[Greenbuilding] Stucco overhead?

[Speireag Alden]

Sgrìobh Bruce Donelson:

>I've done it. Its not as easy as it looks. The expanded metalmesh has scoops
>that point in one direction. It generally works slightly better if youpush
>into the scoop shape.

     I looked at how I had it mounted, and sure enough, it ain't 
helping.  I'll keep a closer eye on *that* issue in the future.

     I spent this morning carrying hawks of mortar inside, up a 
ladder, and then hand-scooping stucco into place on top of the mesh, 
everywhere that I could reach, short of all the attachment points to 
the structure.  So I covered the worst parts, where I was trying to 
use my smallest trowel to address the concave parts of the arch. 
Gravity is now working for me, as the stuff oozes through and then 
stops.  I'll be able to stucco from underbeneath in the spring.

>Don't overwork the mud. Get it in quick, and get away from it. The 
>first coats job
>is just to get enough mud stuck to the mesh that it quits bouncing around.

     Ain't that the truth!  On the small remaining areas, I'm taking 
it patch by patch.  Let it harden for a day, and then extend the 
patch a bit.  It seems to be working, slowly.  Some of these patches 
may not get filled until spring.  We'll see how the forecast looks 
tomorrow, but today may be my last stucco day.

-Speireag.

-- 
The chill's in the air
Even so, we are gaining
on Old Man Winter.

-Speireag.