File:American homes and gardens (1911) (17966618280).jpg

Title: American homes and gardens
Identifier: americanhomesgar81911newy (find matches)
Year: 1905 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Architecture, Domestic; Landscape gardening
Publisher: New York : Munn and Co
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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SMITHS April, 1911 AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 0%v THE USE AND CHARM OF STUCCO By ALBERT MOYER THE history of stuccoes does not fur- nish sufficient information and data to be of practical value in the manu- facture of the present day Portland ce- ment stuccoes. There are records standing 350 years B. C. of stuccoes made from vastly different materials than are of eco- nomical use at the present time, and we find that such plasters were almost invariably used in the warm climates where the ac- tion of frost would not tend to disintegrate the rather poor material which was then available. There is every reason to believe that originally these stuccoes were intended to cover up and protect inferior building stone and sunburned straw brick. The archaeol- ogy of stucco would tend to show that from an artistic standpoint this method of deco- ration was a development of the wattled buildings, which were plastered with clay and different muds hardened by being baked in the heat of the sun. Therefore, in this instance, the use of clay plaster over wattled houses was to protect an inferior building material. To-day, stucco is used for a similar pur- pose, and for its pleasing surfaces. It would, therefore, seem advisable to recom- mend a material which would best serve the purpose of protection and artistic merit. Stucco or plaster should never be used as an imitation of other building ma- terial. To carry out these ideas we desire to recommend only Portland cement stucco for exteriors, as this is the only hydraulic material which will stand the action of the elements. From the artistic side we would also recommend such surface finish for stucco as will cause both natural color and pleas- ing texture. It would be well, therefore, to expose to view the aggregates used and avoid as far as possible exposing the bond- ing material, Portland cement. There is no artistic reason for allowing only the bonding material to be displayed to the eye. On very large jobs the surface can be cleaned off by means of a sand blast, and on smaller work, the outside may be cleaned by means of muriatic acid in dilute solution, 1 part commercial muriatic acid, 4 to 5 parts clear water, until each grain of sand is exposed. Where white aggregates are used the surface may be cleaned off with a solution 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 scrub- bing, it will be too hard to remove the coat of neat cement from the outside of each particle of sand or other aggregates; and if scrubbed when it is too soft the surface mav be damaged and difficult to repair. If the character of the available aggre- gates will not present a pleasing surface when exposed, the following surface treat- ment 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, pulverized form, and 1 part of the volume of the ce- ment of fine white sand. Mix with water
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