Grout lines showing after stucco on block walls

Grout lines showing after stucco on block walls.
Folks, we are located in Oakland, Ca.

Howdy Folks, all the basic tools we use and recommend on Amazon's website.
Kirk Giordano Plastering Inc.

Always apply a basecoat over cinder or concrete blocks if you don’t want carked finishes.

Apply a stucco finish over concrete blocks without a stucco base coat first.
Howdy ambitious subscribers, we’re sharing some learned knowledge about why color coat finishes crack when just applied over any cinder or concrete block wall.
The key is color coats only can be applied one-eighth inch thick.
Thus your concrete or cinderblocks must first have a stucco base coat.

What is a basecoat? See below for details.
Folks, you can depend on us for sound advice throughout our videos.

Send pictures to Jay or myself at our sites below for immediate bids.

Thanks for watching.

[Silverhornk]

Thanks Kirk, I've been watching your videos for a while now, and this one specifically answered several questions for me.  Thanks for putting this kind of content out.  It really helps me a lot.  I know everything I know about stucco from watching your vids and I have a MASSIVE house to stucco.  Fixing cracks, filling voids from stucco that is falling off, and then re-stuccoing the entire house After that I have a long run 300' of cinder block to stucco.  So thanks again for helping me out with all these videos, I'm learning a lot from you.

[fredbrewer]

Kirk,

Can you apply a color finish over new concrete without stucco first? What I have is a new concrete garage that I need to hide form lines and tie holes. I have ground down any high spots, will 3, 000 psi power wash, then patch these imperfections with a speedcrete polymer based product, then lastly weldcrete prior to a finish coat. What I am seeking to achieve is a 1920's looking garage to match the era of the house, nothing fancy.

Thanks in advance of your response. In seeking an answer to this question, I have become hooked on your videos. I am enjoying your approach and conversations outside of your concrete guru-ness. You and Jay are doing such a great job that I am spending more time on You Tube hinged on your conversations than completing my projects! You have a charismatic approach in promoting your skills without being critical of others less quality work. You are refreshing, and this goes a long ways not taking the king of  obvious approach- thank you. Please keep the videos coming!

Fred Brewer out of the the Great NW in downtown Portland, OR.

[stevenanderson]

Kirk u da man! Keep doing good and putting out videos man. Thanks

[StuccoPlastering]

Good morning Jack Kolesar, this is an easy question as I have done this mistake before.
Whoever did the skim coat did not skim it thick enough. It should be at least 3/8
to ½ inch thick the application of color coats don’t change the grout line ghosting effects through very much.
Thanks for watching and have a great day!
Kirk Giordano Plastering

[StuccoPlastering]

Hi Gil, I know from the past comments you are a master craftsman on interiors. Cinder blocks are usually covered with a skim coat first then a color is applied after the skim has cured. Copy and paste the link below into our search channel to see the complete process of the proper way to skim coat cinder blocks to prevent grout lines from showing through.
Skim coat cinder blocks instead of just applying a color finish?
Best wishes Gil, and thanks for watching.
Kirk Giordano Plastering

[isaihernandez]

I bought a house where they had this done, what would be the process of changing it to a different finish? Thank you in advance my friend

[gilbertvelazquez]

I did the same thing how can I fix it Mr. Kirk Thank you in advance

[monconserv]

How would one repair a housing sub-division sign that has raised metal lettering mounted on it, that they just put color coat stucco on that has texture and it is cracking on the grout lines now. Looks like it lasted a couple years before cracks came through.

[philgrazi]

Can you make a cinder block wall look like the white house? I love the smoothe flat white walls. What would be necessary, I'm in Michigan. Love the videos!!

[antoniopadilla]

I have a small section like that. How do I fix it please and thank you

[jonlebon]

So much easier to use synthetic mesh and basecoat and an acrylic finish

[reddbeard]

Whats up with the Belt over Shirt look Sensei?😅

[alonzobean]

Yes you can but it would be a big mistake