Jobs in progress-updated November, 2014
Update # 136

Northern Virginia Auto Body
in Fairfax, Virginia

Northern Virginia Auto Body Fairfax, VA

The city of Fairfax wouldn't let us use a cement finish. In fact, I had to use stucco wrap instead of tar paper. It is incredible how fast synthetic finishes go on. Now I see why the competition
can work  so cheap.

The parapet walls are a quality upgrade from the plans

The parapet walls are a quality upgrade from the plans. The plans called for 1/2" one-coat stucco, and we used 3/4" portland cement and lime. The parapets are dead straight. We straighted the mortar using a string line.

>how we built a scaffold in the narrow space between the fence and the wall

The back of the building is 110 feet long and is mostly covered by this fence. If you are wondering how we built a scaffold in the narrow space between the fence and the wall.

Old painted bricks are chipped and prepared fo a scratch coat using an acrylic admixture

Old painted bricks are chipped and prepared fo a scratch coat using an acrylic admixture. This is a very positive, permanent bond.

REAL color stucco addition
in Washington, DC, the Nation's Capital.

A big stucco addition creates urban space in Washington, DC

A big stucco addition creates urban space in Washington, DC.

The roof is covered with plastic and thick masonite before setting up scaffold

The roof is covered with plastic and thick masonite before setting up scaffold.

rubbing the cement finish down with a rubber float.

Salvador's shirt says " I am an artist".

Stucco Additions and Remodel
in Falls Church, Virginia

Stucco Additions and Remodel in Falls Church, Virginia

Color stucco provides a lively contrast to the stone and siding.

Color stucco provides a lively contrast to the stone and siding

REAL stucco with a REAL cement finish.

Lath and stucco chimney in Falls Church, VA

You may have seen how we do our chimneys before. The metal cap is also covered in lath and stucco.

A view of good window sill design

A view of good window sill design. The sill is angled down with a drip groove at the bottom. a notch at the bottom allows 3/4" stucco to tuck underneath.

Tudor style stucco addition
in Washington, DC

Tudor style stucco addition in Washington, DC

This nice old house is The Chevy Chase area of Washington, DC has a well deserved stucco addition.

Horizontal tudor members are flashed before the tar paper and lath are put on

Horizontal tudor members are flashed before the tar paper and lath are put on.

Lath and stucco replaced
Wesley Heights area
Washington, DC.

Lath and stucco replaced in Washington, DC. for Smith, Thomas and Smith.

The wall had deteriorated badly mainly because some bad guys patched the wall in the past with interior sheetrock. It required tearing off the whole wall and doing it over.

Texture is dashed on and knocked down just like the original

Texture is dashed on and knocked down just like the original.

Lath and stucco replaced in the Wesley Heights area of Washington, DC

The wall is finished and painted and I hope it lasts 4,000 years this time.

Lath and stucco replaced
Shepherd Park area
Washington, DC.

Lath and stucco replaced on this old house in the Shepherd Park area of Washington, D.C.

Years of peeling paint and sloppy patches are torn off. A bad guy also patched this wall with interior sheetrock.

Metal lath and an honest 3/4 inch of cement mortar

Metal lath and an honest 3/4 inch of cement mortar has a finish coat of white portland cement, white lime and Crushed quartz for the finish sand.

Old wood trim at the bottom of the wall never had flashing

Old wood trim at the bottom of the wall never had flashing, but was worth rescuing.

pre-bent metal flashing with a drip edge

With pre-bent metal flashing with a drip edge, two layers of tar paper, and 3/4" of REAL stucco, this old house should last forever.

Patch and match

brick face looks just like real brick

My brick face looks just like real brick. I'll use red for the finish next time. I made a scoring tool from an old sawzall blade I found on the ground that worked well.

Faux limestone blocks

Faux limestone blocks were done using 1/4" automotive type masking tape for the joints.

Old painted block walls were stuccoed

We did this some time ago. Old painted block walls were stuccoed using our chip and bond method.

block walls now are straight

Old block walls now are straight and elegant.