July 25, 2008
Blocks Help Beautify Your Lighting
DUCT TAPE likely can be found in every do-it-yourselfer's toolbox. That thick, gray elastic tape has been used to repair everything from appliances to windows.
But here's a new one even for me: duct tape for securing an exterior light fixture to vinyl siding. Honest. Saw it with my own eyes. Apparently this homeowner didn't like how the fixture rested against the siding or the way it left the electrical box exposed to the elements.
Here's a better solution: Look for premolded mounting blocks designed specifically for light fixtures, dryer vents, mailboxes and electrical outlets. These vinyl or plastic blocks can be found at building-supply stores and home centers.
In addition to providing an architectural highlight, the blocks allow objects to rest squarely against siding.
The drawback is that most mounting blocks are not retrofit; they are designed to be installed before the siding. But if you have some skill with a utility knife and a plier-type cutting tool, you can slip a mounting block behind the siding.
A mounting block allows a fixture to fit square and flush against the siding. (See the before and after photographs.) With some new siding applications, electrical boxes are secured on the outside of the siding instead of flush. When a fixture is attached, the edge of the box can be exposed. This looks messy and it also forces the wiring to be jammed into an undersized box.
The architectural blocks, on the other hand, have a mounting piece and a frame to hide the exposed portion of the box. The pieces are held together by pressure tabs. The fixture must be removed from the siding and rewired. (Turn off the electricity to the fixture at the service panel before doing any work.)
First, use the frame, the outside piece, to draw an outline on the siding. This is the area you'll cut away, so the electrical box should be positioned in the center of the frame. Using the utility knife, cut slowly on the outside of the line; you want the opening to be slightly larger than the frame. If the opening is between two pieces of siding, you'll have a much easier time. Separate the pieces with an old butter knife, then lift the top piece away. Behind the siding is a layer of foam insulation. Try to save the insulation.
Lift the siding away from the house and fit the mounting piece, the larger piece, behind the siding. Work carefully so as not to damage the siding. Most siding panels are loosely nailed to the house, so you can even remove a couple of nails to give yourself more room. Use a torpedo level to position the mounting piece, then secure it to the exterior wall with galvanized roofing nails or galvanized screws. The panel has holes for screws and nails, so there's no need to predrill. For smaller fixtures, you need only a couple of screws on each side to secure the piece.
Snap the siding back together and then rewire the fixture.
You might have to use the plier-type cutting tool to get through the thickest portion of the siding. Also, the mounting panels come with cutouts for standard circular and rectangular boxes. Do your cutting on the panel before you attach it to the house. Also, it might take a little work to snap the siding back into place. Don't be alarmed. The siding will bend - especially in warm weather - and the pieces will go back if you bend the pieces and work carefully.
The blocks for light fixtures come in a couple of sizes: the smaller styles, squares about 8 inches by 8 inches, cost about $5; larger styles, about 12 inches by 9 inches, cost $7-$8. Blocks for other items are similarly priced. Color selection where I looked was limited to white, gray and cedar (a light reddish tan). Check with the store or home center about special orders.
One tip: Because the mounting block extends the distance between the fixture and the box, you'll probably need longer mounting screws for the fixture. These screws fit on a mounting bracket that is screwed to the box. I used 3-inch-long 6 by 32 machine screws to replace the mounting screws. The mounting bracket and screws for fixtures are included in the packaging for any new light fixture.
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