Expert: Dan Griffin - 3/31/2008

Question
Hi Dan, I saw your other answer regarding attaching a covered patio to a stucco exterior home and my question is very similar. After googling EIFS I am 99% sure my home has an EIFS exterior (Pulte home built in 2005 in Arizona); I watched the construction of the home and saw the foamboard, what I though was chickenwire, and finally the "stucco" being applied and then painted.

My question is, if I were to cut through the EIFS to attach the ledger, do I cut all the through the foamboard to the studs? And if so, how do I attach the ledger? Since it would be sunk "into" the home a bit, would I double up the ledger to give me sufficient grab for my metal spine brackets?

Also in regards to flashing would I just slip an "L" flashing piece up under the EIFS that would come over the top of the ledger?

Thanks in advance!

Answer
Michael, it sounds like you have the project well in hand.  If the patio had been added originally it would have been fastended to the studs or to plywood sheathing if used.  It may well take multiple ledgers to simplify fastening details.  The flashing needs to bring any water behind the stucco to the outside.  This may require removing a bit too much, flashing, and then re-applying exterior stucco.