Should I tint or paint my stucco finish?

by: Laurel Rae Harmon2/24/2016

To Paint or no to paint?  That is the Question.

Whether or not to paint or tint the finish coat of EIFS is a question asked fairly frequently. There are some simple guidelines to follow if you are debating whether to tint or paint stucco finish. The factors involved include the desired color and the texture.

Reasons to Paint

If the desired color is very dark or in a shade of green or red, it is often difficult to make tint that will be a correct match. Dark colors are also prone to fading. Tinted stucco that is dark color may require a lot of pigment which alters the finish to the point that the aggregates in the finish do not properly absorb the color. Also, colors that are in the green or red family often require a lot of yellow pigment which makes tinting stucco finish red or green difficult. Sometime a clear base stucco finish can be used in lieu of tint base stucco but that is not always a solution. When tinting finish is not advisable it is often recommended that the finish be painted instead. Painting stucco finish with and exterior acrylic paint is fairly easy and can be sprayed on with a paint sprayer. However, if you have a fine or smooth sand finish it may reduce the visibility of the texture when painted.

Reasons to Tint

Stucco finish is beautiful and lasts for many years. But over time due to weathering and impact, your finish my get small cracks, flake, or slightly erode. If you have painted your finish coat and your finish has flaked a little bit, the white of the finish underneath the paint will show making your stucco look old and worn. If your stucco is tinted and has worn a little, it will still look fantastic.

Color Matching

At Cross Country Supply, we are able to make most Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, TIQUE, or other stucco manufacturers colors. The color matching lab can match samples if a clean sample that is approximately 3”x3” (about the size of a tennis ball) is provided. We cannot match colors from a picture. Due to lighting conditions and the photo print paper, cell phone or computer screen, determining colors from a picture is not accurate and cannot be done with desired results.

Mixing your Stucco Tint

Your tint will come in a separate tint cup that you will add to your 5-gallon bucket of finish. Add one tint cup per 5 gallon container, making sure all the tint is out of the cup. Mix with a drill mixer until thoroughly mixed. If you have extra buckets of finish at the end of the job that you haven’t added tint to, you can use the finish for the next job, just order different tints!

A suggestion!

If you either tint or paint, it is best to keep the information of the make, name, and color code for the color you have chosen. This way, if you need to add an addition to your structure, touch up a spot that is a bit worn from years of exposure to the elements, or need to repair a spot from accidental damage such as tornado, tree, or high impact, it will be easy to order the product that you need without having to send out samples for color matching.

The Effects of Woodpeckers on Building Exteriors

By: Laurel Rae Harmon
November 6th 2015

Woodpeckers can damage the exterior of residential and commercial buildings due to their pecking behaviors. There are several species of woodpecker native to North America that have been noted for causing damage to buildings. Woodpeckers use two types of pecking: drumming and drilling. When woodpeckers use repetitive short pecks, this is called drumming. Woodpeckers drum to attract mates and to mark their territories. The sound of the drumming lets other birds know that a woodpecker has claimed an area. Woodpeckers also use another kind of peck called drilling. Drilling is done in order to carve out homes or to find food. One type of woodpecker, the acorn woodpecker, will make a series of small holes just big enough to store one acorn each.

Woodpeckers prefer dead trees to nest and find food. The woodpecker likes to eat beetles, larvae, and other bugs that live in dead and dying trees. When people build a new house on a property and have trees removed for development or when people have dead trees removed, woodpeckers then search for another place to live, mate, and eat. Unfortunately, this usually means someone’s house. When a woodpecker is using dead trees to make a nest or find bugs people generally do not have a problem with this behavior. When a woodpecker starts using a person’s home, then it becomes a problem.

The most common reason a woodpecker will peck at your house is that it likes the noise it makes. Woodpeckers do not limit themselves to the pecking sound on wood and will also peck metal or plastic. Woodpeckers can be found drumming on street lights, utility poles, gutters, chimneys, roof eaves, satellite dishes, stucco, and anything else they like. Luckily, when a woodpecker is drumming, there is usually minimal damage.
However, the other reason woodpeckers like buildings is for nesting, roosting, and brooding. When a woodpecker has decided to take residence in your house it will drill large, deep holes into the exterior and nest in your substrate or insulation. Woodpeckers usually build their nests and mate from January to June and will have 2-3 broods per season laying 3-6 eggs each time. The eggs take less than two weeks to hatch and the chicks are cared for by both the mother and father woodpecker.

