Question about mixing my own stucco patch vs buying the premix buckets

So I've been patching my own stucco around the house for about 4 years now, and I always mixed my own from the bag. Sand, cement, lime, the whole deal. Last month I got lazy and grabbed one of those premixed buckets from the hardware store on San Mateo. Honestly, the color match was way better and it stuck to the lath without fighting me. My old mix always sagged on vertical spots unless I did like three thin coats, which took forever. The premix went on in one pass and I was done in like 30 minutes instead of a full afternoon. Is that just a beginner hack though, or do the pros actually use those buckets too? I'm wondering if I should switch over for good or if I'll end up with cracks in a couple of summers with this stuff.

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taylor.betty11d agoTop Commenter

I used to swear by mixing my own too, thought the buckets were for rookies or whatever. But after trying one myself last year, I gotta admit you're onto something, the color match alone sold me, and honestly mine never looked that clean on the first pass either.