Attaching Lights to Brick

[eieio1]

I am looking for ideas on attaching lights to brick. I've seen the metal "brick clips" but they are a little pricey. I'd rather not use anything with adhesive (tape, glue). I am thinking of fashioning something out of piano wire that I can "spring" into the mortar joints.

Any other cheap ideas?

[tconley]

try hot glue and l brackets with zip ties.

[scharbon]

Hey that sounds like a good idea, I have been trying to figure out how to stick stuff to brick too. What is an I bracket?

Steve

[tconley]

L bracket sorry for the typo

http://www.fqms.com/Resonator_L_bracket_for_1_Pi_P10363C1845.cfm?UserI D=3036779&jsessionid=2c30324eceac$28$06$9

[Warlock]

Depending on the design you wanna do alot of people simply use string with zip ties.You actually use the facia boards or sofet under the eves and use a simple eye picture hanging hook.Then run the string or wire down the wall..Lots of area to attach lights to...Hope this gives yet another idea that works great.

[NogginBoink]

I was actually going to ask the same question!

I took a good look at the windows on my house today and there's just no surface into which I can drive a nail or other fastener. I think I'm going to build a frame of one-by-twos that just fits inside the window cutout, attach the lights to that, and just slide the truss with the lights on it into the window cutout.

[Warlock]

YOu can do that but that is perminant and hard to adjust.It's why I suggested the string or wire idea.It's easier to adjust as the wire is cheap as you can get sppols at a dollar store of 20 guage wire..Use the siffet and have everything easily set for next year.I'd love to see you idea in pics tho so please post them when you are finished.Also as a side note I'm using the wire idea for a driveway banner this year.Hopefully I'll get my boards built in time to post pics..

[NogginBoink]

I'm afraid there's been some miscommunication; nothing I propose is permanent. I'm just going to put a wooden trellis inside the cavity formed by the brick exterior of the house around the window. It'll just slide right out after the holiday.

I don't see how I could hang anything from the soffit. The soffit extends out past the wall of the house while the window is recessed into the wall. The soffit is also a great distance from the window.

Do you have any pictures that demonstrate your idea? (I'll try out my idea and snap some pics before the end of the weekend.)

[Warlock]

I can give you the drawing I made up of the idea once I hook my scanner back up Wednesday to show you what I plan on doing.Plus I'm also building something between 2 houses so I hope my neighbor doesn;t mind as I forgot to ask..He he he <-- evil laugh...Oh well his fault if he doesn't...Too late to take it down now..I used eye hooks in brick to hang ghosts for halloween and had a black light shining on them...So I'm going to use the same set up for christmas as well..

[Macrosill]

...I used eye hooks in brick to hang ghosts for halloween and had a black light shining on them...

How did you put the hooks in the brick? Drill holes and use plastic anchors?

[Warlock]

Drilled into the cement and used lead anchers...Holds for years this way as I take the wire down.I use 2 automotive hose clamps with rubber boots(cut up mouse pad rubber from a dollar store) and use that to cover the hooks and hose clamps.Removes easily in 5 minutes but will hold up to 300 pounds depending on what wire you use.My Brother is 325 pounds and I used 2 strings of 20 guage wire(I wraped one with another) and it held him and didn't break or stress at all...So it's pretty strong as I'm also as I said going to use it for a banner all decked out with each letter flashing etc...Gonna be neat if it all comes together this year.Only other advice I can give is to look around at what others are doing.Take that great idea change a few things with it to make it your own.I have done so with my mini trees(smaller version of a mega tree) and the bells I hope to hang in my windows this year.All this stuff is taken from ideas I have seen but simply made them work to what I thought would look even better...Simply picture this...Having 10 mini trees(done the same as a mega tree simply scaled down and with fewer lights) and having them go off to music...Give it a try I'm sure alot of the stuff I have been doing for years will either a: be new to you and/or b: give you a new way of giving something a try.Oh and also if anyone isn't building a ledtrix sign and wants to paint one.Home Depot here in Canada has clear coragated plastic(the stuff realestate signs are made from) for sale at $8.49 per sheet (which is 24 inches by 48 inches)...Happy lighting

[Warlock]

Oh and to show the casket that was used this year as well here ya go for yet another idea if you back light it with a black light then put a spot on it then you got a creepy looking zombie that looks killer and the kids swear it moves..lol..

[Josh]

wizard man, we have serparate forums for halloween and stuff... nice looking setup, but post in the correct area.

The anchor idea is good if you dont mind holes in there. If its warm in your area you may be able to try those hurcules hooks(or other brand like 3M) with the adhesive backing

[tconley]

Hot glue and then just melt it off when your done

[Warlock]

Josh when you are trying to show people what you can hang with what it is relivant.So sorry dude but the topic was totally correct that is why it was posted to show an anchoring technique I use every year.That casket was anchored to a railing using hose clamps.The same clamps I use to hold the guide wire up for the ghosts.So sorry you misunderstood why they were posted.Simply trying to help a fellow lighter with ways to do things.I figured taht was what the post was about was it not ???Don't pictures show better then text as was asked ??? Geee I think so Josh..So excuse me for trying to post examples of what was asked...Why not have a spot to post then we can direct via links..WOuld that make it better so the messages don't get cluttered with pics to illustrate what we mean ???

[PClay]

I bought bunch of small aluminum washers. used quick set epoxy mix.
used a 1" by 2" piece of cardboard doubled in half to act as a temporary
spring to hold washer in place while epoxy dried. only visable on close
inspection, and wont rust
Phil

[tconley]

here is an interesting web site i found that has a variety of different christmas light hanging clips for stucco, brick and more.

http://www.ezcableclips.com/index.html


http://www.christmasspiritshop.com/product.taf?id=BRC-4101

[fcky529]

The hot glue method is the best way i can think of because it's brick/concrete/mortar, which you could actually just "rip" the hardened glue off of the pourus material after the season is over, no need to "melt it off"unless you have one hellova hot melt gun.

[eieio1]

Thanks for all of the ideas. Here's what I'm going to try:

Brass jack chain from McMaster-Carr. The local hardware store only had galvanized steel. McMaster-Carr also had stainless for about the same price but I was afraid it would be too flashy. The brass should tarnish and blend with the brick more. The brass cost me $8.30 (plus shipping) for 10 feet which is way more than I needed but was the smallest amount they would sell. There are 19 links per foot.

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q120/ams-texas/Christmas%20Lights/LightHangers001Small.jpg

For scale.

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q120/ams-texas/Christmas%20Lights/LightHangers002Small.jpg

Bend 90 degrees (not entirely necessary).

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q120/ams-texas/Christmas%20Lights/LightHangers003Small.jpg

Hot glue into mortar joint.

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q120/ams-texas/Christmas%20Lights/LightHangers004Small.jpg

The loop stands just proud of the brick surface.

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q120/ams-texas/Christmas%20Lights/LightHangers005Small.jpg

Use small wire tie to attach light strand.

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q120/ams-texas/Christmas%20Lights/LightHangers006Small.jpg

If they are not too obvious/unsightly I may leave them up for next year. If not, as others have pointed out, the hot glue will just pop off with little if any evidence that it was ever there.