Anchoring a Pergola to a House

Set a sturdy ladder against the wall at the desired spot where you want the pergola's end board to fall. Measure and mark every 16 inches on the stone or brick wall using chalk, from one corner to the other.

Insert a carbide tip into an impact drill. Position the tip over a chalk mark on the corner of the wall, and maintain steady pressure as you bore a 3-inch-deep hole through it. Blow into the hole to remove drilling dust before you bore pilot holes through the remaining marks along the wall.

Set the pointed tip of a masonry anchor over a corner hole and gently tap it into the hole until its head falls flush with the surrounding wall surface. Repeat this process to install anchors into the pilot holes.

Measure and cut a length of 2-inch by 10-inch wood board to the desired length of the pergola end piece using a handsaw. Sand any rough edges of the board with medium-grit sandpaper to remove splinters and provide a smooth surface to work on.

Measure and mark the board every 16 inches using a marker. These marks correspond to the marks on the exterior wall. Double-check the spacing on the board before marking it, to ensure it is not offset.

Drill 1/2-inch-wide holes through the marks along the ledger board using a drill and wood bit.

Hold the ledger board flush against the exterior wall, with its ends in line with the ends of the walls. Align the board, if required, to align its pilot holes with the ones drilled through the wall.

Slide a galvanized steel washer into a 5-inch lag bolt before inserting it through the corresponding holes in the wooden board and wall. Use a wrench to tighten the bolt until its head is flush with the surrounding surface and it is anchored securely against the wall. Repeat this process to drive lag bolts and washers into the remaining holes.

Attach the end piece of the pergola to this ledger board using the provided mounting hardware.