Instead of the traditional stucco coat for a back up, you might look into the acrylic top coat that is applied over the traditonal cementious based scratch/brown coat. It's elastisity gives w/ temoerature changes and hairline cracking is greatly reduced. You can always count on minor cracking due to many factors. When the top coat is applied too heavy in areas as well as the weather conditions come to mind. Another factor w/ cracking is that if the scratch/brown coats aren't a;llowed at least 30 days to settle, cure, and crack,(which is normal), the cracking will continue and carry through to the top coat. Another area of cracking is around openings where a house has more tendency to flex. Usually strips of rib lath are used in the corners of the openings to re-inforce when the lath is installed.

Don't you have stucco expansion joints installed? They greatly lessen large cracking. You will always have minor cracking with Portland cement-based stucco, esp. in your freeze-thaw climate.

Plus, a top coat being impervious to water will not stop the cement subcoat from still expanding/shrinking. It will not stop water from entering near corners and windows unless you really cover it well.

Does it have proper flashing and an exit screed all along the bottom, for moisture egress? If no, then sealing the moisture in won't do a lick of good in the long run.

Here is a link that might be useful: Portland cement stucco expansion joints

You can use expansion joints if you like that look and they will lessen cracks in the areas of the openings as well as long runs of wall surface, but outside of proper lath,flashing, drainage plane (weep screed), the most important part of a succesful stucco job is letting the scratch/brown coats sit for a minimum 30 days, (mandatory here in ca). This period allows those two coats to crack as much as they are going to, again which is normal, as well as settle and cure. In warmer weather months it is a good idea to wet the coats every 2-3 days as well during the thirty day period. It still allows the cracking, but slows the cure time and lessens drying out in the heat. By taking this measure, cracking is drastically reduced as the cracking of the scratch/brown coats is over and wont continue out through the color coat. The acrylic top coat being used these days is even more insurance to less cracks.

I Managed the application of Grancrete on this project under the guidance of the local Grancrete and Jim Paul the co inventor of Grancrete. The project started with 13,000 sq. ft. of an old stucco system of lath, expantion joints, scratch, brown and Lahabre finish with rounded parapet top walls(S.W. style). In our high mountain desert area Lahabre and cement finishes have a habit of spalling due to freeze and thaw conditions almost daily during the winter. We wanted to keep the look and Grancrete provided a product that claimed to have qualities that would make this possible. It was in question weather we could use Grancrete to achieve an aesthetically pleasing finish so the contract started with a synthetic top coat. After talking to Grancrete we decided to use Grancrete HFR white with color added and an antiquing process to achieve a old world look. All of which we were told should be ok. we began by removing all finish down to brown coat and washing the surface thoroughly. At the start everything was looking great.(we left the expansion joints in place). Half way through the project we began to notice check cracking developing 2-3 days after installation in the finish especially in the areas exposed to the sun more. Grancrete claimed there was a mix up at the plant, the micro fibers were left out causing the problem. We re-coated with fibered material with the same problems. As the product sat the problem magnified after prolonged exposure to the sun. but not in the areas shaded by trees. Grancrete stated that they had never seen this before and they had a new product called Grancrete PC that would work to fix the problem. We tested the product and saw similar problems but not as pronounced. The first offer from Grancrete was to provide the material to us to fix the problem at a discounted rate (the warranty clearly states complete replacement or refund). After further lengthy nogotiations they agreed to provide all materials and some labor money to fix the problem. By that time we were out of good weather and the PC product was not performing much better then the rest. The project is now on hold until spring in hopes that Grancrete can come up with some answers so we can finish it with their product; even though I am disappointed with the performance of the product and the company. I still believe this product has great potential. I would also state that any one looking to use this product they fully understand that it is extremely difficult to finish off professionally. You need to be at the top of you game and have 1 key individual communicating well and directing the operations. Also you must have a highly skilled team.

Sounds like three strikes you're out, plaster john. Im open minded to new products and willing to give them a go. It sounds like grancrete wont be one of them!

How long have they been around?

Grancrete has been used for over 10 years in the federal government or so I was told. It was available to the general public last year.

Grancrete has only been available to the public for just over a year and in that time has undergone some major growing pains. For example some of the initial compressive testing data put Grancrete at 6,880 PSI after 28 days under the original mixing instructions. Now with lessons learned and a better way of mixing Grancrete is now getting 12,590 PSI after only 3 days. Some valuable installation lessons learned are to mix Grancrete by hand with a drill mixer at a very high speed slowly adding the powder to the water. The amount of water used in the formula is very key to the final strength. The best performance comes when 18 to 22% water is used by weight on the "PC" formula and down as low as 11% on the "B" formula. We have also found that mesh is another key component to preventing check cracking. Currently the color fades during curing under direct sunlight. If used outdoors or where sunlight will affect the final color we recommend using a synthetic finish. There are still more lessons to be learned from Grancrete and the best way so far has been on the ground by people who recognize GrancreteÂs ultimate potential in changing the way people build. Grancrete is moving in the right direction and has produced some beautiful homes, countertops, faux walls, fireplaces, bathrooms, floors and even as a fireproofing for steal. We feel that the surface of what Grancrete is capable of has only been scratched. We have a lot of on the ground experience with Grancrete and appreciate people like Plaster Jon who are willing to give Grancrete a chance and are sorry that things didnÂt work out for him. If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at info@brownhomes.org or visit us on the web at www.Brownhomes.org

I've heard of a superior product similar to grancrete that comes from Germany. They also have manufacturing facilities in Canada. Does anyone have any information on this?