Expo traces its beginnings to the early 1920’s when Paul Gurrad opened his San Diego Stucco Company on Market Street, near what is now the San Diego Padres’ Petco Park. Inspired by the Panama-California Exposition, the name was later changed to Expo Stucco Company. The Exposition was created to celebrate the opening of the Panama Canal and to bolster the local economy still shaky from the panic of Wall Street.
Expo Stucco Company moved to a new facility on Palm Avenue, across from San Diego’s Lindbergh Field and from this new location helped participated in the growth of the city during this exciting period of local history as a manufacturer of exterior and interior plastering products.

The company was incorporated as Expo-Stucco, Incorporated in 1969 when Jeff Davis purchased the company from his grandfather. Expo-Stucco, Inc. expanded into the large-scale distribution of drywall, steel studs and related products during the 1970’s under his visionary leadership. Expo was one of the first facilities to be built in what was then considered the remote North County mesa known as the Gentry Watts Industrial Park. The Miramar area is now the bustling distribution center for all of San Diego County.

The company was sold for a second time in late 1982 to then company Vice President Bob Papera and his family. Because of the evolution of the company’s business scope, the corporate name was changed in 1983 to Expo Industries, Inc with the company most commonly conducting business under the DBAs of Expo Builders Supply, Expo Stucco Products, Expo Specialty Systems and in association with International Home Exports, Inc.

The company expanded rapidly during the 1980’s as sales grew with the opening of four additional distribution centers in Southern California. The rapid collapse of the construction industry in the early 1990’s resulted in the restructuring of Expo and forced it to expand its markets internationally. This also proved to be the perfect time to expand its product line to meet the ever-changing demands of the construction marketplace.

The Expo Builders Supply division was spun off and sold to Westside Building San Diego, LLC in January 2008, returning to its historical roots and enabling the company to focus solely on the expansion of the Expo Stucco division.

The release of GX2 Premium Exterior Stucco in April 2008 represents the first truly revolutionary stucco product in more than two generations. Containing 10% post-consumer recycled content, weighing 25% less and providing 25% better coverage, this product answers the needs of the entire construction market that is continually looking for sustainable products that provide measurable benefits to every partner in the supply chain.

Despite the roller-coaster nature of the construction industry, Expo Industries has prevailed, thanks to its team of dedicated employees and key partners whose sole purpose is to provide unparallel service to its customers. Whether it’s a few sacks of stucco for a small home remodel, or a complete base and stucco finish system for a major commercial project, Expo has the resources and know-how to get the job done.

“Helping Build Better Communities.”