Sto EIFS Maintenance Guide

These guidelines will help you keep your Sto walls in good condition - and looking their best for years to come.

General Maintenance

A. To protect your building from water penetration, check and replace damaged caulking every three years. B. Mud and dirt will dull the finish of your building's exterior. We suggest you landscape your building or home (with crushed      stone, pine straw etc.) to minimize splashing around the foundation. C. If you must lean a ladder against your walls, make sure you protect them from scarring and damage by padding the ends of      the ladder.

Soil & Stains

Your walls should not need refinishing for many years - however they may require occasional cleaning to remove natural and chemical pollution carried in the air. A. Sto finishes that become soiled with dirt, mildew, or algae can be cleaned with a solution of: 1 gallon warm water 1-quart household bleach 1 cup trisodium phosphate (TSP) Apply the solution to the entire soiled area, wash lightly using a soft-bristle brush, then rinse thoroughly with clean water.  (Hard scrubbing and hard-bristle brushes can damage the wall's finish) B. You can also clean your walls with commercial cleaners available from Demand Products, Windlock, or Sureklean. Test-clean a small area first, to make sure you get the desired results. C. If soil or stains cannot be removed with these methods, your wall may need to be refinished. Warning: Do not attempt to clean your walls with solvent - or acid-based cleaners.

Damage

If your walls become damaged, we recommend you employ an experienced stucco or plaster contractor to make repairs. Begin by contacting the Sto Distributor or Installer who did the original work on your home or building.

Refinishing

Your walls may be reconditioned or recolored using any of several available Sto finishes, such as StoSilcoShield: do not attempt to refinish your walls with common household paints or plasters.

Areas to be refinished must first be thoroughly cleaned (see Soil & Stains, above), and the new Sto finish must be applied according to product instructions. Again, we recommend using an experienced wall-finish contractor.