Hello,

Regarding exterior lights, e.g., over a garage:
Also, a xenon light fixture over a Deck:

All these exterior light fixturescome with a built in, integral, metal base
of course, that is quite adequate to cover up the wire nuts.

Question: is it legal to mount them right against the exterior clapboards ?

Or, must a "J Box" (I think this is what they are called perhaps ?) be
mounted between the base and the wood
to be legal ? Why ?

The boxes I'm thinking about are those typical Bell brand Aluminum boxes
made for outside usage.

Are they "really" necessary ?

Thanks,
Bob