EIFS guide
EIFS finishes, textures and colors
The finish coat is the only layer you'll ever look at. It sets the texture, the color and how the wall ages in the sun.
The finish coat
Acrylic, not paint
The EIFS finish is a tinted acrylic coat, not paint over a wall. The color is mixed through the material before it goes on.
That matters in Phoenix. Paint sits on top and burns off in the sun, while a tinted finish holds its color much longer.
It also flexes. When the wall moves, the finish moves with it instead of cracking in a line.
Textures
The finishes we spray and trowel
Texture comes from the size of the aggregate in the finish and how it's worked. Here's what most Arizona homes ask for.
Lace
The Valley default. A troweled pattern over a sprayed base, and the easiest texture to patch invisibly later.
Sand
A fine, even grain with no pattern. It reads modern and shows off a clean wall line.
Smooth
The flattest option, common on contemporary desert homes. It also shows every imperfection under it.
Dash
A sprayed, pebbled surface with no trowel work. Rough to the touch and very good at hiding wear.
Santa Fe
A hand-worked adobe look with soft, uneven edges. It suits older Phoenix and Scottsdale homes.
Carved shapes
Trim bands, arches, cornices and pop-outs cut from the foam. Cement stucco can't hold these.
How color holds up in Arizona sun
Dark colors take the most abuse. They absorb more heat and fade faster on a west-facing wall.
Mid and light tones last longest here, which is part of why so much of the Valley is beige. You aren't stuck with it.
If you want a deep color, put it on an accent wall or a trim band. Then a refresh later means recoating one section, not the house.
Matching an HOA or a design review
Most Scottsdale and North Phoenix communities have an approved color and texture list. We work from that list, not around it.
Bring us your approval letter or the community palette. We match the finish to it before anything goes on the wall.
If you're still choosing, we can put sample boards on the wall so you see the color in real light at real size.
Matching an existing wall
Texture matching is a hand skill. A lace pattern from 1998 was worked by a person, and copying it takes a person.
We match the texture first, then the color. On a badly faded wall, we'll tell you when a full elevation recoat looks better than a blend.
Services
Who does this work.
Stucco & EIFS
Finish coats, custom textures and carved foam shapes on new and existing walls.
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Stucco Repair
Texture and color matched patches when only part of a wall needs work.
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Remodeling & Exterior
Exterior painting for the trim, fascia and doors around your new finish.
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Finish questions
Choosing a texture and a color
Free estimate
Tell us about your project
New stucco, a repair, drywall, or a full exterior. Send a few details and we'll get you a free estimate, or call and ask for Alan or Ana.
ROC #336509 · ROC #349457 · Family-owned since 2020