If you’re unhappy with the look of your home’s current exterior but aren’t ready to commit to a full siding removal and replacement, applying stucco over your existing siding is a compelling alternative worth serious consideration. It’s less disruptive, often more cost-effective than a complete siding overhaul, and delivers a durable, attractive finish that can last for decades with minimal maintenance.
Greg Unseth Painting & Exteriors has been installing stucco over existing siding on Colorado Springs homes for over 40 years. Here’s everything you need to know about how the process works, what it costs, and why so many Front Range homeowners choose stucco as their exterior upgrade of choice.
What Is Stucco Over Siding?
Stucco is an exterior finish made from a combination of Portland cement, sand, lime, and water that cures into a hard, durable coating. Unlike traditional siding, which consists of individual planks or panels layered to cover the exterior of a home, stucco creates a seamless, continuous surface that gives a home a distinctly clean and refined appearance.
Stucco over siding refers to the practice of applying a stucco finish directly on top of your home’s existing exterior rather than removing the current siding first. This approach is one of the most common applications we perform for Colorado Springs homeowners, and when done correctly by an experienced professional, the result is a beautiful, long-lasting exterior that looks far more expensive than the process required to achieve it.
Stucco over siding is particularly well-suited for homeowners who want to cover older, outdated siding without the cost and disruption of a full removal and replacement project. It adds insulation, improves moisture resistance, and completely transforms the appearance of the home in a single project. Visit our stucco services page to learn more about the full range of stucco options we offer throughout Colorado Springs.
The Process of Applying Stucco Over Siding
Applying stucco over existing siding is a multi-step process that requires experience, precision, and quality materials to achieve results that look great and perform well over the long term. Here’s an overview of what the process typically involves:
The first step is preparing the existing siding surface to receive the stucco. This involves installing a moisture barrier layer to protect the underlying siding from water infiltration, followed by a metal lath or wire system that provides the mechanical key the stucco needs to bond properly to the surface. Without this foundation, stucco will not adhere correctly and is far more susceptible to cracking and failure over time.
Once the lath is in place, a scratch coat is applied and raked to create a textured surface that helps the subsequent coats bond. The brown coat follows, building up the thickness of the stucco system and creating a stable, even base for the finish coat. During the three to five day cure phase between coats, it’s important that the stucco is kept from drying too quickly, as rapid drying can lead to cracking and surface defects.
The finish coat is the final layer and the one that determines the appearance of your completed stucco exterior. At Greg Unseth Painting & Exteriors, we use Total Wall Elastomeric Stucco by Sherwin Williams for our finish coat, one of the most advanced and crack-resistant stucco finish products available. It’s specifically engineered for Colorado’s demanding climate conditions and is the product we back with our Limited Lifetime Warranty. A fiberglass mesh is also incorporated into the base coat to minimize future cracking and provide long-term structural integrity.
The entire stucco over siding process on an average Colorado Springs home typically takes between two and three weeks to complete properly. We handle all permitting and inspections through the El Paso County Regional Building Department from start to finish.
How Long Does Stucco Over Siding Last?
One of the most compelling arguments for choosing stucco over other exterior finish options is its exceptional longevity. Stucco is made from some of the most durable materials available for exterior construction, and a properly installed stucco finish can last anywhere from 50 to 80 years or more before any major exterior renovation is needed.
That kind of lifespan is significantly longer than most traditional siding alternatives. Vinyl siding typically needs to be replaced every 20 to 30 years, and wood siding requires even more frequent maintenance and eventual replacement. When you consider the long-term cost of repeated siding replacements versus a single stucco installation that lasts for the life of the home, stucco’s higher upfront cost consistently comes out ahead.
It’s worth noting that stucco can occasionally begin to absorb water or develop surface damage after approximately 20 years, particularly in areas with significant moisture exposure or ground movement. When this happens, prompt repairs are important to prevent moisture from working its way into the underlying structure. Greg Unseth Painting & Exteriors handles stucco repair throughout Colorado Springs and can assess any issues during a free estimate to determine whether repair or additional protective coatings are the right solution.
