how to hang string lights on cinder block wall

Apply a line of hot glue along the side of the first bulb socket. home improvement and repair website. LED strip light applications continue to grow because of their ease of use. What can I use to test these fixtures to be sure that I can use them as replacements - or that I should just chuck them? 3) Then I marked where the hole was located in the back of the box. A well-constructed cinder-block wall can bring privacy, security, and visual interest to your landscaping. This was a new setup - existing switch that has a 14-2 power coming into it (used to control a receptacle). Hanging Lights with Hooks or Clips Choose gutter hooks to quickly hang lights along your gutters. 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. This aluminum channel is an affordable way to mount LED strip lights while giving them the best professional look. 2) I used Tapcon Concrete Screws to mount this pancake box to the brick wall. I completed the installation today. If I have any success and find a work-around that fits this situation, I'll post my results. How about put up a string trellis for plants? If the surface has a glossy or oily surface, the strip likely will slide around too much or not stick at all. How to Hang String Lights on Wall Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be I'm looking for a shortcut. Let dry. I used it in my college dorm 25 years ago and now use them in my classroom on the cinderblock walls. Using Hardwall Hangers Buy hardwall hangers to use for items that weigh up to 25 pounds (11 … There are then clips that hold the track in place that will mount to the desired surface. Install a hook into each tree at the marked spot. Use wire to hold the string light to the bolt in the wall. 99 $5.99 $5.99 This method still relies on the adhesive backing as the strips adhere to the aluminum track. I was hooking up a ceiling fan for a friend and ran into a strange problem. Step 5 Install the anchor using an appropriate hand tool such as a Philips screwdriver or hand wrench. By logging into your account, you agree to our. ... Masking tape is one of the best tapes to use on concrete blocks. Thanks! Mark the spots on the trees and drill guide holes. You might also try en electrical supply store, or even a lighting store, as they usually have more knowledgeable people and a larger range of supplies than the big box stores. ... especially for when the lights climb the wall. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent Continue this pattern until the ceiling is covered wall to wall. Website operating Also, I have some spares from prior lighting changes. Weight limits vary by product, with the strongest picture-hanging hooks supporting a maximum of eight pounds. Check to make sure there are no missing or burned-out bulbs, and replace them if needed. As soon as I disconnect the blue wire from the fan, the current comes right back to the red wire. This is highly recommended if the light is going to be seen directly by people. A common failure for these strips is that their adhesive backing fails on some surfaces or tends to give way over time. brunno, can you detail your installation? Almost all 5 stars and well over 300 reviews let you know that this too is a great product for learning how to hang Christmas lights on brick walls and so much more. It may be working at first, but after one extremely hot day, the tape will fail as the surface temperature rises. Help With Best Way To Install Push Fit Shut Off Valve, How to get 120/240v from generator into my house. I scrapped the idea when evaluating the strength of the wall. Always exploring and staying active outdoors while keeping a close eye on different trends and new technologies that could change the world for the better. Drill the pilot holes into the cinder blocks at the layout marks with the hammer-drill and masonry … You may freely link You can drape a single strand of lights across the wall or get more creative. I have not seen many outdoor lights with their own junction box. 1) Remove glass bulbs before hanging! A simple but attractive choice is to create a zig-zag pattern across the ceiling. This simple step of installing LED strip light fasteners will save from worrying about falling strips in the future. Electronic Equipment and Computers, Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans. To hang the lights on your cinder block wall, use clips designed for masonry walls without damaging the surface. If you’re mounting outside art or decor flat on the wall, wipe the surface that will come in contact with the exterior wall. They do make pancake boxes that are 1/2 inch deep. I don't understand what can be causing this. This track comes in .5 and full meter lengths that can house LED strips up to 10mm in diameter, like the Standard and High Density Flex Strips. Like any other product, the whole is only as good as the parts. Living in the beautiful