It is important to repair woodpecker damage as soon as it is noticed. Leaving holes in exterior cladding for any amount of time allows water, air, and moisture behind your exterior cladding and can lead to mold, mildew, or decay, especially when the substrate is untreated wood such as OSB or plywood.
There are a few things one can do to discourage woodpeckers from drumming or drilling. One of the most effective way to keep a woodpecker from returning is to scare it. It is generally noted that decoys such as owls are not effective because they do no move. Once the woodpeckers realize the decoy is inanimate, they will go back to pecking. Shiny things that move in the breeze, such as pinwheels, strips of brightly colored plastic, Mylar, or aluminum foil will often deter a woodpecker.

It is important that you do not harm or kill the woodpecker as it is an endangered species and harming them in a federal offense. Many species of woodpecker are threatened, critically endangered, or possibly extinct. Other activities like transporting or trapping a woodpecker may be also be illegal and could carry a fine.
One other solution to deterring woodpeckers from nesting in a building is to give it an alternate home. A nesting box, which is a kind of bird house on a post that is enclosed. Some people have found that providing one of these nesting boxes filled with sawdust encourages woodpeckers to nest there rather that drill and nest in building exteriors.

In conclusion, the woodpecker pecks for various reasons. The woodpecker is a beautiful bird that is vital to the environment. When woodpeckers are causing damage to a home or business there are ways to deter them from inflicting major damage on a building’s exterior. It is important to never transport, injure, or kill a woodpecker as they are a protected species

For information on repairing stucco that has been damaged by woodpeckers visit www.eifsdepot.com/eifs-repair-kit/

Cross Country Supply on LinkedIn

by: Laurel Rae Harmon
October 21st 2015


Cross Country Supply, Home of the EIFS Depot now has a LinkedIn Page which can be found here.
Cross Country Supply, Home of the EIFS Depot has been manufacturing, supplying, and distributing high-quality EIFS, stucco, and plaster products nationwide for over 10 years. Our line of TIQUE Quality Stucco Products are manufactured from the finest raw materials available to the Southeast.
Our most popular items include: Basecoat Adhesive, 100% Acrylic Stucco Finishes, EPS Foam Board, Fiberglass Mesh, Starter Track, TIQUE AquaGuard, Stucco Tapes, Architectural Shapes, tools and More.

100% Acrylic Stucco Finishes

Our TIQUE Stucco Finishes are 100% Acrylic and are made with the finest aggregates available.  TIQUE finishes are available in five textures: Fine, Medium, Coarse, Swirl, and The Big Worm.  TIQUE Acrylic Finishes can be tinted to most colors.  Cross Country Supply is able to make most Stucco Manufacturer colors, Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore colors.  Call 866.375.9510 today for a TIQUE Color Chart or request one through our contact page here.

Basecoat Adhesive

Our TIQUE Basecoat Adhesive comes in either a 5 Gallon Bucket or a 50 Pound Bag. When purchased in a bucket, the addition of Portland Cement is required.  When purchased in a 50 Pound Bag, the addition of potable water is required.  TIQUE Basecoat Adhesive is smooth, creamy, and easily trowel-able with a great open time.  TIQUE Basecoat Adhesive is a key component to the TIQUEwall System.  For Pricing and coverage for TIQUE Basecoat Adhesive, check out our Basecoat Adhesive page here. Also available is our Economy Basecoat Adhesive.

Fiberglass Mesh

Our TIQUE Fiberglass Mesh is available in many sizes and weights and is available in standard, self adhesive, and supersoft.  Whether you need one roll or multiple pallets, we have most items in stock and ready to ship same day on orders placed before noon.  Fiberglass Mesh has many uses for multiple applications.  Fiberglass Mesh can be used in EIFS, mosiacs, carpet and tile backing, reinforcing concrete, concrete canoes, outdoor kitchens, terrazzo, counter tops, and more. Please call 866.375.9510 if you need help determining the weight or size mesh needed for your project.

1000’s of Products in Stock and Ready to Ship today!

Cross Country Supply, Home of the EIFS Depot to stock 1000’s of items directly from out warehouse to your work, home, or jobsite.  We are proud to offer same day shipping on in stock items ordered before noon. If you need something and don’t see it on the website just call, we may have it or may be able to get it for you.
Need a small order after hours or on weekends?  Consider buying our items on eBay if you need just one or two items or if you need to order after hours.  Pay with paypal.  It’s quick, easy and will ship same business day if ordered by noon or will ship the following business day if ordered after noon.  Check out our eBay store here.
For more information on our products available for sale, you can find more articles on our blog here.



