Jeff Doubet shows how Spanish address tiles can be retrofitted into exterior stucco. See how plastering experts install address numbers into an exterior wall that had already been completed. Learn pro tips, materials and where to buy these Spanish address tiles directly on Amazon.
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This is the same exterior stucco team who applied the classic Santa Barbara Mission plaster finish to the entire home. Here, a 2nd coat (brown coat) of plaster is applied to the front garden walls. After some setting up, the Artisan will sponge it out for a more subtle finish.
Earlier in the process, sandstone steps where being installed. The retaining wall in the foreground still has the previous (outdated) plaster finish the whole house had (before the remodeling process). Learn more about the exterior renovation / transformation of this home, here.
Spanish Address Tiles: Planning your tile installation
This series of photos show the sequence of steps these Modern Masters took to accomplish embedding Spanish tiles at the front door after the exterior stucco was already complete.
BEFORE Photo: The Artisans hold up the loose tiles in a design configuration I thought the client might like. I snapped a photo and texted it over. Within a minute or two we had her approval and were on to the next step.
I traced the tiles with a pencil for where the Artisans would cut and grind into the wall.
How to install Spanish Address Tiles in stucco
Ideally, it is best to install your new Spanish address tiles after the first (scratch coat) of stucco. This allows the plasterers to apply a second coat of stucco right up to, and around the tiles.
That said, the team will retrofit the new Spanish address tiles by cutting into the stucco. They are using a grinder outfitted with cement cutting blade.
AFTER Photo: I wanted to show you upfront how everything turned out. This way you can better follow the various processes the Artisans used to get here.
The precision cutting included scoring the outlines of the tile previously traced by pencil on the exterior plaster. The grinding tool is outfitted with a concrete cutting blade.
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After the outlines of the tiles were scored with the grinder, another Artisan begins to remove the interior areas.
Helpful tools for embedding Spanish tiles in stucco
Using a specialty hammer and an Estwing tool used as a chisel- the guys begin carefully chipping out shallow layers of stucco.
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The subtle curve of the tool works great as a chisel. Note how small chips of plaster are removed by starting at a score mark and chipping out and away from it.
Jeff Doubet Tips for Installing Spanish Tile House Numbers
When installing Spanish deco tiles on a stucco house, the professionals use all purpose ceramic tile adhesive to glue the tiles in place.
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Once the tiles were securely glued into place, the Artisans returned the next day to chip away some of the plaster around the tiles. The “pinkish color” you see in the image above is a special bonding agent the plasterers painted on the newly chiseled out stucco bed. It is a special glue to ensure a quality bond with the pre-mixed stucco patch that is used for blending the surrounding plaster with the newly installed tiles.
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A Santa Barbara style Spanish Entry with address tiles
Here, the house painters have touched up around the newly installed ceramic tile house numbers.
A pair of modern terra cotta pots are planted with succulents. They add a layer of interesting colors and textures to the overall, newly completed project.
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A heavy wood arbor was designed and built for another layer of detail at the front door.
A close up shot of the rustic Spanish door next to the address tiles. We specified this custom door to have a wire brushed finish to give it a weathered look.
A close up of the Spanish-style speakeasy door, with the iron grille installed. The elegant Star Pendant Light in the background was also purchased from Amazon.
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The Spanish lantern style light also available on Amazon, provides a sense of warmth to this entry.
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This is how the sandstone steps and boulder accents turned out. An excellent example of drought tolerant landscaping for Santa Barbara Spanish-style homes.
More Photos of a Santa Barbara Spanish style Entry
Some final images of this Santa Barbara home renovation. Classic Santa Barbara paint and stain colors for Spanish-style architecture were specified.
The rustic, hand-hewn craftsmanship of the Santa Barbara sandstone steps have an Old Mission look and feel to them. Light and shadow accentuate the quality of stone used in this project.
The homeowner named her place Casa Del Sol. Additional information on this whole house renovation is further highlighted in my consult in a Coffee Table Book (pages 150-157).
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For those who seek to name their homes and incorporated into Spanish style deco tiles- Fine Crafts Imports sell their numbers and letters Mission Tiles Series directly on Amazon.
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Well friend, this wraps another site visit episode in beautiful Santa Barbara, CA. I hope you enjoyed learning how to infuse more Santa Barbara Style into your own Spanish home design project with Spanish tiles. Scroll to explore more helpful links and resources for designing and building your own Spanish-style home and landscape.
