Carriage Lights for Front Door

6 years ago

My builder installed the carriage lights for the front door and the placement of the lights look off. I need help to determine if I should ask him to move the lights to the center of the boards (photo #1) or move them out to the batten (photo #2). Suggestions are appreciated!

Photo #1

Photo #2

Featured Answer

shead

6 years ago

Personally, I think it's fine. I'm trying to imagine the work around to have the fixture on the batts. It seems that the batts would have to be cut just big enough for the fixture base to fit in against the boards. Give it 6 months and you'll wonder why you ever worried about it.

However, I'm glad you posted this thread since we are doing a board and batten house and now I'll know what to tell the builder and electrician about fixture places :)

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Comments (10)

millworkman
6 years ago
How are they placed now?
Kirsten E.
6 years ago
Without being able to actually see it, centered on the board seems like it would make more sense than on the batten.
Priscilla B thanked Kirsten E.
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PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
6 years ago
They look fine to me.
Priscilla B thanked Mark Bischak, Architect
PRO
Jeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I'm impressed the builder & siding installer got the batts centered on the doorway. Probably missed a note on the plan page 53 second paragraph "center all light fixtures between batts" causing the electrician to stop and wait for the siding installer to layout their materials (electrician sometimes before siding installer).
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
6 years ago
Does it state anything about relocating structural members by the electrician in that second paragraph??
sprink1es
6 years ago
They don't bug me, they are spaced the same. If that were mine I wouldn't think twice about it
Priscilla B thanked sprink1es
The_Lane_Duo
6 years ago
They look normal to me! I definitely wouldn't move them like proposed in your 2nd photo. I just got done helping my husband install ours and let me be the first to say they would not sit like you think. I think the electrician did fine & they are evenly spaced from the door.
Priscilla B thanked The_Lane_Duo
chispa
6 years ago
I think the problem is the lights are a bit too small. Also with all your straight lines and rectangles, it might look a bit more interesting with a light that has more of a curved shape, or at least not another rectangle.
Priscilla B thanked chispa
chicagoans
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
(not a pro) Looks like a lovely porch! I was thinking what chispa said, that they look a bit small. I've read that between 1/4 and 1/3 the height of the door is good sizing, and yours look about 1/5 the height of the door (not counting the handles on the fixtures.)

Regarding placement, I'm one who likes things centered, but the current placement looks fine to me too. However I do think it would help you to take a picture from further back, just to make sure that the fixtures aren't hidden behind the columns. (Doesn't appear that they would be, but if they were that would bother me.) Maybe I just want to see the rest of that pretty porch :)
Priscilla B thanked chicagoans