Susan built her house over 20 years ago and is trying to match the hard coat stucco color for touch-ups. The builder noted the color was "37 Champagne," but Susan isn't sure of the brand or exact shade and suspects some green undertones.
Despite her efforts, all attempts to match the color so far have failed. She’s attached photos of the house, the original color, and recent samples, asking for guidance.
Question from Susan:
I built my house over 20 years ago and I can't find the color of my hard coat stucco so my painter can touch up without having to repaint the whole house.
One note from the builder says I selected 37 Champagne. I remember the color card was white, and I am thinking some green (but not sure).
Any ideas on the brand that could possibly be and how I can match that up today? All attempts so far have been disastrous. I have attached a pic of the color (it is the close-up with the roof in the background). I also have attached 2 pics of the other color samples. And a pic of the house as originally done and the disaster it is today. 🙂 I would be forever indebted for any help or guidance!!
Answer:
Hi Susan, thanks for reaching out! I can see the challenge here, and you’re absolutely right, trying to find an exact match for a 20-year-old stucco color is a tough task. Here’s what I’d recommend...
Why a Perfect Match is Difficult
Even if you found the original "37 Champagne" formula, it’s unlikely to match the current color of your stucco due to 20 years of fading, weathering, and exposure to the elements, which has drastically changed from that original color.
Stucco colors lighten significantly over time, especially in sunny regions, making a direct match from the original formula not worth pursuing, unless you are having a custom color made and want to use that as a starting base.
Custom Color Matching
A custom color match is your best option, especially since your original stucco may have subtle undertones like green that are hard to replicate without a tailored approach.
Options for Custom Color Matching:
- Physical Sample: If there’s an inconspicuous spot where you can chip off a small piece of stucco, this would be ideal. A good paint or stucco supplier can analyze the sample and create a near-perfect match.
This might not be good enough for all of the areas on your home though, as different areas might have faded more or less than other walls. - On-Wall Testing: If removing a sample isn’t possible, your painter can mix a custom color on-site. Starting with a base color close to your current stucco and adding pigments to adjust the shade is a time-consuming process but yields the best results.
Two Approaches to Touch-Ups
You have two main options for addressing the stucco areas that need to be touched up with paint:
Precise Touch-Ups:
- Work with your painter to create a close match using the custom color process mentioned above.
- Focus on touching up the specific areas while blending the edges as seamlessly as possible.
- This option is less expensive but works best if the touch-up areas are small and isolated. This option will likely not blend well with the existing color of your walls and would look like patched areas.
Larger Section Painting:
- If the touch-up areas are extensive or in prominent spots, painting entire sections of the wall (e.g., corner to corner) may be a better solution. This ensures a more uniform look and avoids noticeable patchiness on the walls.
Inspecting Your Current Stucco
Looking at the photos, it’s clear that the original texture and finish still hold up well. If your stucco is unpainted, any new paint will slightly alter the texture’s appearance. This isn’t a bad thing—it’s just something to keep in mind as you plan the repairs.
No Luck with "37 Champagne"?
If there’s no record of the manufacturer or specific stucco line associated with "37 Champagne," and you really wanted to try to find it, here’s what you can do:
- Bring your photos and builder notes to a major stucco supplier like LaHabra, Sto, or Dryvit. They may recognize the code or offer a comparable custom color match.
Susan, given the unique challenges of matching a 20-year-old stucco color, a custom match is your best bet. While it takes more effort upfront, it will save you from the frustration of visible patchiness or repainting the entire house unnecessarily. Let me know how it goes or if you have more questions along the way—I’m happy to help!
Note: Your house has great character, and the color is truly timeless—this effort will be well worth it!
