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Stucco PlasteringFor large r jobs the major tasks in this phase of the construction should bespecialized for different groups. One group should manage the plaster mixing whileanother does the stucco application to the walls. Each group needs to work in acoordinated manner so that as the stucco plaster is prepared it can be immediatelyapplied to the walls. The first coat must dry to some extent before the next layer isapplied. Also, the first rough coat may need substantially more stucco as this layerneeds to fill all cracks and create an even surface. The first layer should also bescored with a rake before it dries. This scoring provides an important bondingsurface for the next layer. Typically three layers are applied. The first layer shouldcover the entire surface of all walls and fill gaps. As it dries it should be scored witha rake. Any straw that sticks out should be clipped off at the first layer. Once thefirst layer dries a lighter layer should be applied to smooth out the entire surface.This may be used as the final surface. To make it a nice texture the second layer canbe sponged with a wet sponge. This brings out the sand in the mixture created asmooth texture and minimizes lines created by trowelling.A final third layer may be applied in order to pigment the final wall. This allowscolor to be added.In order to prepare large amounts of cement-based stucco, a cement mixer will berequired. For the small shed that I built, I simply mixed the ingredients in mywheelbarrow. For larger homes, walls and buildings you will need a properconstruction mixer. Building our home, we rented one for a weekend.The plaster mix we used was one part Portland cement, one part lime and five partssand. Mix in water until the consistency changes to a thick mud. Youll know it isright once you try to apply it to the straw bale walls. In should stick and spread,maintaining its position and shape. Dont add too much water too fast. If you dothough, you can add the ingredients in the same proportion to thicken things upagain.Although other mixtures are possible, one part Portland cement, one part lime, andfive parts sand provides a well-proven stucco mix. The parts can be mixed using ashovel or other tool as long as it is consistent in terms of the ratio of ingredients. Ifyour particular ingredients dont produce the desired results, then experiment withadjustments to the ratios until you get one the produces the results you want.148