How to Caulk Outdoor Wall Lights
When you install outdoor wall lights, you need to seal the light from moisture intrusion. If moisture penetrates the wall light, the light will short out and become a fire hazard or the connections within the outdoor wall light will corrode and the light will not work. You do not need to seal around the entire light, just the areas that water can invade. The standard caulking pattern seals three sides of the wall light, but the caulk must completely seal around those three sides. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Clean rags
- Silicone caulk
- Drop-in caulking good
- Utility knife
- Bowl of water
Instructions
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1
Wipe the area around the outdoor wall light with a clean rag to remove dust, dirt, and debris from the wall and the mounting bracket.
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2
Place the tube of caulk into the drop-in caulking gun with the nozzle facing away from the trigger and cut the nozzle at 45-degree angle with a 1/8th-inch opening.
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3
Squeeze the handle of the gun to start the flow of caulk from the tube and release the pressure from the caulking gun by pushing the release lever or twisting the rod of the caulk gun and pulling it away from the caulk tube. Wipe the excess caulk from the tip of the caulk tube with a clean rag.
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4
Place the tip of the caulk tube against the wall with the tip aiming at the location where the mounting frame of the outdoor wall light meets the house siding.
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5
Run a bead of caulk down both sides of the outdoor wall light and another across the top.
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6
Release the pressure from the caulking gun in the manner described in Step 3.
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7
Wet your finger in the water bowl and run your finger along the caulk bead to give it a finished appearance.
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8
Inspect the bead of caulk to ensure that there are no voids in the caulk bead.
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