How To Mix Stucco Base Coat

There is a lot of confusion when it comes to mixing any kind of stucco, but we will be discussing the base coat mix in this article.

I will use a custom recipe that will work for most applications and include how to mix in a bucket, wheel barrow and a mixer, which all require a little different techniques.

At the end of the article, I will post other custom recipes, in case you want to use one of those instead, but the basics for mixing them will be the same.

The Stucco Mix Formula I Use:

There are so many different formulas out there that you could use and I will post other ones at the end of this post, but for this example, I am going to use a formula that I have used for years and that works well for me.

• One Part Plastic Cement
  
  
• Three Parts Masonry Sand
  
  
• Water
  
  
• Additives can be used too (acrylic, fiberglass, etc.), depending on what type of project I am working on

Basically, the “parts” can be measured in a container (like a gallon container) or weighed out to equal the given formula (3 to 1 ratio).

For example, if I used a gallon container for measuring, I would fill it with Plastic Cement (1 part), 3 times with masonry sand (3 parts) and then add water accordingly.

• Water: There is no rule to the amount you should add, but add it slowly until the consistency of pudding is reached.
  
  If your sand is wet when you mix, then much less water will be needed, so there is no specific amount to utilize.

As a test, after the stucco is mixed, take a trowel and dip it into the mix, gathering a baseball-sized amount. Tilt your trowel sideways and if it falls off before reaching a 40-degree angle, then it is probably too wet.

• Sand: I chose masonry sand because it is somewhat fine and washed, this combination has made the “brown coat” float off really nice and compacts nicely.
  
  You can chose sand with a little bit larger aggregate (sand particles), but I wouldn’t go too big, especially for smoother finishes, because it will telegraph through and make the work on the finish coat much harder.
  
  
• Cement: Plastic cement is what I like to use because it has a little more “workability” to it than just standard Portland cement does. It spreads easier and is more forgiving on the muscles, and will not require you to add any lime to it.
  
  You may use Portland cement if you would like, it doesn’t make any difference, just be sure to add lime if using Portland cement, or it will "go off" way too fast and be REALLY hard to spread.

How To Mix The Base Coat In A Wheelbarrow:

Items needed:

• A hoe for mixing: it can have the holes in it or not, it is just easier if you use the kind that has the holes in the metal blade, because that is what it is designed for.
  
  
• A wheel barrow: preferably a large sturdy one, like the blue contractors wheelbarrows that you can find at most large home improvement stores.
  
  They are sturdy and deep and are really the best choice for mixing stucco, I have tried many different wheelbarrows myself and really recommend the larger ones.
  
  
• A water hose: be sure that you have a nozzle attached, so it is ready to use and available whenever you need it
  
  
• And materials: this can be sand and cement or a base coat that has the cement and sand mixed together for you already
  

The Mixing Process:

(For this example, we will be using a custom mix as described above using 1 part plastic cement (94 lb. bags) to 3 parts sand (100 lb. bags).)

Add a little bit of water to your wheelbarrow (roughly 2 gallons to start) and throw in one bag of sand. Mix with a hoe and add water if needed. Next, add the bag of cement (plastic or Portland cement) to the water and sand mix and more water, so you can actually mix everything adequately.

Then, add another bag of sand and more water. Finally, add the last bag of sand and enough water to achieve a thick, but workable consistency.

Avoid adding too much water, which can be achieved by adding only enough to be able to mix the sand and cement together, making sure that no dry material is present.

• Add water throughout the mixing process, so the mix does not get too dry and hard to mix. If it gets too dry, it will be extremely hard to mix and will take much longer to achieve the consistency you are going for.
  
  
• You can use a shovel, hoe or something similar to mix the batch, but a mixing hoe is recommended and it will make the job a lot easier, especially if you are mixing a few bags.
  
  
• Set everything you need (hose nozzle, hoe and materials) in one spot to create a “mixing station”, it will save time and increase productivity.

Items needed:

• Two 5 gallon buckets: One is essential, for mixing the stucco and another one can be used for storing and cleaning the paddle in between mixing cycles. 
  
  Consider using two or three different mixing buckets if you have a larger area to cover (100 sq. feet and up).
  
  
• A mixing drill: These come in all different shapes and sizes and can be found at most home improvement stores. A 3/8″ drill will work just fine, but a 1/2″ one will do a better job and be more “up to the task”.
  
  
• A mixing paddle: You can use whatever type you like, but I prefer a rectangular shaped one myself.
  
  
• A water hose: be sure that you have a nozzle attached, so it is ready to use and available whenever you need it
  
  
• A cheap scale: to weigh materials
  
  
• And materials: this can be sand and cement or a base coat that has the cement and sand mixed together for you already

The Mixing Process:

(For this example, we will be using a custom mix as described above using 1 part plastic cement (94 lb. bags) to 3 parts sand (100 lb. bags).)

First add some water (roughly a gallon to start off) and figure out how much of each material to add using a 3 to 1 ratio of sand (3) and cement (1).

Remember that sand will weigh a lot more than cement and a good trick would be to weigh half of a five gallon bucket of sand and cement, using an old bathroom scale and see how much each weighs.

After you have figured out the weight of each material, start by adding about a third of the sand to the bucket of water and mix for a few seconds.

Then, add all of your cement and mix again. Finally, add the rest of the sand and water (if need be) to achieve a moderately thick consistency.

• Add water throughout the mixing process, so the mix does not get too dry and hard to mix. If it gets too dry, the bucket will spin and could potentially hurt you.
  
  
• Keep your feet firmly at the bottom of the bucket and squeeze your feet firmly around the bucket to avoid it from spinning.
  
  
• Mix the top portion of the bucket and work your way down, it will be much easier and allow the cement and sand to mix together quite nicely.

How To Mix In A Mixer:

• A Mixer: You can use either a mortar type mixer or a barrel type, either way is fine, but a mortar mixer will mix the materials much better and is the recommended way to mix the sand and cement together.
  
  
• Gas/Power Cord: Depending on what type of mixer you are using, you will need gas and/or a power cord to run the mixer. Of course, gasoline engines require gas and mixers with electric motors require a power supply.
  
  
• A water hose: be sure that you have a nozzle attached, so it is ready to use and available whenever you need it, like in the other two methods!
  
  
• A water hose: be sure that you have a nozzle attached, so it is ready to use and available whenever you need it
  
  
• And materials: this can be sand and cement or a base coat that has the cement and sand mixed together for you already, either way, it doesn’t matter. This example will use a custom mix though (sand and cement).