Construction Sequence? Stucco color first then build porch & steps?

Question

I need to build a little porch with some stairs to exit the side of my house. Right now the exterior stucco is in raw stucco, waiting for the color coat to go on. The little porch will attach to the house with a ledger board and the stairs will run parallel to the wall. The question is whether to wait for the color coat to go on before I build the porch, or go ahead and do it now so I don't risk cracking the color by drilling and nailing. Thanks!

Answer 1

If you will be doing anything that may crack the "color coat" it will crack the stucco or rough coat as well.
You shouldn't have any problems attaching the ledger board to a stucco wall by using self tapping lag bolts making sure to dive them into the framing of the wall.

Go ahead and do the color top coat before staring anything else.

Answer 2

There are many ways to apply stucco. The two most common methods, or systems are: and I will describe them quickly:

(1) "Conventional Stucco" consisting of metal mesh on a weather membrane, with a base, scratch or brown coat applied next and a finally a topcoat "coloured".

(2) The next system, widely used, is called "EIFS", which simply means "external insulation finishing system" or similar. EIFS may also be deemed a three part application, on a sub-strate of 1 1/4" min. EPS, which is securely attached over a weather membrane, a base or prime coat is applied all the while a fibreglass mesh is squeegeed into it, and finally a top coat or color coat is applied, to the set-up prime coat.

Now to your answer, if the stair stringer, is to come into contact, with the finished stucco, or should it be with in a 1 1/2" of same:
We have to presuppose few things, (1) the stucco will out last the stairs or stringers for that matter. (2) in the future the stairs may be re-located. If for no other reason, these points make the case for finish consistency, under or behind stringer. I am of the school of thought that says "do not attach stringer directly to stucco finish", neither onto the base or top coat. No matter what the wood. it will tend to rot. As you used a ledger board use spacer blocks, attached to sub-strate beneath the weather membrane. Use these to attach or secure stair stringer and provide an air-space for same plus the tread or riser boards. Place blocks before final coat and cut through the base coat if you must, caulk after top coat and before stringers are placed. If you don't get to pat yourself on the back in the future, someone will praise your forethought oneday! Use screws to attach stringer and spacer blocks, it will always cost less to replace the blocks as opposed to stringers or complete stairs. If and when the stairs are moved, it is easier to patch the voids left by the blocks as compared to the shadow of the complete stringer...

Hope this all makes sense..I hate proof reading...bad enough the spell check corrected "color" to the English or Canadian "colour"

It is my best guess, the first stucco method is yours...put the blocks to her!

Answer 3

You need to at least install the ledger board before you do the stucco work.

Answer 4

1

Answer 5

you can prime the brown coat then do your construction and paint after, that's the best way i can think of, i have done a few, the primer will protect the parts of the wall that will be underneath the stairway. good luck

Answer 6

well there should be no screws or nails showing that attaches ur steps and landings to the wall.there for u prob can do it either before or after.
good luck

Answer 7

Do the porch, then color.