How to Add Exterior Light Bricks

Turn off the power to the existing exterior lighting circuit. Unscrew the wall plate that covers the correct light switch. Test the wires with a circuit tester to ensure they will be safe to work with.

Unscrew the switch from the electrical box. Gently pull the switch out from the box to gain access to the wiring inside.

Mark out the location for the new intended light. Drill a 5/8-inch hole through the brick with your hammer drill.

Run a length of two-conductor electrical wiring from the hole on the exterior of the brick to the electrical box containing the switch. Leave about 4 inches of extra wire at each end. You may need to remove some drywall to make running the wire easier. This is more likely if your switch is a good distance from the new light's location. If the switch is right under the light, you may get away with just using a fish tape to pull the wire between the two points.

Strip off about 2 inches of the outer insulation at both the switch and outside the brick wall. Inside you will notice three wires -- black, white and green. Strip each of these back 1/2-inch.

Connect the wires to the switch. Connect the black (hot) wire to the load side of the switch. This is the side that is connected to the existing light or lights. Twist the white (neutral) wire to the other neutral wires in the electrical box and screw on a wire nut. Connect the green (ground) wire to green screw on the light switch.

Fold the wires back into the electrical box and fasten the switch to the box. Attach the wall plate and secure it tight with its screws.

Go outside and feed the wires through the light's electrical box's center hole. Press the electrical box against the brick wall. Position it so that each screw hole rests over a brick instead of mortar. Mark each screw hole's location onto the bricks with a pencil.

Measure the electrical box's screw hole diameter with a tape measure. Purchase wall anchors one size smaller in diameter than the screw holes.

Drill pilot holes through the pencil marks on the brick using a hammer drill and a masonry bit the same diameter as the wall anchors. Drill the pilot holes slightly deeper than a wall anchor's length. Insert one wall anchor into each pilot hole. Tap it flush with the brick wall with a hammer.

Line up the electrical box's screw holes with the wall anchors. Drive one of the supplied mounting screws through each of the wall anchors with a drill and Phillip's driving bit.

Lift the light up to the electrical box. Hold the two black wires together and twist a wire nut over them. Repeat with the white wires, then the green wires.

Fasten the light to the electrical box with the supplied screws. Tighten until snug.

Turn the power back on to the circuit and test the new light by turning on the switch.