One question you should be asking your contractor ahead of starting an exterior renovation is what the plan is for your exterior lights (and plug covers). The only thing guaranteed is that your contractor is going to take the existing lights down while they’re working - what happens after that is really up to their quality and integrity, so we’d recommend asking in advance!
As part of the re-siding process, we’ll need to remove all exterior lights in the areas we’re working. For us, we want to make sure we put everything back as you see fit, and up to today’s building code. Your exterior lights are going back on once the new siding installed, but they’ll be installed on light specific mounts. This provides a flat surface for the lights to be mounted on (allowing for the best lighting), and brings the install up to today’s code.
If you look at the lights on older Edmonton area homes, you’ll see a lot of lights installed directly over the existing siding. The siding seldom provides a flat surface for the light, nor an appropriate seal around the light. As a result, you’re likely to also notice some pretty ugly caulking around the base of the light, and a light throwing only some of the light it should be.
We install different mounts based on the type of siding you’re having installed, and the size of your exterior light. As a standard, we use a specific PVC mount for vinyl siding, and a Sturdimount for James Hardie siding (both pictured below):
Vinyl siding PVC light mount
Sturdimount Light Mount
In some circumstances, the exterior light is going to be too large for a standard mount. We still want to avoid putting the light directly on the siding, so we’ll custom build you a new mount out of trim boards (as pictured below):
Oversized custom light mount
One common issue installing your lights over mounts is the length of the existing wiring. On the majority of homes, electrical was installed as cost efficient as possible - meaning little to any play with the wiring. Adding a mount means adding extra depth, and often the existing wiring is no longer adequate (especially if you’re having exterior insulation installed, or installing over an existing siding). So who’s cost is that to deal with?
At Blue Jay, we have a Master Electrician on call to extend wiring for these situations. This is included in our on budget guarantee, and done at no charge to you!
Another consideration is the lights themselves - what if you want to get new exterior lights? If installing new lights is not in your skillset, and/or your lights are looking pretty dated, this is the right time to do it! We’re taking down the old lights, and putting something back up - if you’re getting new ones, just let us know and we’ll gladly install those for you instead of your old ones. In fact, new lights can be a subtle way to increase the curb appeal along with the new siding! And no need to stop there - you can have us put up new house numbers and a new mailbox if you’d like to change those too.
Whether you end up selecting Blue Jay for your project, taking this on yourself, or hiring somebody else - it’s important to think this through and ask ahead of time. If your contractor is planning to install over the existing siding, hasn’t accounted for someone to extend the wiring if needed, or is expecting you to put lights back up following the install rather than themselves, it’s best you know in advance!
Interested in getting a quote for your own exterior renovation? Reach out to us today!