Exterior Plastering San Diego

Sunny Coast is your trusted expert in exterior plastering and stucco installation for both residential and commercial properties. We provide reliable, professional, and high-quality plastering services to property owners, contractors, and homebuilders across San Diego and its surrounding areas.
Ornamental exterior stucco work with archway, done by Sunny Coast Stucco - San Diego, CA

Exterior Plastering: Durable Stucco Solutions That Last

Exterior plastering using stucco is a durable and weather-resistant solution ideal for withstanding harsh conditions—rain, wind, heat, and even fire. It’s also resistant to insects and rot, making it a smart choice for high-humidity regions. Whether you’re starting a new project or renovating an existing property, our exterior stucco installation services bring together functionality and aesthetics. We create custom architectural features such as arches, columns, and decorative textures—all applied with precision. Cleaning and maintaining stucco is simple, making it a low-maintenance yet stylish exterior finish.

Traditional Stucco Finishes

Traditional stucco is a rigid, cement-based finish that’s typically applied in one or three-coat systems. It’s composed of cement, lime, sand, and water, and offers a variety of textured finishes ranging from smooth to rough.

Textured exterior stucco by Sunny Coast Stucco - San Diego, CA

At Sunny Coast, we specialize in custom traditional stucco applications that bring your design vision to life. Though traditional stucco may show color variations between batches and require repainting over time, it remains a cost-effective and highly customizable option. It’s breathable and allows water to evaporate, which helps prevent moisture buildup behind the walls.

Acrylic stucco exterior finish with archway door

Synthetic Stucco for Modern Durability

Also known as acrylic stucco, synthetic stucco is a flexible and water-resistant alternative to traditional finishes. Applied in multiple layers—including a fiberglass mesh and a top acrylic coat—synthetic stucco offers excellent insulation and vibrant color options.

Made from acrylic resins, polymers, and sand, synthetic stucco is pre-mixed for color consistency and faster application. Its water-repelling properties make it a strong choice for moisture control and long-term durability, especially for EIFS (Exterior Insulation and Finish System) projects. While it’s a higher upfront investment, the reduced maintenance makes it a valuable long-term solution.

DIFFERENT STUCCO FINISHES

float/sand stucco finish sample
FLOAT/SAND
(most common finish for exterior stucco)

This is a versatile finish that can be used on both traditional and synthetic stucco. It can also be sprayed on or applied with a trowel. Float or sand has coarse, fine, and medium patches.

dash stucco finish sample
DASH

Dash is sprayed onto homes with a light, medium, or heavy volume. Dash is a unique look, and it can be changed with 1–3 coats. This kind of finish is available for both traditional and synthetic, and it can be a great option for homeowners who are concerned with cracking
lace and skip stucco finish sample
LACE AND SKIP

When you visualize a stucco finish on homes, it is usually lace and skip. This kind of finish is used with both commercial and residential buildings. Lace and skip is rough. Imperfections are easily hidden due to the variations in the texture. First, you put on the base coat, and then there is a fine, medium, or coarse pattern from which you can choose.
Santa Barbara stucco finish sample
SANTA BARBARA

Used only in traditional stucco application, Santa Barbara uses fine sand particles to develop an adobe look. Colored sand can be used to create variations, but if you don’t want variations in the coating, you can paint Santa Barbara finishes. It is also very smooth when finished, but this can cause very visible cracking.

Cat face stucco finish sample
CAT FACE
Cat face features large areas of smoothed sections and evenly placed rough patches. The rough sections are called “inclusions,” these vary in size and shape. Cat face is ideal of either traditional and synthetic, and any homeowner can have it in their home. The best part is that your cat face finish can be completely different than your neighbor’s 
Smooth texture stucco finish sample
SMOOTH TEXTURE
Although smooth texture is one of the most difficult finishes to achieve, it is becoming increasingly popular. Smooth texture can be colored, mottled, and can be customized to fit the aesthetics of your house or office. 
Venetian stucco finish sample on fireplace
VENETIAN
 Venetian plaster is really a general term that refers to putty made from fired limestone combined with water. It’s then mixed together to make lime plaster. (So Venetian plaster and lime plaster are the same thing.) And when that lime plaster is applied to walls and exposed to the carbon dioxide in the air, the mixture turns back into limestone. 

STUCCO APPLICATION SYSTEMS

ONE COAT APPLICATION

One coat stucco system consists of water-proofing (paper), foam(depending on structural requirements), wire and all metal grounds. A brown coat (base)mix is applied at 3/8” to 1⁄2” thickness over lath, and then floated (depending on type of finish to be applied). Thickness and hydration of base coat is crucial to the longevity of this system. Finish coat (texture coat) is then applied to the base coat in the form of a cement and lime texture or acrylic finish.

Stucco Hard Coat System diagram
COAT STUCCO HARD COAT SYSTEM

The usual 3-coat system consists of a water-resistant barrier typically made from asphalt-infused paper, then other layers of wire, a scratch and brown layer, and a finish coat or primer. The cement base coat is usually about 7/8”.

Comprehensive Plastering Services Across San Diego

Sunny Coast Stucco provides complete plastering services, including:

  • Residential & Commercial Stucco Installation
  • Stucco Repair & Renovation
  • Interior & Exterior Plastering
  • New Construction Stucco Installation & Repairs
    Construction Defect Repair
  • HOA Stucco Solutions
  • Property Management Repairs & Maintenance

We proudly serve El Cajon, La Jolla, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, North Park, Santee, San Diego, and surrounding neighborhoods.

Why Choose Sunny Coast for Stucco and Plastering?

When you choose Sunny Coast Stucco, you’re hiring a team with years of hands-on experience in exterior plastering and stucco installation. We’re committed to:

  • Arriving on time
  • Providing clean, professional work
  • Offering honest answers and transparent communication
  • Using modern tools, materials, and methods
  • Ensuring your project is completed on time and to your satisfaction

Let’s bring your vision to life with beautiful, long-lasting stucco and plaster finishes. Contact Sunny Coast Stucco today to schedule your estimate.

Common Questions

To maintain exterior plastering, regularly inspect for cracks, moisture damage, or discoloration. Clean surfaces gently with water and mild detergent, and apply a sealant if necessary to protect against weathering. Repair any damage promptly to avoid further deterioration.

Exterior plastering typically lasts between 20 to 30 years, depending on weather conditions, the quality of materials, and proper maintenance.

Exterior plastering is a protective coating applied to the exterior walls of a building to improve aesthetics and provide insulation. It is made of materials like cement, lime, and sand.

Exterior stucco installation involves applying multiple layers of stucco over a building’s exterior, typically on a wire mesh or lath, to create a strong, weather-resistant surface.

Synthetic stucco, or EIFS (Exterior Insulation and Finish System), is a multi-layered exterior wall system that includes insulation, a base coat, and a finish coat, designed to provide energy efficiency and durability, mimicking traditional stucco.

A weep screed is needed during stucco installation to ensure proper drainage and compliance with building codes.