February 12, 2026 · 9 min read
The honest answer is: it depends. But “it depends” is unhelpful when you’re trying to budget. Here is what we are actually charging in 2026 across Los Angeles, with the variables that move the price.
New construction stucco — $7–$11 / sq ft of wall
Three-coat hard-coat stucco on a new wood-frame wall, including paper, lath, scratch, brown, finish, and standard accessories. Weeps, casing beads, and one row of control joints included. Color in the finish (acrylic) adds $1–$2 / sq ft.
Full re-stucco (tear-off + replace) — $12–$18 / sq ft
Includes tear-off of the existing stucco, dump fees, paper and lath replacement, three coats, and finish. Foam architectural trim is extra (typically $20–$60 per linear foot installed). Window flashing upgrades, if needed, run $200–$500 per opening.
Re-coat over existing stucco — $5–$9 / sq ft
Only viable if the existing stucco is sound, well-bonded, and properly flashed. We sound the wall first — if it’s hollow, we’ll tell you to tear off instead.
Stucco patches and repairs — $400–$2,500 typical
Most homeowner repairs (cracks, small water-damage areas, post-electrical-work patches) come in between $400 and $2,500 as a fixed price after a free site visit. Color and texture matching is included.
Commercial stucco — bid line-item
Commercial bids are scoped from drawings — takeoffs include lath linear feet, control joint linear feet, square footage by elevation, and any specialty assemblies (EIFS, parapet caps, soffits). Typical mid-rise residential stucco lands $9–$14 / sq ft of wall in this market.
What moves the price up
- Access. Hillside lots, tight side yards, and second-story-only access need more scaffold and more labor hours.
- Architectural detail. Foam trim, reveals, custom corners, and arches are slow work.
- Substrate condition. Replacing rotten sheathing or failed flashing is real money.
- Custom finishes. Hand-troweled smooth and Santa Barbara take 2–3x longer than a sand finish.
- Permit and inspection requirements. Cities vary widely.
How to get an honest number
Get three line-item written bids, not three round-number verbal quotes. Ask each contractor what they would do if they found rotten sheathing under your existing stucco. The answer tells you everything.
