding stucco or if you are considering a stucco exterior or need stucco repair, please contact us in the greater-Vancouver area, at (604) 614-7552, and we will be happy to help you.
Choice Stucco Ltd. provides quality stucco application and repair to residential, strata, and commercial properties throughout the greater-Vancouver area. If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us about stucco, please call us at (604) 614-7552.
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