Need Advice on Matching an 80’s Mall Stucco Texture

Alex is working on a retail project in Los Angeles and wants to replicate the exterior stucco finish commonly seen on malls from the 1980s. While this style was widely used at the time, finding specifications and procedures for the application has been challenging. He’s looking for guidance on how to achieve this look and possibly find contractors who still do this type of work.

Question from Alex: I work for a retail company that is doing a project in Los Angeles. Our exterior façade is replicating this typical eighties mall finishing. Same width and heights. We think that this application was quite common at that time but can't find specifications and procedures. Maybe you can help us and even know who still can do it. Thanks again.

Matching 80s Mall Texture and Design 2
Matching 80s Mall Texture and Design
Matching 80s Mall Texture and Design 3

Answer: Hi Alex, Yes, the exterior stucco finishes used on malls in the 1980s were quite common and typically featured heavily textured stucco finishes, but some were a little more elaborate, like the one you shared in the images.

It looks like this texture and design can absolutely be achieved with stucco, regardless of whether the original walls are tilt-up panels. Here’s how I’d go about replicating this look:

How I Would Achieve the 1980s Mall Stucco Texture

Brown Coat Application: Since this texture is rough and deeply grooved, it should all be done in the brown coat stage of stucco application. A traditional scratch coat and brown coat system would work best.

Creating the Rough Horizontal Texture

  • Before the brown coat fully sets, a long brush or a stiff bristle broom should be used to create the rough, scratched texture across the entire surface.

  • These horizontal strokes should be done consistently but not perfectly uniform, to keep that naturally rough look.

Adding the Deep Vertical Lines

  • The vertical grooves are the defining feature of this finish.

  • These grooves need to be measured out and marked before being created with a concrete groover or a similar tool.

  • This step must be done while the brown coat is still setting, so the material is firm but still workable.

  • The grooves should be deep enough to stand out but not cut too far into the stucco.

Painting or Recoloring

  • Once the stucco cures, the final color can be achieved through paint or a fog coat if you’re using cement-based finishes.

  • Since these walls were likely painted originally, matching the color with a high-quality exterior paint would be the best option.

Key Considerations for This Style & Texture:

  • Timing is Critical: The texturing and grooving need to be done while the brown coat is setting, which requires careful timing and a steady workflow.

  • Groove Consistency: Using a guide of some sort or lines to help keep the vertical grooves aligned will be important to match the existing style.

  • Weather Factors: If working in hot or dry conditions, the stucco might set up too fast, so adjustments in misting or shading might be necessary.

This method will give you the closest match to the original 1980s mall texture and design while using traditional stucco techniques, in my opinion.

About the author

The Stucco Guy

My name is Ryan and I have been a licensed stucco contractor for many years and I feel that there is a huge "knowledge gap" when it comes to stucco, in particular. I hope you find the information here useful, and if you have a question for me fill out this Q & A form, so I can answer those questions better. Thanks for stopping by!

Leave a comment here or if you have a more indepth question that needs to be answered, fill out my Q and A form and attach a few pictures (link in author bio box above) to give me a clear picture of what's going on. Thanks for stopping by!