Mount outdoor outlet to stucco wall
 

I like to mount an outdoor outlet box to a cement stucco wall. I tried
to punch through the breakout tabs at the back of the box but it is
not coming off. I am suspecting if it is even really a breakout tab.
Please help.... thanks

Please see photos of the outlet box....

http://www.sopmedia.com/sopguest/kohler/photo4.jpg
http://www.sopmedia.com/sopguest/kohler/photo5.jpg
http://www.sopmedia.com/sopguest/kohler/photo6.jpg

Mount outdoor outlet to stucco wall
 

On Apr 13, 9:10*am, wrote:
On Tue, 13 Apr 2010 09:03:13 -0700 (PDT), "

wrote:
I like to mount an outdoor outlet box to a cement stucco wall. I tried
to punch through the breakout tabs at the back of the box but it is
not coming off. I am suspecting if it is even really a breakout tab.
Please help.... thanks

Please see photos of the outlet box....

http://www.sopmedia.com/sopguest/kohler/photo4.jpg
http://www.sopmedia.com/sopguest/kohler/photo5.jpg
http://www.sopmedia.com/sopguest/kohler/photo6.jpg

The instructions tell you to mount the box using the tabs in that
plastic bag.
You might be able to punch out those holes with a drift punch but I
would drill them.

There are only 2 tabs in the plastic bag. If I am mounting the box
vertically, do i install the tabs diagonally, that is, one at the top
left and the other at the bottom right of the box? Would it be strong
enough to hold the box securely on the wall?

Mount outdoor outlet to stucco wall
 

Two diagonally should do the trick. You could also put a big dab of
construction adhesive on the back side to stick it to the wall to back
up the screws/tabs, I would think. Going to be hard to get off in the
future....

Mount outdoor outlet to stucco wall
 

On Apr 13, 12:18*pm, "
wrote:
On Apr 13, 9:10*am, wrote:





On Tue, 13 Apr 2010 09:03:13 -0700 (PDT), "

wrote:
I like to mount an outdoor outlet box to a cement stucco wall. I tried
to punch through the breakout tabs at the back of the box but it is
not coming off. I am suspecting if it is even really a breakout tab.
Please help.... thanks

Please see photos of the outlet box....

http://www.sopmedia.com/sopguest/kohler/photo4.jpg
http://www.sopmedia.com/sopguest/kohler/photo5.jpg
http://www.sopmedia.com/sopguest/kohler/photo6.jpg

The instructions tell you to mount the box using the tabs in that
plastic bag.
You might be able to punch out those holes with a drift punch but I
would drill them.

There are only 2 tabs in the plastic bag. If I am mounting the box
vertically, do i install the tabs diagonally, that is, one at the top
left and the other at the bottom right of the box? Would it be strong
enough to hold the box securely on the wall?- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Two screws on a diagonal should work fine as long as they are long
enough to find something to bite into behind the stucco.

I'm not sure why you need the tabs. I would drill holes in the back of
the box and run my screws through them. Use washers if you want a
little more support around the heads.

Construction adhesive might help, but it's only going to be as strong
as the stucco's adhesion to the wall since that's what you'll be
gluing it to.

Mount outdoor outlet to stucco wall
 

On Apr 13, 10:50*am, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On Apr 13, 12:18*pm, "
wrote:



On Apr 13, 9:10*am, wrote:

On Tue, 13 Apr 2010 09:03:13 -0700 (PDT), "

wrote:
I like to mount an outdoor outlet box to a cement stucco wall. I tried
to punch through the breakout tabs at the back of the box but it is
not coming off. I am suspecting if it is even really a breakout tab.
Please help.... thanks

Please see photos of the outlet box....

http://www.sopmedia.com/sopguest/kohler/photo4.jpg
http://www.sopmedia.com/sopguest/kohler/photo5.jpg
http://www.sopmedia.com/sopguest/kohler/photo6.jpg

The instructions tell you to mount the box using the tabs in that
plastic bag.
You might be able to punch out those holes with a drift punch but I
would drill them.

There are only 2 tabs in the plastic bag. If I am mounting the box
vertically, do i install the tabs diagonally, that is, one at the top
left and the other at the bottom right of the box? Would it be strong
enough to hold the box securely on the wall?- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Two screws on a diagonal should work fine as long as they are long
enough to find something to bite into behind the stucco.

I'm not sure why you need the tabs. I would drill holes in the back of
the box and run my screws through them. Use washers if you want a
little more support around the heads.