For specification sheets, technical data sheets, and SDS sheets of TIQUE Quality Stucco Products click here for the TIQUE Website.

Brought to you by the makers of TIQUE Quality Stucco Products

Mechanical Fasteners- For EIFS and Plaster

Mechanical Fasteners

By: Laurel Rae HarmonMarch 11, 2015

Mechanical Fasteners are primarily used when installing EIFS. (Exterior Insulation and Finish System) Mechanical fasteners are used to attach EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) foam board to plywood, OSB, and light metals and other approved substrates. Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) and Polyisocyanurate foams can also be used in the place of EPS foam board. Mechanical fasteners are designed so the screw will pass through EPS foam and the washer will stop the head of the screw from passing completely though the foam board, countersinking the plastic stop washer and leaving the surface flush. This is very important because installers may need to rasp any uneven foam surfaces and then apply a layer of basecoat adhesive on top of the EPS foam board with a trowel and embed fiberglass mesh into the basecoat.

 Mechanical Fasteners are comprised of a pre-assembled galvanized steel screw that is coupled with a high density, impact resistant two inch plastic stop washer. The large diameter of the washer provides strong resistance to positive and negative wind loads. The recessed channel with the plastic closures over the top prevent moisture from passing through, bleeding of basecoat, and prevents thermal bridging, as well as covering the screw head so that there is a flush surface. The recessed area of the fastener makes it so very little basecoat adhesive to is needed to fill the indention in the EPS board.
When installing an EIFS system with mechanical fasteners, it is important that one use an air and moisture barrier such as Stucco wrap. In a system attached with adhesive, a roll on barrier is used which creates a membrane to protect the substrate from air and moisture vapor. A roll on barrier should not be used on a mechanically attached system because the screws penetrate the membrane therefore defeating the purpose of a water and air tight membrane. In addition to using a moisture barrier, an installer must be sure that areas around windows, doors, soffits, and the roof line are properly flashed.

 One significant advantage of using mechanical fasteners is that you do not have to wait a day for adhesive to dry as with a system that is attached with adhesive. An installer can attach the EPS foam, basecoat and install fiberglass mesh on the same day. Since the washer and screw are pre-assembled, a mechanically attached system can be installed fairly quickly. It is recommended by most manufacturers to use one fastener per square foot for proper strength.
.
When purchasing pre-assembled mechanical fasteners, the key is to buy a fastener with a screw length that is slightly longer than the thickness of your foam board. See chart below.

Foam Thickness	Screw Length
1″	1-5/8″
1-1/2″	2″
2″	2-1/2″
2-1/2″	3″

It is important to follow architect specifications, local building codes, and manufacturer’s recommendations when installing and EIFS system. Different regions may require either a system attached with adhesive, mechanically attached, or a combination of the two due to humidity, average temperature, and/or wind speeds. Some regions may need to be attached with both adhesive and fasteners.

Click here for information on purchasing Mechanical Fasteners

MOSAIC TILE USING FIBERGLASS MESH

MOSAIC TILE

SEPTEMBER 23, 2014

BY LAUREL RAE HARMON

MOSAIC TILE IS AN ART FORM. THE TRULY CREATIVE ARE ABLE TO MAKE BEAUTIFUL FLOORS, BACK SPLASHES, TABLES, FURNITURE, AND DECORATIVE ART FROM BROKEN PIECES OF TILE. SOME BUY CUT TILES, OTHERS SMASH UP TILES, SOME USE PEBBLES, SHELLS, OR COINS BUT THE RESULT IS THE SAME, ART FROM TINY PIECES OF TILE.
THE FIRST STEP IN MOSAIC TILE IS TO CREATE YOUR PATTERN ON A PIECE OF CARDBOARD, POSTER BOARD, DRYWALL, OR ANY FLAT SURFACE. THEN YOU WANT TO PLACE SELF-ADHESIVE FIBERGLASS MESHWITH THE STICKY SIDE UP OVER THE PATTERN. 2.12 OUNCE SELF-ADHESIVE MESH CAN BE USED FOR LIGHT WEIGHT LIKE SMALL SEA SHELLS AND TINY PEBBLES AND DELICATE DETAIL MOSAIC WORK.

