[handeman]

Hi everyone,

I'm replacing the outdoor lights by our front door. Take a look at the attached pictures - as you can see, it's going flush against brick. I've read that a box can be chiseled out of the brick, but as you can see, the old light was just put in flush.

The last two pictures are the light that's going in. The studs on the rusted bracket that's screwed into the brick are too wide to fit the bracket for the new light. Is it as simple as getting a new narrower bracket and attaching it per the instructions that came with the light? Or is it necessary to get an outlet box in the brick? Also, is the wiring coming out of the brick ok? It looked a bit weathered to me.

As you can probably tell, I'm a complete DIY newbie....any help would be appreciated. Thanks,

- H

 

[JasonJohnson]

yes sir

 

[handeman]

Not sure what you meant...anyone able to give me a bit more detail?

 

[k_buz]

A box is needed.

 

[hammerlane]

. I've read that a box can be chiseled out of the brick

I dont know about chiseling but a masonry hole saw would do the trick.

Watch this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0Pj9zzPN0s&feature=related


There has been no box there for probably since the house was built. Theres no way you can adapt the bracket on the house to fit the new light?

Take the existing bracket off put two bolts in the slots with the threads facing out a width apart to accomodate the new light. Secure these new bolts to the existing bracket with nuts and a washer, then attach the bracket back to the house???

 

[hammerlane]

heres my idea

 

[k_buz]

The fixture will be ungrounded. That fixture is fed by BX. The armored casing carries the ground. You need to connect the BX to a box so you can properly ground the fixture. If romex was feeding this fixture, I might be inclined to tell a homeowner to just mount the strap to the wall, but even then, I believe the instructions will instruct you to mount the fixture bracket to a box.

 

[hammerlane]

The fixture will be ungrounded.

good point..
If you want the light fixture to be grounded a box will be needed.