The Benefits of Choosing Stucco Over Siding
Excellent Insulation and Energy Efficiency
Stucco is composed of dense, heavy materials including cement, sand, and lime that create a wall system with significantly better thermal mass than most siding alternatives. That density translates directly into improved insulation properties that help regulate your home’s interior temperature more effectively, keeping conditioned air inside where it belongs and reducing the workload on your heating and cooling system. For Colorado Springs homeowners dealing with dramatic seasonal temperature swings, that energy efficiency benefit has real, ongoing dollar value.
Beyond thermal insulation, stucco also provides meaningful sound insulation. The density of a stucco exterior buffers outside noise more effectively than most siding materials, which is a genuine quality-of-life benefit for homeowners near busy roads or commercial areas.
Exceptional Durability
Stucco is one of the toughest exterior finish options available, and its durability is particularly well-suited to Colorado Springs conditions. It’s naturally resistant to fire, moisture, rot, mold, and insect damage, and when finished with an elastomeric coat it has the flexibility to handle the freeze-thaw cycles and temperature swings that are common on the Front Range without cracking or deteriorating prematurely.
That durability means fewer repairs, less maintenance, and a lower total cost of ownership over the life of your home compared to siding materials that are more susceptible to hail damage, moisture infiltration, and surface degradation in Colorado’s climate. If your home has sustained hail damage on existing siding, stucco is worth considering as a longer-term solution. Check out our hail damage repair page to learn more about how we address storm damage as part of a broader exterior improvement plan.
Strong Curb Appeal
Stucco has a distinctive, high-end appearance that consistently stands out in Colorado Springs neighborhoods. The seamless, continuous surface gives homes a clean, refined look that’s difficult to achieve with traditional siding products, and stucco complements virtually every architectural style from classic ranch homes to contemporary designs.
Whether your street is already full of stucco homes or you’re looking for something that makes your property stand out from vinyl and wood siding neighbors, a stucco exterior delivers serious curb appeal that holds up beautifully over time. Combined with decorative stone veneer accents, a stucco exterior can create a truly striking finished look. Check out our stone veneer services to see how we incorporate stone accents into stucco projects throughout Colorado Springs.
Highly Customizable
One of the most appealing qualities of stucco from a design standpoint is its versatility. Stucco color is typically created by mixing mineral oxide pigments directly into the finish coat material rather than painting the surface after curing, which means the color is an integral part of the stucco itself. This approach produces a color that is more durable, more consistent, and longer-lasting than paint applied to the surface.
Stucco is available in virtually any color you can envision, as well as a wide range of textures from smooth and contemporary to heavily textured and rustic. Custom detailing, carved designs, and decorative accents can also be incorporated into a stucco installation for a truly one-of-a-kind exterior. Our team works closely with Colorado Springs homeowners during the design process to find the right color, texture, and detailing options for their specific home and style preferences.
Cost-Effective Long-Term Investment
Stucco over siding typically costs between $6 and $9 per square foot including labor and materials, which is generally competitive with other quality exterior finish options and significantly less expensive than a full siding removal and replacement project. When you factor in stucco’s longevity, low maintenance requirements, and the energy efficiency benefits it provides, the long-term cost picture is very favorable compared to most alternatives.
Greg Unseth Painting & Exteriors offers a three-part payment structure and additional financing options to make the upfront investment more manageable for Colorado Springs homeowners. Contact us for a free estimate tailored to your specific home and project.
Is Stucco Over Siding Right for Your Colorado Springs Home?
If you’re looking for a durable, low-maintenance, energy-efficient exterior finish that dramatically improves your home’s curb appeal and lasts for decades, stucco over siding is one of the smartest investments you can make in your Colorado Springs property. It’s a proven solution that has transformed thousands of Front Range homes, and the results speak for themselves.
Greg Unseth Painting & Exteriors provides free, no-obligation estimates for stucco over siding projects throughout Colorado Springs and the surrounding communities including Monument, Falcon, Peyton, Fountain, Pueblo, and Canon City. Our team will come out to your home, assess your existing exterior, and give you a clear, honest recommendation and detailed proposal before any work begins.
In addition to stucco, we offer a comprehensive range of exterior services including exterior painting, siding and trim replacement, window and door replacement, deck installation, and fence installation throughout Colorado Springs and the surrounding Front Range communities. Contact us today to get started.
