Fit festoon light hooks to an exterior brick wall

Fit sturdy hooks to an exterior brick wall and hang festoon lights safely without hitting cables or pipes.

FL-01Plan hook spacing and heightDecide the swag route for your lights and mark hook positions roughly 1.5-2m apart for a gentle sag between them. Keep hooks at least 2.2m above ground level or paths so nobody walks into the lights. Use a pencil and tape measure, and step back to check the line looks even before you commit to marks.

1 each · Tape measure

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1 each · Pencil

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FL-02Check for hidden cables and pipes before drillingCables for outdoor lights, sockets, security lights and alarm boxes often run through exterior brick walls, and outside tap pipework can too. Run a detector over each marked spot, but still treat the wall as if something could be there — detectors miss deep cables, armoured cable, and anything outside the normal safe zones. Find your stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink) and check it turns before you start, so you can shut the water off fast if you hit a pipe. If you have any doubt at all, isolate the relevant circuit at the consumer unit before drilling.

1 each · Cable and pipe detector

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FL-03Mark final fixing points and check they're levelOnce you're sure the wall is clear, mark each hook position with a small pencil dot or a piece of masking tape. Use a spirit level to check the run looks even along its length, not just each hook in isolation. Aim to hit the middle of a brick rather than a mortar joint where you can, as brick holds a fixing better than mortar.

1 each · Spirit level

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1 roll · Masking tape

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FL-04Drill pilot holes in the brickFit a masonry bit matching your wall plug size (typically 6mm for a standard No.10 screw plug) into a drill set to hammer/rotary mode. Drill each hole to 40-45mm deep, holding the drill square to the wall. Pull the drill out once or twice while drilling to clear dust, and blow or brush the hole clean before fitting the plug.

1 each · Masonry drill bit, 6mm

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1 each · SDS or combi drill

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FL-05Fit wall plugs and screw in the hooksPush a wall plug fully into each hole so it sits flush with the brick face. Screw in a vine eye or exterior screw hook by hand or with a screwdriver, turning until it's fully tight and doesn't spin freely. Use stainless steel or zinc-plated fixings rated for outdoor use, as ordinary steel will rust and stain the brickwork.

8 each · Wall plugs, red (No.10)

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8 each · Stainless steel vine eyes or screw hooks

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FL-06Pull-test each hook before hanging anythingHang your own weight briefly or give each hook a firm downward and outward tug. It should not move, creak, or pull away from the wall at all. If a hook feels loose, remove it, fill the hole, and re-drill slightly to one side into solid brick.

FL-07Hang and tension the festoon lightsLoop the lights' end connectors or cable ties over each hook, working along the run so the cable sags evenly rather than pulling tight in one spot. Use a tensioned wire or turnbuckle kit if your lights are heavy or the span is long, to stop the cable stretching over time. Keep the lowest point of the swag well clear of head height and away from any parked cars.

1 set · Festoon lights (outdoor-rated)

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1 pack · Outdoor cable ties, UV-stable

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1 each · Tensioned wire kit (optional, for long runs)

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FL-08Test and tidy upPlug in the lights and check every bulb works and no cable is rubbing against a sharp edge. Sweep up brick dust and pack away plugs, offcuts and tools. Check the plug and any outdoor socket cover is properly weatherproof before you leave it running.

1 each · Dustpan and brush

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