Construction adhesive might help, but it's only going to be as strong
as the stucco's adhesion to the wall since that's what you'll be
gluing it to.

No matter using tabs or drill through the back, I am thinking of using
plastic anchors in the stucco. Would that work?
The cement stucco is about 1/2" thick, and the plywood behind it is
another 1/2" thick...

Thanks

Mount outdoor outlet to stucco wall
 

On Apr 13, 3:46*pm, " wrote:
On Apr 13, 10:50*am, DerbyDad03 wrote:





On Apr 13, 12:18*pm, "
wrote:

On Apr 13, 9:10*am, wrote:

On Tue, 13 Apr 2010 09:03:13 -0700 (PDT), "

wrote:
I like to mount an outdoor outlet box to a cement stucco wall. I tried
to punch through the breakout tabs at the back of the box but it is
not coming off. I am suspecting if it is even really a breakout tab.
Please help.... thanks

Please see photos of the outlet box....

http://www.sopmedia.com/sopguest/kohler/photo4.jpg
http://www.sopmedia.com/sopguest/kohler/photo5.jpg
http://www.sopmedia.com/sopguest/kohler/photo6.jpg

The instructions tell you to mount the box using the tabs in that
plastic bag.
You might be able to punch out those holes with a drift punch but I
would drill them.

There are only 2 tabs in the plastic bag. If I am mounting the box
vertically, do i install the tabs diagonally, that is, one at the top
left and the other at the bottom right of the box? Would it be strong
enough to hold the box securely on the wall?- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Two screws on a diagonal should work fine as long as they are long
enough to find something to bite into behind the stucco.

I'm not sure why you need the tabs. I would drill holes in the back of
the box and run my screws through them. Use washers if you want a
little more support around the heads.

Construction adhesive might help, but it's only going to be as strong
as the stucco's adhesion to the wall since that's what you'll be
gluing it to.

No matter using tabs or drill through the back, I am thinking of using
plastic anchors in the stucco. Would that work?
The cement stucco is about 1/2" thick, and the plywood behind it is
another 1/2" thick...

Thanks- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Why not just use screws that are long enough to grab the plywood?

I've never dealt with "cement stucco" so I don't know how well a
plastic anchor would work in it.

I'd be concerned that the use of the receptacle would loosen the
anchors fairly quickly.

Is the interior of the space accessible? *Bolting* it through the
plywood would be about as secure as you're going to get.

Of course, mounting it where you could screw into a stud or rim joist
would work pretty darn good also.

Mount outdoor outlet to stucco wall
 

DerbyDad03 wrote:

Two screws on a diagonal should work fine as long as they are long
enough to find something to bite into behind the stucco.

Or just use wall anchors (plastic plugs) in the stucco.

Mount outdoor outlet to stucco wall
 

On 4/13/2010 1:16 PM Robert Neville spake thus:

DerbyDad03 wrote:

Two screws on a diagonal should work fine as long as they are long
enough to find something to bite into behind the stucco.

Or just use wall anchors (plastic plugs) in the stucco.

Nah.

As others have pointed out, that's a weak way to attach anything to
stucco. After all, it's at best about 1/2" thick. Just use screws long
enough to bite into the wall sheathing (plywood or 3/4" boards).


--
The fashion in killing has an insouciant, flirty style this spring,
with the flaunting of well-defined muscle, wrapped in flags.

- Comment from an article on Antiwar.com (http://antiwar.com)

Mount outdoor outlet to stucco wall
 

On Tue, 13 Apr 2010 12:46:30 -0700 (PDT), "
wrote:


Construction adhesive might help, but it's only going to be as strong
as the stucco's adhesion to the wall since that's what you'll be
gluing it to.

No matter using tabs or drill through the back, I am thinking of using
plastic anchors in the stucco. Would that work?
The cement stucco is about 1/2" thick, and the plywood behind it is
another 1/2" thick...

Use two toggle bolts. Drill 1/8" holes in the back of the box and
larger holes into stucco and through the plywood. Mount the box and
tighten it up. Finish with a bead of caulk around the box to keep
critters and water out.

My pool timer and landscape lighting transformer are mounted with
"plastic anchors" in the stucco.

Mount outdoor outlet to stucco wall
 

On Apr 13, 6:04*pm, Oren wrote:
On Tue, 13 Apr 2010 12:46:30 -0700 (PDT), "

wrote:

Construction adhesive might help, but it's only going to be as strong
as the stucco's adhesion to the wall since that's what you'll be
gluing it to.

