This customer wants new Gemini letters on this wall so it will read "Holmes County Health Department". The existing ones were bronzed, brushed aluminum. They origially wanted "Homes County" left on but, I pointed out that they would not match the new letters and, besides. the "S" is upside down. So they have since removed those as well. One of their employees removed the old letters without damaging the wall much but it needs re-surfacing. What kind of texture would you recommend to cover up the holes and spots where these letters were? I suggested hiring a stucco expert but they want me to do it.Is there something I could spray a texture on with? What about a texture gun like they use for drywall? Or coarse sand mixed in some latex paint? I am always willing to learn new things. Thanks
[ March 01, 2012, 01:00 PM: Message edited by: Wayne Webb ]
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
The photo isn't that great but the wall has a rough 'coarse sand' texture. Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
Acrylic stucco applied with a trowel would make the wall like brand new. You can buy it premixed in a bucket or as a dry mix. Dryvit is one brand but there are many.
I'd strongly suggest a practice panel first.
-grampa dan
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
Thanks Dan
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
Wayne ... if you are smart, you will hire an expert to refinish the wall ... and add it to the cost of the job!
Sure beats having to waste lots of time or having to do it a second time.
Posted by Preston McCall (Member # 351) on :
I second Si's advice. I watched a pro repair a stucco wall beneath a window I was painting that had been bumped by a car. The guy really did know what he was doing and in watching him, I gained respect, once again for masons and stucco pros. Hire a pro and the liability is off of your reputation....and remove the S before he gets there as the holes will be different. When in doubt, hire a pro and you will not regret it.
Posted by Rick Chavez (Member # 2146) on :
I agree with Si and Preston, I have done miles of stucco myself when I was in construction. As simple as the tools are, it still takes some training, practice and finesse. An experienced stucco guy would make quick work of that and you would not be exposed to the frustration of trying to match the texture and color, or having to explain anything if it starts cracking or chips off.
Posted by bruce ward (Member # 1289) on :
around here they will not sell me dryvit supplies until I take a class and become certifie...on top of that IF you manage to get the texture down you will never match the background color as you know the new color will not match the old.
I would walk away from this and turn it over to a professional OR if they insisted I would buy some stucco mix from lowes do it up close as you can and repaint the whole wall to match.....Ive been there and I do not care for dryvit or stucco
[ March 02, 2012, 06:02 AM: Message edited by: bruce ward ]
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
Guys, They are removing all of the letters per my recommendation. So all of the wall needs texturing and nothing needs to be matched. The existing wall finish isn't stucco(sorry about the title), it's just a rough, coarse 'sand' texture. I would think no 'troweling' would be needed, but I could be wrong.
BTW, this is the tool the guy used to remove the old letters.. The thin blade just slipped under the letters which were jammed flush and tight, then sliced the metal studs off neatly without damaging the wall. I want one!
Wayne, I used a texturing product mixed with paint and rolled it on this sign - it's almost 10 years old now and still looking good. I don't remember the brand, but it was purchased at Lowe's or Home Depot. (probably the one you linked to)
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
Good looking sign, Sonny Did you use acrylic latex? What's the sign made of?
Posted by Rick Chavez (Member # 2146) on :
Its hard to see the texture, but with the screed lines on the wall, looks like a color coat (or stucco) to me...
Again, can't totally judge from the texture, I would probably not use a trowel, I would use a stucco float (A trowel with a spongey material attached to the bottom)
Posted by Rick Chavez (Member # 2146) on :
Thanks Rick
Posted by Jean Shimp (Member # 198) on :
We have used that texture product in paint before and it is holding up well. I rolled it on and had a bit of inconsistency in the texture. Just my lack of experience I'm sure. I re-rolled some of the sections and was able to even out the texture and it looked good. If possible I would say try to mix all the paint in one batch.
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
Thanks Jean
Posted by Mick Samsel (Member # 311) on :
I bought that Rockwell SonicCrafter a year ago. It is one of my favorite tools. But DO NOT be deceived by the multipurpose blade cutting nails all day. They wear out VERY quickly. On Gemini letters that the guy was taking off, possibly they were the aluminum studs which would be 'softer' to cut than the steel studs, or nails. I get a kick out of watching Rockwell's demo of it cutting nail, after nail, after nail. LOL
Mick
Posted by Mick Samsel (Member # 311) on :
I bought that Rockwell SonicCrafter a year ago. It is one of my favorite tools. But DO NOT be deceived by the multipurpose blade cutting nails all day. They wear out VERY quickly. On Gemini letters that the guy was taking off, possibly they were the aluminum studs which would be 'softer' to cut than the steel studs, or nails. I get a kick out of watching Rockwell's demo of it cutting nail, after nail, after nail. LOL
Mick
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
They didn't tell you they either changed blades or used a custom made diamond or carbide version. Hey, I'm just glad their maintenance man used his because I'm too poor to buy one right now. But Christmas will come around in a few months......
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
Harbor Freight has the Chicago brand for around $30 ... but the added blades and stuff will double the price.
Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :
If I were going to use one of those tools every day I'd buy the Fein. If I was going to use it every week I'd by the Rockwell. But since I probably won't use it more than once a month I bought this one. A friend of mine had one and we needed to cut a small rectangular hole in poly faces to run the cords for a digital sign that fastens onto the changeable letter tracks. It worked great and he had this brand for quite a few years.
Good deal! That would be a good option seeing as I might use it 2 or 3 times a year. I have a few Harbor tools: one is a cement mixer I haven't even used yet. Still waiting on the $$$$ to build a monument sign for the shop.
Posted by Sonny Franks (Member # 588) on :
Wayne, the texturing additive I used was mixed with acrylic latex applied over primed marine plywood. As I recall, you can adjust the level of texture by the amount you add. It gets thick quick, so hustle on your application. After the initial texture, you can roll a finish coat of the final color.....
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
Thanks Sonny.
Posted by DianeBalch (Member # 1301) on :
I have the red colored multi tool memtioned above. I works great!
