How to Put Rope Lights Up on a Balcony
Wanting a little light and festive mood on the balcony? Why not add a rope light around the perimeter? There are several ways that you can mount rope lights to your balcony. The easiest way might be to just wrap the light rope around the rail in a "candy cane" fashion, but if you want your rope light to run along the balcony in a straight row, here's another way to do it. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Set of mounting hooks or brackets designed for the purpose
- Screwdriver (Phillips head)
- Extension cord
Instructions
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1
Mount your rope light with mounting brackets; if these didn't come included with the rope light, you may purchase these from a hardware store that sells rope light. Plug in your rope light. Use an extension cord if you do not have an outlet close at hand.
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2
Screw your mounting bracket to the deck rail at the point closest to your power source, about two inches from the wall. Keep the open end of the bracket pointed up with the screw at the bottom. Click the rope into the bracket, positioning the terminal-plug end of the rope behind the bracket and close to the wall. (There are two terminal plugs: one on the plug-in end with the cord for plugging the rope into a power source, and the other for connecting another rope.)
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3
Let the rope hang while you move down the rail to attach another bracket about 18 inches from the first. You will mount a bracket every 18 inches or so.
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Continue down the rope, adding mounting brackets and clicking the rope into place, keeping the rope taut.
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Pull the rope tight as you come to the end of the rope and add in your last bracket just behind the other terminal. Add additional rope lights in the same way, continuing down the rail.
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Tips & Warnings
A warm rope will make it easier for you to straighten the rope as you go.
Use nails if you don't have mounting brackets; pound in a long nail, set the rope light on top of it, and use a hammer to bend the nail over the top of the rope. Be careful not to damage or pinch the rope light in the process.
