Layers

• A treatment includes three layers of finish over walls framed with wood studs. The scratch coat contains stucco, the brown layer smooths out the rough stucco texture and the finish coat glides on smooth, including color and texture. Masonry workers use hand tools or machines to apply these layers.
  
  

Composition

• Stucco is another name for plaster. It consists of Portland cement, sand and water mixed into a well-blended covering. This composition protects the inside or outside of a home.
  
  

Function

• A stucco wall treatment protects the home's exterior especially against wear and tear from natural and artificial sources. According to the Portland Cement Association, stucco works in extreme climates such as the dry climate of Arizona, the extreme cold of Minnesota and the heat and humidity of Florida.