Recently, we installed a couple of exterior light fixtures for some homeowners that were tired of coming home in the dark every night. They had relied on a single porch light that wasn't providing enough light, partly because of where the fixture was located and the frosted glass the fixture was designed with. They were ready for a change. The homeowner and his wife purchased the exterior light fixtures beforehand, they decided on an LED type fixture that came with clear crackled glass that allowed for more usable light. Not to mention the energy efficiency factor.
We started the project by first deciding where exactly, these new fixtures would be going, since the home was part of a tract community the goal was to keep the placement of these fixtures uniform with the other homes in the neighborhood. Next we had to locate a power source for these fixtures, since the home did not come prewired for exterior light fixtures on the exterior garage wall. Initially we wanted to cut open all the walls and run the wiring to the switch bank where the front porch light was but after discussing this with the homeowner, we decided to go a different route.
After finalizing the plan with the owner, we began drawing our holes for the 3 1/2" round junction boxes. Using a masonry circular hole saw to cut the holes we made it through the stucco in no time. Since the homeowner did not want a lot of wall patching, we ran the conductors from fixture to fixture on the surface of the inside garage wall. Beginning with the farthest fixture first, we drilled a pilot hole for conductors to be run from the new fixture to the junction box that would be added on the inside. An exterior junction box was added, then we caulked around the exterior junction box and wired up the new fixture. After installing the fixture exactly where we wanted it we then caulked the area where the fixture butted up to the stucco finish. Remember we need to keep the elements from entering the inside of the walls, so any extra barriers that we can add in there will help prevent future problems.
For the 2nd fixture there would be some extra work, it just so happened that the existing lighted address fixture was at the exact same place where the new fixture needed to go, so we had to move it. Since the fixture was low voltage it didn't take long to figure out that the small conductors were tied into the doorbell transformer just above the Panel in the garage. The circuit was located and turned off, then we removed the lighted address fixture and drilled a new hole about twelve inches above the new exterior light fixture. Because of the size of the new exterior light fixture and its intended placement, we couldn't install the lighted address fixture at the same measurement as the other homes, so we decided on an aesthetically pleasing height.
Once the lighted address fixture was installed, caulked and tested; we were able to focus on the rest of the installation for the 2nd exterior light fixture. The junction box was installed and caulked, next the conductors were chased through the wall and then the fixture was installed and caulked in place Since this was the area where the lighted address fixture was the caulk that was leftover had to be scraped off, because it was stucco there would be minor paint touch up to be done to the effected areas.
Okay so by this point we had two new fixtures installed and the lighted address fixture moved. Next we shut off power to the source that we intended to tap into, we then opened up the walls to run the conductors to the fixtures junction point. Before closing the drywall back up, we had to install nail plates where the new conductors ran too close to the drywall screws. Nail plates installed, we closed up the wall. Conductors were then run on the inside of the garage from one interior junction box to the next. If you recall we ran conductors through the interior wall from the exterior junction box where the Light fixtures would eventually mount to.
Once everything was terminated and tested (wired and checked), power was turned back on so that we could see the finished product. Because these exterior light fixtures had photocells prewired into them, we had to bypass it in order to properly test these fixtures. Within a few seconds both fixtures came on. The lighting project was done. We had to return to finish the mudding but the final product was complete.
This project was fairly simple enough to do, and it can be done over a weekend. But there are a couple of things that you need to keep in mind when taking on this type of project; whenever making penetrations from the interior of the home to the exterior, always seal the penetrations with a good caulk that is specifically for that purpose, don't ever assume that if the caulk is good for a shower its good for outdoors. Also if you find yourself repairing or remodeling, be sure to upgrade to the most efficient products so that your improving your home while saving money. And lastly, always make sure you turn off the circuit you intend to work on.
Until next time.
M. Hernandez
No comments:
Post a Comment