 

 

4.5 OZ MESH VS 2.12 OZ MESH

FOR HEAVIER TILE AND OBJECTS LIKE LARGER PEBBLES AND PENNIES 4.5 OUNCE SELF-ADHESIVE MESH.  4.5 OZ SELF ADHESIVE MESH IS USED FOR MOST MOSAIC TILE APPLICATIONS. SELF ADHESIVE MESH COMES IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT WIDTHS,THE ROLLS ALL COME IN 150′ IN LENGTH.  FOR COASTERS, 4″ IS USED.  FOR BACK SPLASHES, 12″ MESH IS THE MOST COMMON SIZE USED.  38″ INCH IS USED FOR FURNITURE AND DECORATIVE WALL ART.

 

4.5 OZ SELF ADHESIVE FIBERGLASS MESH ROLLS

BEGIN BY LAYING YOUR TILES OVER THE PATTERN ON THE STICKY SIDE OF THE FIBERGLASS MESH. YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THE MESH WILL HOLD THE TILES IN PLACE AS YOU WORK AND YOU WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE THE TILES AROUND AS YOU PLEASE.

COINS ON 4.5 OZ. SELF ADHESIVE MESH

 

ONCE YOU HAVE YOUR TILES IN PLACES YOU WILL THEN USE MASKING TAPE TO COVER THE TOP OF THE TILES THAT YOU JUST PLACED UNTIL THEY ARE SECURE ENOUGH THAT YOU CAN FLIP YOUR PROJECT OVER SO THE BACK OF THE MESH (NON-STICKY SIDE) IS ON TOP.  SECURING TILES BY COVERING YOUR PROJECT WITH MASKING TAPE IS ALSO A GOOD THING TO DO IF YOU NEED TO STORE YOUR PROJECT, MOVE YOUR PROJECT TO ANOTHER SURFACE, OR ARE TRANSPORTING YOUR PROJECT TO ANOTHER LOCATION.

 

MASKING TAPE

AFTER YOUR TILES ARE SECURE, YOU ARE NOW READY TO PERMANENTLY SET YOUR DESIGN. APPLY A SMALL AMOUNT OF CAULK, ADHESIVE OR LIQUID NAILS TO THE BACK (NON-STICKY SIDE) OF THE FIBERGLASS MESH. THE CAULKING SHOULD BE SPREAD WITH A PUTTY KNIFE AND SHOULD NOT GO THROUGH THE MESH.  USE JUST ENOUGH TO SECURE THE FIBERGLASS MESH TILE BUT NOT SO MUCH THAT IT SEEPS OUT BETWEEN THE TILES. MAKE SURE YOU LET YOUR CAULK, LIQUID NAILS, OR ADHESIVE THOROUGHLY DRY.

 

AFTER YOUR CAULKING IS DRY, YOU MAY TURN YOUR MOSAIC TILE OVER AND REMOVE THE MASKING TAPE FROM THE TOP OF THE TILE. YOUR MOSAIC TILE PATTERN IS NOW READY FOR ITS GROUT OR MASTIC.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PURCHASING SELF-ADHESIVE MESH.
IF YOU USE OUR MESH IN A MOSAIC TILE PROJECT AND SEND PICTURES TO WE WILL FEATURE YOUR PROJECT ON OUR FACEBOOK AND TWITTER!

Featured Mosaic Tile using TIQUE Fiberglass Mesh

Mosaic Art by: Connie Williams

custommosaics.net

 

MOSAIC WALL ART

MOSAIC TILE BACK SPLASH

MOSAIC TILE BACK SPLASH

Attaching EIFS – Adhesively Attached or Mechanically Fastened

Attaching EIFS – Attached or Fastened?

Attaching EIFS – Adhesively Attached or Mechanically Fastened

By: Laurel Rae Harmon
April 6th 2015
Every day contractors call me to quote EIFS (Exterior Insulation and Finishing System) materials or place an order for EIFS products. When I am trying to help a customer order enough materials for a project, one of the first questions I always ask is, “Is this project going to be mechanically fastened or adhesively attached?” I have come up with the phrase “glued or screwed” as when attaching EIFS, it can either be attached with basecoat adhesive (glued) or mechanically fastened (screwed). Most stucco contractors answer either way with a majority of systems being mechanically fastened.
But occasionally, when I ask if the system is to be adhesively attached or mechanically fastened (glued or screwed) I get the dead silence of confusion. Many old school contractors that have been doing stucco for years are very familiar with hard coat stucco applications but may be trying to install EIFS for the first time.
Part of determining whether your system should be adhesively attached or mechanically fastened (glued or screwed) is determining what material the substrate in which the system is being attached. Although the layers of EPS, Basecoat adhesive, and Finish are the same for an adhesively attached (Glued) and Mechanically Fastened (Screwed), there are a few slight differences in the application of the two systems.
In a Mechanically Fastened system (Screwed), pre-assembled mechanical fasteners consisting of a galvanized steel screw and a 2” Plastic stop washer are used to attach EPS Foam board to the substrate. Mechanical fasteners are able to penetrate OSB, plywood, chip board, and light metals. The screw length should be longer than the thickness of the EPS foam Board. A mechanically Fastened system requires a stucco wrap, Drainage Mat, or rain screen between the substrate and the EPS foam to prevent moisture from intruding into your system and damaging the substrate. 

