Island Construction

[azshadow]

I am finally posting my first question. I’ve been building an island for my grill for a couple of weeks now. I still have to tile the countertop and I plan to apply stucco to the sides. I also have to install some kind of doors. My question is: Can I apply stucco directly to the backerboard or do I have to attach lath to the backerboard? I am very hopeful that I can apply directly to the backerboard.

Here is my progress so far.

[Dave C.]

I haven't done any stucco for over 30 years, so things may have changed, but we always used stucco nails (with the fiber washers attatched) and a special type of mesh (kinda like chicken wire), but I can't remember what it's called. We applied the first, or green coat with a flat trowel like a concrete trowel, pushing it under the wire to the base (which was covered with 30# non-perforated felt) and about 1/3 to1/2 inch above the wire. Then the green coat is raked about 1/4 inch deep with the stucco rake. Let that coat dry for at least 3 to 5 days.
Then you mix the color coat, put it on to about 1/4 inch above the swales of the green coat and stipple to desired texture. The color coat has the water-based (latex) paint mixed into the stucco mix instead of water, for the most part, otherwise your paint job will look bad, bad, very bad after the paint begins to flake off of the stucco (concrete).
Hmmm, after reading this I suddenly remembered why the @!&* I got out of that line of work. This is not a full tutorial on the way that we used to do it back in the dark ages, but you might want to re-think using stucco at all; there are lots of other coverings out there now-a-days IMHO ;)

[azshadow]

I'm all ears and open to suggestions. What other coverings would you suggest? I haven't completely ruled out tiling the sides but would like to hear some other options. Thanks.

[Dave C.]

Check with your local home improvement store (Menards, Home Depot, Lowes, etc.), also check out any full service lumber yards that cater to contractors. You might want to look at StatzfaninCo's patio pics for ideas. :)

[StarsfaninCO]

Hey AZshadow, I did some checking with my better half (who has done all kinds of building stuff). She said if the backerboard is pretty smooth, you'll have trouble getting the stucco to stick, it'll more likely smear. She said lathe or the spray on stucco might work better. She also said field stone would look great on your kitchen, especially if you tile the top.

Just her .02 :)

KE

[Dave C.]

Yeah, they have this "cultured stone" stuff out now that looks really nice in the pics that I've seen. Some of it is what they call "mortar less" (sp). I really don't have much experience with the newer stuff, but if you can find something that you like, almost anything will beat the problems you'll have with stucco. There's a lotta reasons that it's not used that much any more. :)

[jconte2485]

I built my own island and I was able to find a concrete board at Lowes That had the stucco texture on it already. It saved alot of time, hope this helps
here is a link to a thread that shows mine finished. I hope this helps
http://www.sharky.com/forum/showthread.php?t=671

[azshadow]

Your island looks great. I couldn't find the cement board you described at the Lowes here in Tucson. I especially like the way you raised the level over the refrigerator. I had the same problem and I wish I had done it the same way. I'm breaking down and applying lath before the stucco. I had hoped I wouldn't have to but I tried a test patch and it didn't work well without the lath. When this island wears out (probably never), I will build another one and do a lot of things differently.

[StarsfaninCO]

Pictures, PICTURES!!!!

[jconte2485]

Thanks, the fridge was a last minute thing, when we almost finished and figured out in would not fit. But as it turned out I like it better that way. good luck with the stucco.

[shotcaller]

I'm probably too late with this answer, but you can apply stucco to hardibacker without lathe. Just brush or roll on a coat of concrete glue and let it dry before applying the stucco. Similarily, to attach cultured stone to hardibacker without lathe, mix concrete glue with the mortar mix.

An alternative to stucco that looks really good is Ameristone or TerraNeo by Dryvit. Here's a link: http://www.dryvit.com/fileshare/doc/us/description/ds250.htm

[sharky]

shotcaller - while your post my be a little late for azshadow, your post will hope those searching the forum in the future! Thanks for posting!

[Dave C.]

Its a good thing that they didn't have all these new products out way back then in the days of yore or I might have stayed in construction doing honest labor instead of driving a truck :D :D :D !

[azshadow]

Just an update. I had to take a break from my island construction for awhile. Other things became a priority. The majority of the people said that if I was going to stucco, I should use lath first. So started to apply the lath today. Will continue next weekend. I will post pictures when I finish the stucco and then again after I install the doors. Thanks to everybody for their input so far.

[MikeSullivan]

I'm really looking forward to seeing some of your pictures. It's getting a bit late in the year for constructing a grill here. I'm glad that you went with the lath. I think that you'll be happy that you did.