How to Connect a Ledger Board to Stucco

Measure the position of your ledger board height-wise and in its horizontal placement against the wall and mark all four corners of the board's position using a tape measure. Use a chalk line to snap lines between these points to create an outline.

Set the depth of your circular saw to the thickness of the stucco. Look near doors and windows for an exposed edge to get an approximate idea of how thick it is and set the saw just slightly deeper. Cut along the chalk lines to create a cutout the size and shape of the ledger board.

Remove the stucco from the cutout using a chisel or pry bar to lift chunks of it out to expose the sheathing underneath. Depress the two side buttons of a stud finder and drag it along the exposed sheathing, marking each spot where it beeps, to mark the frame underneath.

Measure and mark the ledger board with a tape measure and pencil to indicate stud placement. Drill two 1/8-inch pilot holes in each stud location. Fit the ledger, typically made from 2-by-6- or 2-by-8-inch lumber, into the cutout.

Drive two 3-inch, treated deck screws into each stud along the length of the ledger, using a cordless drill, to anchor it in place. Set the screws so the heads are flush with the face of the ledger. Seal around all four edges with 100 percent pure silicone caulk to ensure no water seeps into the wall.