I am building at the Taos Ski Valley, cold hard winters. Would you use for the exterior concrete stucco on 2" rigid insulation or would you use something like Sto or some of the other materials and why.

We are currently applying an exterior EFIS on our home. We've covered over 1200 sq ft so far. We just finished the west side of the house in which the height was almost 40 ft to the gable peak. We used PAREX compatible to STO which involved applying the base coat and then the top coat. There is also a sealer to apply. We are pleased with the final product. Would be happy to send a picture. We are in Wisconsin - Cold climate. Stucco is a different thing. It should last thousands of years depending on the craftsman applying it. Same with EFIS. Done well it should last along time. How long I do not know. I will say with the EFIS we got added insulation to our place which is a plus in a cold climate. Cost wise I'm not sure. What really matters is the quality of application. If you are covering 2" foam you are stucco ready. Pro for EFIS -Lightweight and flexible. Stucco-hard and permanent.

Build it with ICFs and finish it with your EFIS coating of choice. I like Total Wall, they have a waterproof base-coat option and it has an elastomeric finish.