Jeff Doubét reveals how Spanish address tiles were embedded in exterior plaster. Learn pro tips, materials + where to buy Spanish tiles. See how these experts in plastering install address numbers on a Santa Barbara home exterior wall after it had already been completed.
Scroll to see a series of photos showing how these exterior plaster experts retrofit a Santa Barbara stucco home with decorative ceramic Spanish address tiles you can still purchase directly on Amazon.
They are the exterior plaster team who also applied the classic Santa Barbara Mission plaster finish to the home. Here, a brown coat (2nd 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. You can also see the outdated plaster finish on the retaining wall in the foreground, above.
Spanish Address Tiles: Planning your tile installation
This series of photos show the sequence of steps these Modern Masters took to accomplish the client request of 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.
With a pencil, we traced the tiles as a reference 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 is applied. This allows the plasterers to apply the second coat of stucco right up to, and around the tiles.
Here the team begins to retrofit the stucco for new Spanish address tiles by using a grinder with cement cutting blade.
AFTER Photo: This is how everything turned out, so you can better follow the various other processes, below.
Spanish-style products on Amazon, and my project overviews where they were installed.
The precision cutting includes scoring the outlines of the tile, previously outlined by pencil on the exterior plaster. The grinding tool is outfitted with a concrete cutting blade – tools needed for this job.
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 beds of surface stucco.
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 Doubét 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.
Once the tiles were securely glued into place, the Artisans returned the next day to chip away some of the plaster around the tiles.
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.
A Santa Barbara style Spanish Entry with address tiles
A pair of modern terra cotta pots are planted with succulents, adding a layer of interesting colors and textures to the walk up to the newly completed project. The painters have touched up around the newly installed ceramic tile house numbers.
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. 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.
THE EASY BUTTON TO VIEW ALL PROJECTS ON SITE
The Spanish lantern style light also available on Amazon, provides a sense of warmth to this entry.
This is how the sandstone steps with boulder accents turned out after the drought tolerant landscape was installed at this local Santa Barbara Spanish style home and landscape renovation.
Favorite Photos of this Santa Barbara Spanish style Entry
Some final images of this local Santa Barbara Spanish style home renovation. Classic Santa Barbara paint and stain colors for Spanish style architecture were specified. Please follow my blog as I write more about them in upcoming episodes.
The rustic, hand-hewn craftsmanship of the Santa Barbara sandstone landing has an Old Mission look and feel.
The homeowner named her place Casa Del Sol. Additional process images of this whole house renovation is further highlighted in my Book (pages 150-157).
For those who seek to name their homes and have your name in Spanish style deco tiles- Fine Crafts Imports sell their Mission Tiles Series in both numbers and letters, directly on Amazon.
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.
