By Gene and Katie Hamilton

It may not stop traffic, but a fresh coat of paint can do wonders to transform a house finished in stucco. On a porous substance like stucco, the paint to use is acrylic, which will allow the surface to breathe so moisture doesn't get trapped and cause cracking and peeling. A paint facelift has a unifying effect that can transform an ordinary house while protecting its surface.

A painting contractor will charge $1,026 to prepare and paint a 1000-square foot house with two coats of an acrylic paint designed for stucco surfaces, such as Drylock®. That includes labor and material. You can buy the materials for $210 and do it yourself and save 79 percent.

For the best results, schedule the job so you're not working in direct sunlight. Begin by cleaning the stucco with a mild wash down using a power washer and siding cleaner to remove dirt and mildew. Don't blast it with high pressure; give the textured surface a gentle cleaning. When the stucco is dry, patch any holes or cracks with a stucco mix or acrylic latex caulk designed to seal the openings. Then prime the patched areas and let them dry before painting. Apply the paint by spraying it or using a good quality bristle brush or thick nap masonry roller.

Is this too big of a job to tackle yourself? You can find a painting contractor who has the skills and tools to do it right. Click here to get to Home Advisor and it will open in a new tab and you’ll have to answer some basic questions about your job followed by contractors in your area to do the job.

Sherwin-Williams has this advice about Repainting Stucco.

Now you know the average cost to paint stucco siding, which includes the labor and material, and what’s involved, so you can decide to do it yourself or hire a contractor. Don’t forget to adjust the cost to where you live by adding your ZIP Code.

Cost updated 2018

The cost and time data is generated by averaging labor and material data from annually updated cost books used by contractors and refined by the authors' experience remodeling 13 houses. They are authors of 20 home improvement books and Do It Yourself or Not, a weekly column syndicated by Tribune Content Agency. The national cost can be adjusted by ZIP Code.