Elastomeric coating is the right call on stucco and masonry in Saskatchewan, and the wrong call on wood siding. The difference is in how it behaves: it bridges cracks, it breathes, and it moves with the wall. Here is how to choose.
What elastomeric does
An elastomeric coating is a thick, flexible finish that bridges hairline cracks and stretches with the wall as it moves through freeze-thaw cycles. It also breathes, so moisture vapour escapes instead of building up behind the finish. On stucco, that combination is exactly what a prairie wall needs.
Why standard acrylic fails on stucco
A standard acrylic on stucco can trap moisture, because it is less breathable than elastomeric. Over a winter, moisture builds up behind the finish and blisters the coating in spring. On a wall that cracks with every freeze-thaw, a rigid film cracks with it. Elastomeric flexes where acrylic cracks.
Fix the cracks first
Elastomeric bridges hairline cracks, but it does not fill structural cracks. We rake, fill, and repair the larger cracks before coating. The coating is the finish, not the repair.
When it is the wrong choice
Elastomeric is not for wood siding. Wood moves too much and absorbs too much moisture for a thick film to hold. On wood, we use a solid stain that penetrates the grain and flexes with the wood. The right coating for the surface is what makes the job last.
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