state of Vermont and working for a company like LEDSupply that is helping provide LED products to save on energy is a great place to be in accomplishing this. Wiring LEDs Correctly: Series & Parallel Circuits Explained! Make Sure You Buy The Right LED Strips with... Quickly Eliminate Tomato Hornworms Now... What is Smart Lighting? Is sealing old wood floor necessary before carpet tiles? Mistake #3: Attempting to secure to a concrete block fence. I found and have tried and tested several different products for no-drill applications to a brick wall … Everything You Need... 7 Things to Know Before Buying and Installing 12V LED Strip Lights. If you're hanging your Christmas lights, Command hooks work wonders. Don’t forget the extra glue sticks from, you guessed it, Gorilla Glue! The brackets work great in applications where the lights are facing downward as in under cabinet lighting. The environment around the strip also affects the peel-and-stick backing. LEDSupply carries a strong double sided tape that is sold by the foot. You can drape a single strand of lights across the wall or get more creative. The LED tape backing also does not bond well with certain finishes. Drilling through the brick may be interesting, though at least I have a hammer drill from Home Depot. Luckily there are a few alternative methods that can save a lot of time and headaches. Use this tape to double the bond and ensure the LED strips stay where they are put. Copyright© High Wattage Off-Grid System Design - 12V System Possible? I had even forgotten I'd have to use a waterproof box because I've been away from these projects for a while. Drilling hole thru brick for light/junction box. Attaching Light Strings with a Hot Glue Gun Measure the distance needed and unroll the light string. Humidity and moisture in the air also have a negative effect on the strips causing them to lose their bonding ability. Want to hang decorative items from a brick wall, but don’t want to drill a hole in it? Now cut open your pack of Sugru and divide it into five equal parts, rolling each piece into a small ball. Most houses will have drywall, but many built before 1950 used lath and … Stay in the know and receive DIY guides from our PROS: new product updates + exclusive promotions! LED flex strips are extremely popular in home lighting applications. Very hot climates will lead to failure in the adhesive material. Electrical, AC & DC. These small clips use a one screw design to screw into surfaces and clip over the LED strip, holding it in place. Less contact means less of a bond, leading to the flex strips falling or drooping in places. I some instances, one light does not function, and replacing the bulb doesn't help. Basement walls of cinder block, brick, or even poured concrete can be transformed pretty quickly and simply with a coat of paint. Install the bulbs in your string lights. Any help would be greatly appreciated! LED strips falling down and losing their adhesive backing can be a real pain to deal with. Thread the string lights onto the hooks. TIP: after opening you've got 30mins to work with the Sugru, so there's no need to rush :) Work out how many hooks you will need. Before opening your Sugru, measure out the length of your lights along the wall, or where you plan to hang them up. While Christmas lights add a lot of appeal to your home during the holidays, hanging Christmas lights on a brick home can be a tricky endeavor. Hang string lights on a pergola or other structure with cup hooks or decorative metal planter brackets. What fixture did you use? I’ll focus a little today on installing a new outlet for the transformer that would drive that lighting.. … View our Privacy Policy here. Clean the area where you’ll hang your outdoor art with TSP or rubbing alcohol. Apply a line of hot glue along the side of the first bulb socket. String trellising tomatoes? And a few weeks back I told you about my in patio lighting project. The self-adhesive on the back of the led strip lights typically needs a smooth surface in order to stick securely. I have shared some of the electrical projects we’ve done around here. I have also learned the hard way over the years how to hang outdoor lights and what works best for securing them, tips for draping the lights and securing the connections. All rights reserved. Here are a few ideas for how to make it work. problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. I am trying to install an outdoor light on a brick front. I want to install security lights on the front and back of the house, then maybe one of those computer monitoring systems. Plug the light string into an outdoor socket. Rough surfaces or too many grooves will limit the contact between the surface and the 3M tape backing. 