Stucco Thickness

[amber]

How thick should the stucco be if I'm only using the insulating blanket? Also, approximately how long does it take to dry OR how long should I wait before using the oven again.

Thanks!

[Les]

Re: Stucco Thickness

Amber,

Are you going to add vermiculite/portland over the blanket? That is what I did so my stucco (2 applications) probably ended up around an inch thick. If you are just going to cover the blanket with wire, then stucco, one inch would probably work just as well.

Les...

[amber]

Re: Stucco Thickness

Thanks Les, you're an American hero. I'm going to do blanket and chicken wire. I got the full 100 sq ft that the plans reccomended. It may be a bit more expensive, but I'm hoping it pays off in the end... any ideas on curing time/time before use?

[Les]

Re: Stucco Thickness

any ideas on curing time/time before use?

Thats a tough one. I would think that after the insulation, you are pretty much good to go. The temps are going to be way less than what the bricks see. I recommend using an acrylic - the stuff is bullet proof. And if it's only an inch thick - it should set pretty fast. Someone here must have been down this road, hopefully they will give some input as well.

Les...

[amber]

Re: Stucco Thickness

Thanks, I think now I'm just getting obsessive, you know?

[Les]

Re: Stucco Thickness

Thanks, I think now I'm just getting obsessive, you know?

Absolutely - I may have been there myself. You are doing a fantastic job - no worries here.

Les...

[amber]

Re: Stucco Thickness

Loving every minute of it!

[Les]

Re: Stucco Thickness

I was just reading your post's on "overnight proofing". You can cook as well as build? I have a new hero!

Les...

[amber]

Re: Stucco Thickness

I'm multi-talented. Cooking is just another form of self-sufficiency.

[egalecki]

Re: Stucco Thickness

Hey Amber, I think I'd put at least a little bit of vermicrete over the chicken wire before stuccoing. It's hard to get the stucco to behave on chicken wire directly over blanket. Too flexible. The vermicrete has a different texture when you're applying it and if you put it on in layers, bottom to top, it's more easily applied. Once it's dried, you can stucco away with no trouble. I have close to 4 inches (I sort of went by my hand's width) on mine, even with 2 layers of blanket. Insulation overkill, but that's good by me!

To get your chicken wire to conform better to your oven shape, use needle nose pliers to twist it in the places where it's buckling up. That tightened mine right up!

[amber]

Re: Stucco Thickness

Thanks Elizabeth, that's very helpful. I can't wait for it to be warm AND dry enough to actually do it!