Mechanical Fasteners

In an Adhesively attached system (glued), EPS foam is secured to the substrate with the use of basecoat adhesive that is applied with a notched trowel forming a vertical drain plain. Unlike the Mechanically fastened system (Screwed), the adhesively attached system (Glued) requires a roll on secondary moisture vapor barrier, such as TIQUEguard. TiqueGuard can also be troweled on. The roll on barrier forms a membrane that protects the substrate from air and moisture intrusion. An adhesively attached (Glued) System can be done over dens glass, OSB, plywood, masonry, and other approved substrates.

Notched Trowel

Some contractors will used a combination of adhesive and mechanical fasteners in areas where there are high winds.  Some contractors even use a combination of the two, using both adhesive and fasteners. This can be done but one must keep in mind that if one is using a roll on secondary moisture vapor barrier, such as TIQUEguard, that fasteners will penetrate the membrane that is designed to keep water and air from damaging your substrate.  Click here for information about ordering TIQUEguard.


As always, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and architectural specifications when installing EIFS. Choosing adhesively attached (Glued) or mechanically fastened (Screwed) applications does not affect the look of the finished product. EIFS is an attractive and cost efficient exterior choice. Exterior insulation is a great way to save money on heating and cooling costs and lowers your carbon footprint. The use of architectural shapes and different colors and textures makes every EIFS installation unique. For a beautiful, customizable look that saves you money on heating and cooling choose and Exterior insulation finishing system!


For more information on purchasing EIFS materials for a screwed or glued system, call us today at 866.375.950. Our highly trained, friendly staff are here to help you.
We deliver fast and directly to the jobsite- cross country!!!

Home of the EIFS Depot

Basecoat Adhesive- Wet or Dry?

Wet Base or Dry Base? What’s the difference?
by Laurel  Rae Harmon
9/9/2014

In the EIFS application there are three layers: the EPS foam, the basecoat adhesive (which the fiberglass mesh is embedded into), and the finish coat. When customers are ordering supplies for EIFS, when it comes to basecoat the question comes up what’s the difference between Wet Base and Dry Base?
The short answer is they are both the same product but packaged differently. There are three components to Basecoat Adhesive.

1) Our secret proprietary mixture
2) Portland Cement
3) Water

Proprietary Mixture + Portland Cement + Water = Basecoat

When these three components are out together they form a smooth trowelable cementitious product. When are three are combined it does what cements do, harden. Therefore, we package basecoat two different ways, in buckets (Wet Base) and in bags. (Dry Base)

Wet Basecoat (Buckets)-Just add Portland

Covers 140-160 square feet

Proprietary Mixture + Water = Wet Basecoat

In a 5 Gallon bucket of Wetbase, our proprietary mixture and water and mixed together. If you remember, there are three components to Basecoat: Proprietary Mixture, Portland Cement, and Water. Therefore, when you are using Wet base you must divide the wetbase into two buckets, add half a bag of Portland cement to each bucket and mix with a jiffy-type mixer, let it stand for five minutes, then mix again for one minute and you are ready to trowel on the basecoat.

Dry Basecoat (Bags)-Just add Water

Covers 80-100 square feet

Proprietary Mixture + Portland Cement = Dry Basecoat

With a 50 pound bag of basecoat, open the bag and slowly pour mixture and one gallon of clean potable water into a 5 gallon pail while mixing. Add up to 1.5 quarts of additional water and continue to mix until homogenized. Allow to stand 5 minutes then remix for one minute. Final consistency should be very creamy, light, and easily trowelable.
I hope that clears up any questions about the difference between wet base and dry base.
Tique Basecoat adhesive for EIFS (Exterior Insulation Finishing Systems) is proudly made in the USA. For more information, please call 866.375.9510.