How to Install an Exterior Light Fixture on a Brick Wall

Exterior lighting comes in many styles. One of the most common styles is the porch light, which gets mounted on the home next to the entry door. If your home has brick siding, you will need to use special fasteners to mount the light fixture. The type of fasteners you use depends largely on the light fixture's weight. Heavier fixtures require sturdier fasteners. Since the fixture will be exposed to the outdoor elements, it is also important that the fasteners be made of stainless steel so they do not rust and weaken.

Step 1

Locate the opening in the brick wall where the electrical wires protrude from. Hold a circuit tester against the wires to ensure they are safe to work with. If power is running through the wires, turn it off from the main breaker box.

Step 2

Center the light fixture over the opening in the brick wall. Hold a level next to the fixture and adjust it so it is plumb on the wall. Mark the screw hole locations onto the brick wall with a piece of chalk. If possible, adjust the light fixture so every screw hole is positioned over a brick instead of over mortar. Set the fixture aside.

Step 3

Drill pilot holes through each chalk mark on the brick wall using a hammer drill and masonry bit. The size of bit depends on the type of sleeve anchor you will be using. Generally, a 1/4-inch sleeve anchor will be large enough to hold the light fixture in place.

Step 4

Vacuum the dust out of each pilot hole. Hold the light fixture up to the wiring. Connect the light fixture's black wire to the black wire extending from the brick wall. Tighten a wire nut over the two wires. Repeat with the white wires and the green wires. Instead of a green wire, some light fixtures may have a grounding screw. In that case, wrap the green wire around the loose grounding screw, then tighten the screw to hold the wire in place.

Step 5

Insert a sleeve anchor through each of the light fixture's screw holes. Line up the sleeve anchors with the pilot holes. Tap each anchor into a pilot hole with a hammer. Tighten the sleeve anchors' nuts as tight as you can with your fingers. Use a wrench to finish tightening them.