Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - Retrofit box?

Hi folks,

I'm in the process of renovating a bathroom, and I'm replacing the vanity light. The previous light fixture was a lightweight, Hollywood-style light installed without an electrical box (the old owner had a seat-of-the-pants sense of adventure). It was attached to the wall with drywall anchors.

The new fixture weighs about 17 lb and clearly needs a safer mounting. Ideally I'd like to use a drywall-mounted retrofit box so I don't have to open the wall to get to the studs. Is such a box capable of supporting the weight of my fixture? Or do I need to go into the wall?

thanks!
Tooch

You don't need a box. You just need a firmer mounting. Many of these fixtures really aren't designed to be supported by a box anyway.

I suggest simply using toggle bolts. That will be a lot stronger than a old-work electrical box, and two of them should be quite sufficient for 17 pounds.

A better installation would be to open the wall and get to the studs as you wish not to do. I don't know what the base of your fixture looks like, but it might be possible to open the drywall only in the area where the fixture would cover it.

It also might be possible to hit one stud with a screw and use a toggle bolt for the other mount point.

Installing bathroom vanity lights without an electrical box is very common.

Thanks! That's a big help.

I'm off to the hardware store.