Asked on Apr 09, 2020

How to fix heavy items to an exterior stucco wall?

Mitch Gordon
by Mitch Gordon

I want to build a wooden rock climbing wall that goes up the exterior of my house, which is finished in stucco. See the attached photo. To start, I want the climbing wall to run up that protruding column. I know how to frame and build the wall out of wood but I don't know how I would fix it to the outside of my house. Any suggestions?

  12 answers
  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Apr 09, 2020

    Hello Mitch,

    Don't, as you risk total ruin of Stucco, but If you are prepared for the damage go ahead!

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Apr 09, 2020

    Ok, think about this, the force of climbing the wall is less than the fall. Stucco is built on supports of the actual wall of the house, very different than a traditional exterior wall, so the supports for the stucco are not as strong unless driven in to the actual wall.

    For the rope, be sure it is anchored in the beams of the house-the framing and wall supports-and not the stucco.


    Here's a reference on the how to's:


    https://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Home-Rock-Climbing-Wall

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Apr 09, 2020

    If you have true stucco, you can drill through it with a masonry bit and affix with masonry screws.

  • Mogie Mogie on Apr 10, 2020

    Drill through the center of each traced hole with the masonry bit. This bit will drill through the stucco (about 7/8 inch thick) easily but may slow when it hits the sheathing or a wall stud behind the sheathing. If necessary, switch to a wood bit to complete the hole. Drill about 1/8 inch deeper than the installation depth of the anchor.

    Fill each hole will silicone caulk. Insert an anchor into the hole and gently tap it flush to the wall surface with a hammer.

    Hang the item with corrosion-resistant screws driven into the anchors.

  • 17335038 17335038 on Apr 10, 2020

    Perhaps this link might have some info that may help you with your project - https://www.climbing.com/skills/home-wall-primer-route-setting/.

    I also saw that Amazon sells different kinds of bolt-on, and screw on, holds.

  • Twyla Twyla on Apr 11, 2020

    There are several glues in the hardware stores that would do the job, but what I would do, is drill a hole about 3-4" inches in (thickness of the wall?) Glue in a walnut or oak dowel in the wall and in the back of the protrusion.

  • Em Em on Apr 11, 2020

    Measure every 2 feet along the frame of the trellis and mark.

    Drill a 1/4-inch hole, using a normal twist drill bit, into the frame of the trellis. Go through all layers of the trellis. Repeat this process for all the marked areas.

    Place a washer over the hole and run a 3-inch lag bolt through each hole.

    Place a 2 1/2-inch length of copper tubing on the back of the trellis and slide over the bolt. Repeat process for all lag bolts

    Set trellis up against stucco and mark where copper tubing touches the surface.

    Place a masonry bit in the drill and drill a 3/8-inch hole through the stucco until the drill bit hits wood. Once this happens pull out the drill bit and replace with a normal 1/4-inch twist drill bit. Drill 1 inch into the wood for the lag bolt to bite into. Repeat this process for all the holes. Remove any dust from the drilled holes using a turkey baster and squeeze clear silicone sealant into each hole.

    Push lag bolts into the hole and screw down until the pipe is flush with the surface using a 7/16-inch wrench.


  • Simple Nature Decor Simple Nature Decor on Apr 14, 2020

    Make sure you treat the wood or use pressure treated wood so so don't develope mold that can spread on the stucco. We have stucco and we wanted to build a trellis on the stucco and he said no because of the mold potential.

  • Michelle Michelle on Apr 14, 2020

    Lowes and Home depot sell a multitude of masonary (concrete)

    screws. If you are planting a plant that dies out during winter, after snow or frost has killed it, tear down vining and use a a garden pump sprayer filled with 1/2 bleach and 1/2 water to clean stucco and then maybe spray area with a mold and mildew

    deterrent, then maybe seal the stucco with a good concrete sealer

    like Rustoleum's Never Wet. Good lucl, I hope your vines reaches

    for the stars.


  • Kmdreamer Kmdreamer on Apr 16, 2020

    The only way would be to drill holes in concertante and screw in