Exterior light installation question
Bowmanmcnear
| Posted in General Discussion on
I need to install a new exterior light in this spot. But there is this board around the outlet. I don’t know why it’s there. I’m not a professional I’m just a homeowner. Do I find a light to go over this that doesn’t stick out from the wall or what do I do? It seems a little tricky to remove the board given that it’s installed within the siding it looks like.
Replies
The board is there so you can seal the fixture to the wall easily. You want to keep moisture out of the electrical box and wall assembly.
Got it! So is the goal for me to find a fixture its exact size to ensure a seal? We are putting in new fixtures not the previous ones
The light trim should cover the hole. You could treat it much like the trim of a round shower control. Run a continuous bead of caulk around the upper 180 degrees of that hole of yours before you mount the light. If water got behind the trim, it would be diverted around your hole.
Looks like there’s a decent overhang above.
You’ll need to find a bar that matches up with the mounts of your light fixture. Go to a good electrical supply with your light and this picture above and the cutout measurement of that board.
I appreciate your help!
FWIW, that is called the 'mounting block'. It allows the light fixture to be plumb on the wall and provides a good attachment base.