Yes you can do that, in fact we can think of very few wall finishes where this is impossible, if done with due care. The thing to remember about stucco is it is a decorative finish applied by hand in a single process, and the stuff is brittle, chips readily, and is not easily matched.

Fair Enough But What Is Stucco Exactly?

This is a broad question, because stucco has been around for thousands of years. The modern version of this rendering is a mixture of portland cement, sand and water, so it is actually a plaster. However, it often has lime added to allow more time to apply, and may have acrylics and glass fibers worked in to improve its structural properties.

We always take additional care when we inspect a stucco-plastered wall, because it is a relatively hard material that breaks or chips easily. If we find existing damage, we may step aside awaiting repairs, because repairing and patching stucco is an acquired art.

First Principles When Attaching Eavestroughs to Stucco

We strongly recommend not attaching rain gutters directly to stucco. There’s enough going on up there, without taking a chance of a screw pulling out, and tearing away a chunk of stucco. The preferred way is to mount eavestroughs on fascia boards, and attach the hangers under the shingles to move the load away from the wall.

Standard principles apply regarding maximum gutter length, and sloping for optimal draining. We’ve covered these topics in previous posts, and provide links to this information at the end of this article.

Fair Enough, But Where Do the Down Pipes Go?

There’s no getting around this one, because uncontrolled water can moisten the lime in the stucco, and progressively damage the finish. We recommend using plastic anchor screws that add a measure of reinforcement to the brittle material, and filling the holes with water-proof caulking before driving in the mounting screws.

Could I Mount the Water Gutters the Same Way?

In theory yes, although the downward pull on the stucco will be greater, and could result in damage. A reinforcing batten across the wall is well-worth considering on the basis that this shares the load. So yes, you could install eavestroughs on stucco, provided you work carefully.

You Could Also Consider Using an Expert

Valiant Exteriors is a privately-owned company in Calgary serving the city’s home and business owners. We have a permanent team well-trained in their art. And if something untoward happens to your stucco, you’ll be glad to know we have full business insurance.

More Information

How Long Can an Eaves Trough Be?

Setting the Right Gutter Slope

Image Stucco Wall Finish (Dante Alighieri BY CC 3.0 Unported)