39 inch Corner Build

[JRPizza]

I had my third firing since putting on two layers of stucco, and noticed some hairline cracking, mostly running parallel to the ground. We have not decided between doing a final top coat of stucco or trying to put on some kind of tile/veneer, but would like to see how the stucco will look completed. Is there a top coat mixture/formulation/product that I can put on as my finish coat that would have a good chance of not telegraphing the cracks and not cracking further, or am I better off using a dark finish so the cracks aren't visible?

[Larry P]

I basically did what he did, but it took me about 3 hours. 4 bags of 50lb surface bonding cement. The acrylic admix made it set really fast, so I was only mixing 1 bag at a time, which really slowed things down.

[JRPizza]

That's funny Larry - about an hour into my stucco job, I said "bleep you Jay and your 20 minutes" . I did however start from the bottom and work up like he suggested, and piled some mud up against my chimney and pulled towards the top like he did where he had restricted space, so seeing someone doing the job definitely helped me.

[Larry P]

Thanks - that video helped for the consistency question I had. I also found this one where a guy that knows what he is doing stucco's a dome.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGWA60AiofE

Nice video, but two problems: (1) "I won't bore you with the 15-20 minutes it takes me to do this." He's killing me. (2) That has to be worst entry arch I've ever seen. I wonder it it's still standing.

[Larry P]

That's looking really good JR. Nice bread too. You clearly know your way around a loaf.

[JRPizza]

Did my second coat of stucco and at least there are no more wires sticking out . I'm going to keep it moist for a few days, and with the weather we are having that is not going to be a problem. If I can get the finish coat to look reasonably smooth we might just hit it with the same stain we used on the patio and see if we like it enough to forego putting tile/brick over the dome. We like the look of a covered dome, but there is plenty of work left finishing the stand and roof.

[JRPizza]

Thanks - I'm a little worried, as it is looking good to me also, which is usually when I find out something is not up to snuff.
I'm having oven withdrawal. After firing/cooking/baking the last two weekends, a combination of weather and working on the oven means no fire. I'll have to do my Sunday bread bake in the electric oven, and it just doesn't seem right.

[RandyJ]

I know nothing about stucco but that is looking great. Good job and keep up the great work.

Randy

[JRPizza]

Thanks - I went back and hit the sides with a notched trowel to give a little scratch, at least between where the wires were still "surfaced". I'll do another coat tomorrow. I held off yesterday when we were in the low 80's, but it's 56 and raining today, so I think excessive drying won't be a problem. I'll do the spray bottle thing tomorrow when I do the next layer.

[Gulf]

I don't see any "scratch", but it seems rough enough. Just take a broom or air lance and brush off anything that is loose. Lightly dampen with a sprits bottle or apply water with a paint brush staying just ahead of the next application. The same mix should be fine.

[JRPizza]

I got my scratch coat on today - I used my cement mixer to combine the 4-1-1 dry ingredients, then a big drill with a paddle to mix the mud. I can still see quite a bit of lath and I have some tie wires to cut off before the next layer. I'm guessing/hoping I can just put another layer of the same mix over the dome to cover the wires etc, does that sound right?

[Gulf]

I only checked my vent for steam once. That was during the drying phase. Using David S''s clear plastic method, I had lots of moisture collecting under the plastic for a while. When the moisture quit collecting under the plastic, I considered it good, and switched from the heat beads (charcoal) method to a live fire. A 1/2" pvc fitting can easily be installed and anchored to the mesh (to keep it from turning) at the apex. It does not take up a lot of real estate. As short as I am, mine would be invisible to me, if I were to take the vent cover out and plug it. If a vent was only considered necessary during the initial drying, a simple hole could be left in the render and capped permanently, once the drying stage was complete.

[JRPizza]

Joe, I have always thought the vents you and others have done were kinda cool, and I am going to think about how I might do one, but I am planning on putting up a roof and two walls that should prevent water from getting directly on my oven unless the roof springs a leak. There will be moisture absorbed through the air and from cooking - will that be enough to necessitate a vent? I have a few cracks that would probably allow the insulation to "breathe" into the oven chamber, so I think having a bunch of pressure build up under the stucco isn't likely.

[Gulf]

If you are going to do a traditional 3 stage stucco application, I would complete a coat each day. I did not do the scratch, brown, and finish coat method. I used an acrylic fortifier and bonding agent in all three coats. Any, edge that I thought was a little dry, got another coat of the acrylic bonding agent. But, that will get an argument from the "purists" who will argue that the stucco needs to breath. I buy that argument on a vertical wall of a house with overhangs. But, not on a WFO where the stucco is going to function as a roof. I wanted mine to be as water resistant as possible. So, I vented my oven at the top for that reason, And,also as means for moisture/steam to escape.

[JRPizza]

Thanks - that video helped for the consistency question I had. I also found this one where a guy that knows what he is doing stucco's a dome.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGWA60AiofE
Do you have thoughts about how critical it is to keep a wet edge as you work around the dome? For example if I run out of mix and daylight can I pick up the next day and finish a layer, or do I have to plan to have enough mix and time to finish a layer in a day?