Retrofitting outdoor lights on a brick wall

[Todd.Brock]

All,

Due to some exterior home improvements , My wife wants to get rid of a spot light that is on the corner of our garage and “replace” with carriage lights on each side of door. The spot light is on a switch so I can easily re -use that part of the circuit.

My question is, do I have to get a box recessed in the brick or could you run romex through the brick and use a pancake box or something that would not cause the light to stand off the wall? I would silicone the light to avoid water intrusion from the top unless it had a gasket. I’m not opposed to drilling a hole , I just need to rent a drill and bit.

Obligatory pic.

 

[bczygan]

I would still keep a motion activated LED flood light up on the fascia.

 

[Todd.Brock]

That one isn’t motion activated, only on a switch. It is pretty dark on that side of house, I though about putting a flood light on back corner. It’s hard to see , but the back of our neighbors houses face that direction so I have to make sure they are pointed down.

 

[Bert_]

Romex is not supposed to be in contact with masonry and a pancake box is not weather proof.

UF would solve the first issue. If you want to surface mount a box it needs to be weather proof like a bell box, but that will set your light out from the wall about an 1 1/2".
A regular box is OK if recessed.

 

[theoldwizard1]

My wife wants to get rid of a spot light that is on the corner of our garage and “replace” with carriage lights on each side of door.

My question is, do I have to get a box recessed in the brick or could you run Romex through the brick and use a pancake box or something that would not cause the light to stand off the wall?

My son just did this. Recess it into the brick. It will look MUCH BETTER ! Hammer and a chisel. Less than an hour. Don't go gravy or you will be trying to "glue" back pieces of brick that you really did not want chipped of.

 

[Todd.Brock]

Recess is in! I figured that was the correct way, but always open to hearing about alt. Ideas.

Thanks!

 

[PhysicsDude]

Its probably not code compliant, but I will tell you that people mount fixtures (residential and commercial) in the way you described in your first post - drilling a hole (3/4" or so), fishing wire through the hole, and attaching the fixture directly to the brick, all the time.

As long as there's a backbox behind the brick and you use outdoor Romex (UF), I think its a safe way to do it, albeit if that's not to code, I can't recommend that you do it..

I'll also say that chipping out the block to put a box is not as hard as it looks. An hours worth of work and a few ****** knuckles.

 

[Todd.Brock]

Thanks PhysicsDude- I am relocating a dryer vent on the back side of the house so I need a 4”core drill to get through the brick so I may just use it provided a 4” hole isn’t too big

 

[PhysicsDude]

Thanks PhysicsDude- I am relocating a dryer vent on the back side of the house so I need a 4”core drill to get through the brick so I may just use it provided a 4” hole isn’t too big

4" core drill would be perfect. Standard round light boxes are approx. 4" in diameter.

 

[yeldogt]

Common to mount outdoor fixtures using a pancake box on masonry (stucco) around me -- My whole house is done that way and inspected back in 95 -- it's stucco over stone. Now they are all on GFI breakers. Standard romex.

 

[Todd.Brock]

Just to close the loop-One big drill, one big hole, one big mess, one bright light.
Thanks all !

 

[Colin Len]

Looks great, if you don't mind, what did that coring bit (?) run you?

 

[Todd.Brock]

Thank you! The renTal store has them for 15 bucks a day. It’s a carbide tipped vs a diamond. Other than some tear out at the beginning, it worked well. It didn’t help that the drill I used didn’t have a drill only function. Hammer or Chisel mode. I read online that for Brick , use drill only to avoid chipping and blow out. That wasn’t and option for me

 

[Hilltopmasonry]

Thank you! The renTal store has them for 15 bucks a day. It’s a carbide tipped vs a diamond. Other than some tear out at the beginning, it worked well. It didn’t help that the drill I used didn’t have a drill only function. Hammer or Chisel mode. I read online that for Brick , use drill only to avoid chipping and blow out. That wasn’t and option for me

That’s about what I pay I believe to rent one as well. I don’t need one often so it’s better for me to rent the bit occasionally. I think they charge $10 if I break one of the tips off so it’s not bad at all


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[Colin Len]

Thanks, that price doesn't seem bad. I don't have an immediate need but I can see it being useful at some point.