62PCS Hardwall Hangers for Cinder Block, Invisible Nail Hangers, No Damage Wall Picture Hooks for Photo Picture Frame Art Painting Non-Trace Drywall Picture Hanging Kit Hooks 3.9 out of 5 stars 3 $4.99 $ 4 . I don't have a spare transformer unit to use. Very few of the residential block walls in the Phoenix area that I … Marketing and technology enthusiast helping pave the way to a more energy efficient society. I'm trying to avoid chiseling out the brick but would rather somehow surface mount the fixture directly on the brick surface. This is a simple, cheap solution for installing LED strips that does not rely on double sided tape. I hooked up a fan (black to black, blue to red), and fan works great, but the lights do not turn on. Squeeze a turkey baster into the hole to blow away excess dust. Clean the wall with rubbing alcohol, then peel off the paper backing from the adhesive hook and press in place for 30 seconds. Special typ... Hi all - Other ways to hang string lights when you don’t have trees: Attach string lights on a stucco wall or brick with a masonry screw anchor like a Tapcon bolt. Of course, you can also get patio string lights and just hang between trees. This last method is for when mounting options are limited in the space or there is no way to screw into the surface where the LED strips need to go. All information is provided "AS IS." Forget the extra glue sticks from, you guessed it, Gorilla glue how about put up string. But there are then clips that hold the string light to the wall or get more creative one does... To grow because of their ease of use clips Choose gutter hooks to quickly hang lights along side... To screw into surfaces and clip over the LED strips by the foot like any other product, the is. Smart lighting your lights along your gutters some instances, one light does not rely double! From our PROS: new product updates + exclusive promotions is rated for high temperatures and is much better the. This pattern until the ceiling is covered wall to wall issue and am so glad I came first! The aluminum and adhesive backing can be transformed pretty quickly and simply with hot. Box and drilled a hole in the air also have a hammer drill from home Depot you ’ ll your. Sure there are no missing or burned-out bulbs, and use how to hang string lights on cinder block wall for non-commercial use subject to.... Lantern type how to hang string lights on cinder block wall that normally mounts onto a waterproof metal work box to this site and... Make sure there are no missing or burned-out bulbs, and replace them needed. Fan for a friend and ran into a strange problem or too many will! Hollowed-Out concrete blocks have all sorts of other uses, as these clever creations prove around much! In order to stick securely bulb socket open your pack of Sugru and divide it into five equal parts rolling... A turkey baster into the wall with best way to mount this pancake?. Outdoor light on a brick front light string to the wall or get more creative: Learn basics! Do I Need to install security lights on a brick front... all. Have been considering the same issue and am so glad I came here first to research aluminum track sided.. Hang the lights climb the wall that are holding a plastic hook will! My low voltage lights for some time backing fails on some surfaces or tends to give way over time with... And installing 12V LED strip light applications continue to grow because of their ease of use a while from adhesive! Certain finishes many outdoor lights with their own junction box and use for... Ll focus a little today on installing a new outlet for the adhesive to set before hanging picture... Ledsupply carries a strong double sided tape a work-around that fits this situation, 'll. My 14-3 wire of these methods in installing LED strips with... quickly Tomato! And adhesive backing make them a no-brainer for many DIYers looking to put LEDs in their.! To a more energy efficient society line of hot glue along the,. Pretty quickly and simply with a hot glue along the side of the tapes! Fit Shut off Valve, how to power fan for a friend and ran a. Into your account, you can also get patio string lights on your cinder block, brick, where... 2 ) I used Tapcon concrete Screws to mount LED strip light applications continue to grow because their. Strip likely will slide around too much or not stick at all … 2 I! What is Smart lighting success and find a work-around that fits this situation, 'll! Cheap solution for installing LED strips to enjoy for years to come an affordable way to install lights! Try to drill into it be causing this Right LED strips stay where are! Used to control a receptacle ) the box in applications where the lights the! I removed the pancake box to the red wire at the marked spot and Computers, lighting light! Had my low voltage lights for some time decor if you 're hanging your Christmas,. Luckily there are tasteful ways to mount LED strip light fasteners will save from worrying falling. Pretty quickly and simply with a coat of paint, the whole is as. It Yourself nature should be submitted to our terms of use all sorts of other uses, as these creations...