No matter using tabs or drill through the back, I am thinking of using
plastic anchors in the stucco. Would that work?
The cement stucco is about 1/2" thick, and the plywood behind it is
another 1/2" thick...

Use two toggle bolts. Drill 1/8" holes in the back of the box and
larger holes into stucco and through the plywood. Mount the box and
tighten it up. Finish with a bead of caulk around the box to keep
critters and water out.



My pool timer and landscape lighting transformer are mounted with
"plastic anchors" in the stucco.

That may be fine for "fixed objects" but I don't think I'd trust (per
the OP) an "outdoor outlet box" mounted with plastic anchors in
stucco.

I have lot's of different cords that I plug into outdoor receptacles
and some of them take quite a lot of force to engage/disengage. By "a
lot" I mean more than I would want to subject plastic anchors in 1/2"
stucco to.

Mount outdoor outlet to stucco wall
 

On Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:42:16 -0700 (PDT), DerbyDad03
wrote:

On Apr 13, 6:04*pm, Oren wrote:
On Tue, 13 Apr 2010 12:46:30 -0700 (PDT), "

wrote:

Construction adhesive might help, but it's only going to be as strong
as the stucco's adhesion to the wall since that's what you'll be
gluing it to.

No matter using tabs or drill through the back, I am thinking of using
plastic anchors in the stucco. Would that work?
The cement stucco is about 1/2" thick, and the plywood behind it is
another 1/2" thick...

Use two toggle bolts. Drill 1/8" holes in the back of the box and
larger holes into stucco and through the plywood. Mount the box and
tighten it up. Finish with a bead of caulk around the box to keep
critters and water out.



My pool timer and landscape lighting transformer are mounted with
"plastic anchors" in the stucco.

That may be fine for "fixed objects" but I don't think I'd trust (per
the OP) an "outdoor outlet box" mounted with plastic anchors in
stucco.

I have lot's of different cords that I plug into outdoor receptacles
and some of them take quite a lot of force to engage/disengage. By "a
lot" I mean more than I would want to subject plastic anchors in 1/2"
stucco to.

Agreed, hence my suggestion to use toggle bolts on the box, if he has
ply behind the stucco.

Also, I would avoid plastic anchors for the outlet box.

Mount outdoor outlet to stucco wall
 

David Nebenzahl wrote:

As others have pointed out, that's a weak way to attach anything to
stucco. After all, it's at best about 1/2" thick. Just use screws long
enough to bite into the wall sheathing (plywood or 3/4" boards).

Unfortunately that only works if there is OSB or plywood as sheathing. In a
non-stress location, it could likely be fiberboard behind the stucco that won't
hold a screw.

Mount outdoor outlet to stucco wall
 

On Apr 13, 10:20*pm, Robert Neville wrote:
David Nebenzahl wrote:
As others have pointed out, that's a weak way to attach anything to
stucco. After all, it's at best about 1/2" thick. Just use screws long
enough to bite into the wall sheathing (plywood or 3/4" boards).

Unfortunately that only works if there is OSB or plywood as sheathing. In a
non-stress location, it could likely be fiberboard behind the stucco that won't
hold a screw.

Toggle bolts thru the stucco and plywood should hold up fairly well if
the outlet users are not gorillas.

Mount outdoor outlet to stucco wall
 

On Apr 13, 11:20*pm, Robert Neville wrote:
David Nebenzahl wrote:
As others have pointed out, that's a weak way to attach anything to
stucco. After all, it's at best about 1/2" thick. Just use screws long
enough to bite into the wall sheathing (plywood or 3/4" boards).



Unfortunately that only works if there is OSB or plywood as sheathing. In a
non-stress location, it could likely be fiberboard behind the stucco that won't
hold a screw.

The OP has already stated:

"The cement stucco is about 1/2" thick, and the plywood behind it is
another 1/2" thick... "

If we can't trust the OP, who can we trust? ;-)

Mount outdoor outlet to stucco wall
 

On 4/13/2010 8:20 PM Robert Neville spake thus:

David Nebenzahl wrote:

As others have pointed out, that's a weak way to attach anything to
stucco. After all, it's at best about 1/2" thick. Just use screws
long enough to bite into the wall sheathing (plywood or 3/4"
boards).

Unfortunately that only works if there is OSB or plywood as sheathing. In a
non-stress location, it could likely be fiberboard behind the stucco that won't
hold a screw.

