I'm wiring a new house (this is a rarity for me) and I'm wondering what others do to mount a doorbell button on brick. Is there a specific product made for this? Or, do you just mount the button on the wood casing for the door?
Thanks
Tom
Tom,
I think the wood casing is the way to go. I don't think I've ever seen one on Brick, but I suppose it could be.
Bill
tapcons maybe? kinda big and ugly tho
You could always use a stucco button and drill a 3/4" hole. Use some latex caulk inside the hole to hold the stucco button and tape it tight till the caulk sets up. Stucco buttons only come in so many styles but you can easily fit it on a single brick. They do make specific buttons for brick applications. Ran across a recessed one that takes the place of a brick. Never could find it locally though.
I would go thru the door buck....if ya can get your bell wire in there...less hassle!!
Working in the historic sections of Minneapolis / St. Paul, I have seen my share of old masonry installations, and done new installs in masonry.
The worst problems in the old work come from conductors trimmed to the minimum length. . .
Second worst problem is created by the wood screw blocks set by the original mason having disintegrated leaving gaping holes. . .
I prefer to use small plastic anchors that are sized for the door button manufacturer supplied mounting screws. The screws tend to be #4, and sometimes as large as #6, so the anchor gets drilled in with a 3/16" (or smaller) carbide bit.
Many times, the aesthetic, that the door button has to match, will allow a choice of a wide or tall (or both) decorative button plate that will cover a multitude of goofs.
Door casing vs. masonry? The bottom line there, for me, is the placement that is most natural for the guest at the door. Part of what is sold in the installation is a "graciousness" to the client's guest-at-the-door.
Are you guys talking about those cheesy little doorbell switches that snap into a hole in the wall (usually used on metal door frames) or are you talking about the big round surface-mount ones that look like little overturned cups or brass cartoon eyeballs? Those little ones don't seem to be very happy being mounted in brick or anything like that.
[This message has been edited by SvenNYC (edited 12-17-2003).]
It's a problem here in Britain with so much brick construction. Trying to mount most of our bell-pushes direct to brick doesn't usually result in a good job, so I generally use a wooden pattress block behind them. Getting the wire to the switch neatly is a problem, so I prefer mounting on a wooden door frame if possible.
PVC-framed doors are popular here on modern homes, and one thing to watch is that any extra holes can invalidate the manufacturer's warranty.
Click here to see the typical range of pushes used in Britain.
The wood trim (brick mould?) is the usual spot for new installs. Easier to run the wire inside the interior molding and through hole drilled in floor hidden my trim pieces.
My house, however, has a cast bronze mailbox/doorbell button combo - which required ripping into the inside wall to replace the wire. Luckily, the button size is the same today as it was in 1934!
If you can fix it to the door frame that's probably the best way. Otherwise plastic anchors are perfect. The brute force method to route the wire to a button mounted onto the bricks is drilling a hole all through the wall with a long drill bit. I've seen 60cm drill bits used for that purpose her in Austria. Going through the door trim is probably way easier.
I do a custom home once a year for a high-end builder who always wants a $75.00 door bell button on the brick. I stub the door button wire out and slip a 4-1/4" piece of 3/4" PVC on the end and tie it off with the extra wire. The masons lay it in a joint and I have a recess for the connections and wire that's 3/4" in dia. These buttons are decorative brass and are 2-1/2" to 3" in dia. and are mounted with brass screws with a plastic anchor in the brick/mortar.
Thanks for all the tips.
I remember the stucco sleeve from when I lived in California. I don't think I could find one here in the Mountain State.
I'll either stick it on the door frame or, try Fred's PVC suggestion which, for some reason, appeals to me.
Maybe in the future, Arlington can be prodded into making something for brick to go along with all their siding products.