Hi guys,

I am wanting to install an exterior wall light in a spot that currently has no light. My plan is to chisel out a brick and mortar in a box and then run a wire through the brick wall into the ceiling where it will splice into an existing light.

Before I start chiseling brick though, I want to know if the wall will in fact be hollow, and whether I will run into some kind of top piece that will keep me from fishing a wire into the ceiling. I have some diagrams to help clarify.







If there is more info I can supply, please let me know. I would be gracious for any information or insight provided.

 

Why Chisel? There has to be a drill attachment that cuts into brick.

Something like this: If so, drill a pilot hole to get started with a hammer drill to depth and if you don`t want to go all the way through then attempt to chisel it out. And then drill out a hole in the back side to fit your power in there.

 

The way I've been taught to drill out a brick is to trace the outline of the junction box, then drill a bunch of holes about 1/2" apart with a masonry bit. Then using a chisel, crack the brick between the holes and the entire brick will slide out.

I would prefer to run the power inside the brick wall into the ceiling. If necessary, I can run it through the brick wall, but that would be the less desired approach.

 

The wall should be hollow, however, you will run into mortar at every layer. They slop that stuff in and then lay the next layer on top. Bricks generally do have some holes in the middle of them- to reduce weight and to run conduit, or whatever.

To me, there would be no reason to fill that wall.

What is that white ceiling made of? I think the only way to do this work is to cut out a big enough hole for you to be able to drill downwards, from the top of the wall. You'll need to bust through all the mortar to get the wire down. Because of all the random staggering of the bricks, I highly doubt you'll be able to just fish the wire down. I'd be very surprised if you could.

The biggest issue with cutting open that white inner ceiling is it will depend on how vertical clearance you have above the brick wall- it looks like the roof slope is pretty low in that area (though hard to confirm with these photos).

Anyway, what I would do is:

1. Drop that white ceiling, or cut a huge hole in it, so that you can get your tools and arms on potentially head in there to see what you are facing. Once done, you can replace the cut out piece and use wood filler to fill in the cut line. Let it dry, sand it smooth and paint over. If you take your time, you'll never be able to tell it was tampered with.

2. If there is sufficient room, I would drill vertically down into the wall. I don't think there would be much of a top plate, but even if there is, it would either be wood or thin sheet metal. There would be no reason for a heavy duty top plate.

3. Drill through the outside brick, like you suggested.

4. Connect the new light to the existing one under the white ceiling (I assume it's on the same switch as the other exterior light)

 

Wishful thinking maybe, but I was hoping there would be a gap between the two sides of bricks right down the middle of the wall. The wall is 1 brick length thick but if you measure the width of each brick, you end up with about 1.5" gap in the middle for the brick face to be flush where they are. But I didn't think of the mortar they might have put on in inside or squished into this space.

The white ceiling is wood. There is no attic access and it does slope pretty aggressively.

I may have to just drill all the way through and run a stapled wire into the ceiling from the back side of the wall.