Stucco contractors in the Oakland area know one great truth about this type of finish – it is often an elegant touch to any home. What many people do not realize about it is that stucco serves more than an aesthetic purpose. It is often a wonderful insulator, allowing temperatures to remain stable within the home regardless of the weather. 

It might get confusing, however, to decide on a specific type of stucco for your home. To that end, this article explains these different types so you can choose what works best for you. Here are seven stucco finishes to consider:

1. The Dash Finish

This is perhaps the most popular type of finish, characterized by its highly textured look reminiscent of gravel. It is incredibly versatile and fits well to many designs. Your stucco contractor should be able to provide you with lighter or denser textures. 

2. The Sand Finish

As its name suggests, a sand finish makes it look like sand has been added into the mix. It is characterized by the fact that small grains seem to be floating within the finish, as a specialized foam float is used to obtain its unique, classy, and delicate look. This type of stucco is very popular for business use and comes in fine, medium, and rough styles. 

3. The Cat Face Finish 

Cat face finishes, also known as California or Montalvo finishes, are popular for the “cat faces” that appear in the finish. These cat faces appear due to the rough surfaces that accentuate the smooth areas of the finish, which resemble cats peeping through the texture. This is achieved by applying the design in two layers — a rough and then a smooth one. 

4. The Worm Finish 

Worm finishes are known for the small pits or grooves that appear in stucco. This design is only possible with synthetic stucco, using those wavy lines to add a unique touch to your home or business design. Only the most skilled stucco contractors are able to create this finish as it is a complicated process of applying the material by hand and rubbing it into circles. 

5. The Santa Barbara Finish

This is a pretty popular style in Oakland and the Bay Area. This texture features small sand particles to give it that semi-smooth texture. This look is achieved by applying two coats of the traditional stucco material with a pool trowel. This style also lends itself to painting an array of colors. 

6. The Spanish Lace Finish

The Spanish Lace Finish is generally common in homes in the Bay Area and is also known as the skip-trowel finish. They are excellent for covering faults and flexible enough to be used in both homes and offices. A primer is usually applied first, followed by a texture coat. It is also available in a range of textures—fine, medium, and coarse. 

7. The Smooth Finish

This is widely known as the most complex of stucco finish as it requires a highly skilled and experienced stucco contractor to apply it. The pool trowel is also used to achieve that smooth, distinctive finish that is very versatile and easy to paint. This style also lends itself to a beautiful speckled look and can be made from both synthetic and acrylic stucco. 

In conclusion

There you have it: the 7 different types of stucco finishing. Any of these styles can be applied to any number of home designs as long as it is paired with great aesthetic sense. It can add a beautiful look to your home which doubles as shiny insulation that both protects you from the elements and helps make your energy use more manageable.

With proper waterproofing, stucco is resistant to most decays. You don’t have to worry about a thing for we’ve got you covered! If you need a plastering contractor or stucco contractor in the Bay Area, we  at One Stop Plastering will satisfy your needs!. We have the skills and expertise to take your home to the next level with this versatile material. Furthermore, we provide other services including leak detection and wall mounting. Certified and licensed, we’ll surely get the job done corresponding to your preference whilst keeping the job site clean. Send us a message and start bidding now!