Stucco provides a solid and good looking covering to the exterior of your home. But, there may come a time that you need to make some changes in your house that may require you to cut your stucco wall.
There are a few different processes to cut through the stucco. Being familiar with different tools, blades, and equipment will help to properly cut through all kinds of stucco plaster.
The Right Tools
There are a few different tools you can use to cut through the stucco wall. One of the main tools is a diamond blade or a carbide-tipped blade. These tools make a clean cut through the stucco. Firstly, you must choose the saw that is perfect for your needs.
What You’ll Need
There are a few different tools you can use to cut stucco. You can use a diamond blade or a carbide-tipped blade in order to make a clean cut through the stucco. Firstly, choose the saw that’s best for your needs:
- Circular saw – good for cutting a large area
- Angle grinder – great for virtually all purposes
- Oscillating tool- good for smaller cuts and detailed work
- Power drill with a hole saw attachment -great for cutting circular holes
After identifying the best saw for your project, you’ll need these tools on hand as well:
- Painter’s tape
- Work gloves
- Shop-vac
- Respirator
- Safety goggles
- A helper
Step 1: Set up the work area
Before you begin cutting, prepare the area where you will be working to maximize efficiency and avoid accidents.
You can place painter’s tape around the perimeter of the hole you’re going to be cutting. Since stucco is prone to chips and cracks, taping off the perimeter will help lessen the possibility that you damage the good stucco in the vicinity area as you work.
Step 2: Prepare the shop vacuum
Cutting through Stucco results in so much dust in the area that could sometimes blur you while working. Having a helper and a shop vacuum can help to manage the dust, making it easier to see your work. It is also important for you and your helper to wear respirators to protect you both from breathing any airborne dust particles.
You should also make sure that your shop vacuum is totally clean. Otherwise, your vacuum will be ineffective in pulling the dust from your workplace as it will just spit it all out on the other side of the vacuum.
Step 3: Cutting the stucco
When you are ready for the actual cutting, it is also important to know what you need to do depending on the kind of say you’re using.
Circular Saw
Circular saw is perfect when cutting larger sections. It doesn’t work well with small cuts that required detailed work.
Make sure you are wearing the proper protective gear like safety goggles and gloves for safety before cutting the walls.
Push the blade guard back of your circular saw and turn it on. Before starting to cut, wait until it reaches full RPM. Finally, make your first cut with the circular saw. Work slowly and carefully to lessen the change of chipping or cracking the stucco. Continue until you’ve reached the edge of where you are cutting and repeat the process if necessary.
Angle Grinder
An angle grinder is powerful enough to cut large surfaces and is also useful in smaller cuts as well.
Allow your angle grinder to reach its full RPM as you switch it on. Plunge the blade into the surface of what you’re cutting.
Oscillating Tool
An oscillating tool is a good choice for smaller cuts and detailed work. Just keep in mind that the blades tend to clog as you work.
Switch the oscillating tool, turn the tool on and allow it to reach full RPM. Then, slowly plunge the blade into the stucco.
Using a Hole Saw
A power drill with a hole saw bit is best for a circular hole. Load the bit into your drill and tighten it in place. Switch the trigger and allow it to reach full RPM before beginning your cut.