How to Attach a Header Board for a Deck to Stucco

Header boards, or ledgers, sit flush against the sides of houses in horizontal orientations and support the joists of a deck floor or roof. Stucco houses require additional steps when attaching a ledger board. Stucco, a veneer not a structural element, can crush under the pressure of a ledger board and cannot alone support the weight of a deck. Add a ledger board only after removing the corresponding section of stucco.

Level
Chalk
Circular saw with masonry blade
Pry bar
Chisel
Flashing
Silicon caulk
Drill
Fasteners

Instructions

- 1
  Center the header board in the requisite location. Place a level on top of the board to check for evenness. Trace the board with chalk.
- 2
  Equip a circular saw with a masonry blade. Saw along the chalk line to cut through the stucco layer. Pry out the stucco with a pry bar and scrape away any stuck-on bits with a chisel.
- 3
  Add a length of metal flashing along the top edge of the header board cavity. Slide the upper lip of the flashing under the building paper that underlies the surrounding stucco. Smooth a bead of caulk along the seam where the flashing meets the wall.
- 4
  Drill pilot holes on the ledger board then attach it to the house. Drill pilot holes every 16 inches and alternate the holes between the top and bottom side of the board. Fill the pilot holes with caulk.
- 5
  Attach the header board to the wall. If the stucco was applied over wood framing, screw the ledger board to a framing member with lag screws. If the stucco was applied over concrete, drill pilot holes into the concrete with a masonry bit, insert anchors then attach the ledger board with bolts.

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