Rubber Membrane Behind Ledger On Stucco?

Woodcrafter74

I was reading in the last issue of Deck Magazine about flashing a ledger on a stucco house. One contractor said sometimes instead of cutting away the stucco, he'll just put a rubber membrane directly on the stucco and attach the ledger over that. I'm thinking long term this method may actually have less chance of water pentration than the traditional methods. Has anyone ever tried this?

I have a deck I'm about to start on a stucco home with about 70' of ledger, I'm thinking of trying this "new" method. If I do, I'm planning on taking a belt sander and knocking down the high spots and sharp edges of the stucco so the membrane would adhere better. I'd obviously still run a generous bead of sealant on the top and edges of the ledger. What do you think, and any suggestions as to what type/brand of membrane to use?

cdac

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TimNJ

Is this a 2nd story deck or ground level?

Woodcrafter74

Both, it's three decks connected by two walkways as it wraps around the house. The side of the house is about 3' up, the back is about 10'. Why?

Chris,
Thanks for input, I think you explained that to Kevin here once before, but it didn't click until now. Question: is that York flashing you use self-adhesive?
Thanks again for the help--I'll buy you a drink at the Expo in two weeks. I'll PM you later with my cell #.

TimNJ

How were you going to attach the ledger to the house? Every summer there is at LEAST one major deck collapse, usually at the Jersey shore, because sombody lagged their ledger to the rim joist and water had gotten in through the lag bolt, which weakened the wood and when the deck loaded up with people...down it, and they, came.
Seventy feet of deck has the potential to hold a LOT of people which in turn is a LOT of weight.

red_cedar

Cut the stucco and remove where ledger will attach. Put 'grace' ice and water shield along area that stucco was removed.Slip metal flashing ( z flashing style ) behind stucco ( hard but possible. ) then over wood ledger Lag bolt/ lag screw the ledger into the building. This is the way I did my home, although not stucco.
On the bottom one could always put the same type of flashing as on top, on the bottom as well. ( behind the wood ledger then over the stucco )
If this makes any sense.

Woodcrafter74

Tim,
Good thought--a collapse is a deck builder's worst fear. Although I do have 70' of ledger, about 40' of that is related to walkways, not large decks. I have access to the basement, so I'll be bolting the ledger to the house band. The house band is 1 1/8" timberstrand, which I'm not a huge fan of, but I'll be adding additional support from the inside.

Thanks for all the comments.