My new porch lights turned a simple Tuesday into a total disaster

I installed two new sconces from a big box store on my front porch in Springfield last Tuesday, thinking it would be a quick upgrade. The wiring was fine, but the fixtures themselves were so cheap that one cracked when I tightened the mounting screw. Then it started drizzling, so I had to tape a bag over the hole in the siding for two days while I waited for a replacement. Has anyone else had outdoor fixtures fall apart on them right out of the box?

3 comments

3 Comments

bailey.sandra1mo ago

Ugh, my neighbor's floodlight literally crumbled in his hands.

skylershah1mo ago

Seriously, it's like they make some of this stuff out of painted cardboard now. I had a motion sensor light where the plastic lens just snapped in half during a light rain because the temperature changed. The whole unit filled with water overnight.

emmar7518d ago

Isn't it possible the installer just got a bad batch or maybe overtightened that screw? I've put up a dozen fixtures from those big box stores over the years and only had one dud that I returned same day. Cast aluminum and brass ones hold up way better than the thin steel or plastic junk, but you have to pay for it. Maybe Tuesday just wasn't your day, but writing off all outdoor lights from every store seems a little harsh when millions of them work fine every day.