Fiberboard as wall sheathing? Really? Sounds kinda flimsy.

Never seen it but I'll take your word for it if you say so.


--
The fashion in killing has an insouciant, flirty style this spring,
with the flaunting of well-defined muscle, wrapped in flags.

- Comment from an article on Antiwar.com (http://antiwar.com)

Mount outdoor outlet to stucco wall
 

As others have pointed out, that's a weak way to attach anything to
stucco. After all, it's at best about 1/2" thick. Just use screws
long enough to bite into the wall sheathing (plywood or 3/4"
boards).

Unfortunately that only works if there is OSB or plywood as sheathing. In
a
non-stress location, it could likely be fiberboard behind the stucco that
won't
hold a screw.

Fiberboard as wall sheathing? Really? Sounds kinda flimsy.

Never seen it but I'll take your word for it if you say so.



*It is flimsy. One big condo/townhouse development that I do work in has
that under the vinyl siding. It is only 3/8" or 1/2" thick and has a foil
backing and no other underlayment behind it. When I do an outdoor
receptacle I have to be sure that I am next to or over a stud so that I have
something solid to screw into.

Mount outdoor outlet to stucco wall
 

On Apr 13, 12:03*pm, "
wrote:
I like to mount an outdoor outlet box to a cement stucco wall. I tried
to punch through the breakout tabs at the back of the box but it is
not coming off. I am suspecting if it is even really a breakout tab.
Please help.... thanks


I would attach that box using molly bolts, sealing them individually
prior to tightening them...

How are you planning on getting the power feed to this outlet box
are you going to use a conduit stub through the wall or find
moisture rated romex cable and a rain tight connector to fit in the
space at the back of the box...

Simpler to use a conduit stub and run the wires that way...

Good advice on sealing the box to the wall with caulking, but you
really do want to fill any holes you make around the power feed
and the fasteners before you put the box in final position, as the
caulk can fail and little bugs can climb up from underneath and
enter through any little holes you leave behind the box...

If you are worried about "more support" for that box, you could
purchase more of the tabs and screws at an electric supply house
and use all four mounting points, but that seems like overkill...
Are you planning to stand on this box after it is mounted on the
wall or something ?

~~ Evan

Mount outdoor outlet to stucco wall
 

On Apr 14, 3:39*pm, Evan wrote:
On Apr 13, 12:03*pm, "
wrote:

I like to mount an outdoor outlet box to a cement stucco wall. I tried
to punch through the breakout tabs at the back of the box but it is
not coming off. I am suspecting if it is even really a breakout tab.
Please help.... thanks

I would attach that box using molly bolts, sealing them individually
prior to tightening them...

How are you planning on getting the power feed to this outlet box
are you going to use a conduit stub through the wall or find
moisture rated romex cable and a rain tight connector to fit in the
space at the back of the box...

Simpler to use a conduit stub and run the wires that way...

Good advice on sealing the box to the wall with caulking, but you
really do want to fill any holes you make around the power feed
and the fasteners before you put the box in final position, as the
caulk can fail and little bugs can climb up from underneath and
enter through any little holes you leave behind the box...

If you are worried about "more support" for that box, you could
purchase more of the tabs and screws at an electric supply house
and use all four mounting points, but that seems like overkill...
Are you planning to stand on this box after it is mounted on the
wall or something ?

~~ Evan

"Are you planning to stand on this box after it is mounted on the
wall or something ?"

I have some extension cords and tool plugs that require a decent
amount of force to remove from the receptacle. By "a decent amount" I
mean more than a couple of (or even four) plastic anchors in 1/2
stucco could withstand for very long.

That's why we're suggesting screws that reach the sheathing or a stud
or maybe even molly bolts.

Mount outdoor outlet to stucco wall
 

Robert Neville wrote:
DerbyDad03 wrote:

Two screws on a diagonal should work fine as long as they are long
enough to find something to bite into behind the stucco.

Or just use wall anchors (plastic plugs) in the stucco.

Stucco here is typically thicker than 1/2". I cut a plastic anchor to
fit the depth of stucco and use a screw long enough to go through the
sheathing. The plastic anchor also seals the hole. I would seal the top
and usually the sides between the box and stucco with silicone caulk and
drill a small drain hole in the bottom of the box. Nice to point wire
nuts (if any) up so they don't fill with water. If using a waterproof
receptacle cover I like the box horizontal because the cover is stronger.

--
bud--