Is hole needed before installing sturdimounts?
diyfarmgirl
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
I am building my own house. I have sturdimount blocks for exterior lights that should go up before I put up the fiber cement siding. I have plywood sheathing. I do not know much about electrical boxes. Before nailing up the outside mounts should a hole be cut into the sheathing for electrical boxes? Does the electrical box attach to te inside of the sheathing or does it attach to the inside of the mounts?g Someone said there are mounts that come with boxes attached to them but I already have purchased the strudimounts and am not sure what to do next.
Replies
what to do next?
Hire an electrician. Your homeowners insurance policy carrier will appreciate it.
Thanks for your replies. Will this plan work?
I need to get the siding on asap to protect the house. This is a multi year project based on available funds.Meanwhile I do what I can on my own. I know I need licensed electricians and plumbers but can not afford them until next year. I am not installing the lights or anything electrical, just putting up the mounts.
So....my plan now is to idenify where the door lights will be located, make a hole in the sheathing that will be the correct size for the electrical box for the lights, than attach the sturdimount over the hole, then flash the mount according to the directions, then install the siding.
Next year when an electrician comes to wire the house will they be able to work with what I have done? I would really like to have the mounts instead of having to go back next year and drill holes through the fiber cement siding.
If the inside of the wall is unfinished then you basically don't need to do anything. The electrician can cut the hole for the fixture, arranged for whatever mounting scheme is chosen, when the electrical work is done.
I can skip the hole?
Just want to confirm. You mean I can skip making the hole for now and just put up the sturdimount. And at some future point the electrician can cut the hole. The walls are unfinished, just studs and exterior sheathing.
sturdimounts go on before siding
Thanks for your feedback.
The Sturdimounts I have are designed to go onto the sheathing before the siding. They are recommended by Hardie siding, match the fiber cement and have flanges nailed to the sheathing for water protection. The siding goes over the flanges and abuts the mounts. Once installed you can't just remove them unless you undo the siding. Attached is a picture.
If you install the Sturdimount that you have, which has a small round hole for the wires, before installing the electrical box, the electrical box will have to be installed from the backside of the sheathing. Will probably have to use a multi tool with a plunge blade to cut the sheathing without cutting into the Sturdimount and then secure the electrical box from inside. Sounds doable but a little more work.....installer may have to be a contortionist based on wall framing. Why not ask the electrician now?
I just remembered something else. I just replaced a couple of light mounting blocks on my house that had rotted and another reason to install the electrical boxes first or at least consult with an electrician concerning how the light attaches to the electrical box. Mine had a bar that attached across the face of the electrical box. The bar had a threaded hole in the middle that accepted a threaded rod that threaded into the light fixture. I don't know all the electrical hardware mounting devices available so this is another reason to have the conversation with an electrician or knowledgeable installer.
Call Customer Service: 800-521-8486
http://www.tapcoint.com/brands/sturdimount
I would talk to customer service rather than rely on forum members opinions. I think a box should be mounted before installing the sturdimount myself, but I don't know what I'm talking about either.