Hang a neon sign or light box on a metal stud wall

Learn to hang a neon sign safely, checking your wall type and cabling before you drill or plug anything in.

NS-01Check the sign's weight and fixing pointsWeigh the sign or check the box for its weight, and count how many fixing points it has on the back. Most neon signs and light boxes are light, under 3kg, but check anyway. Note the spacing between fixing holes so you can mark them accurately later.

1 each · Tape measure

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NS-02Plan and mark the positionHold the sign up (or use the template if it came with one) and mark the fixing points with a pencil. Use a spirit level to keep the line true, especially if there are two or more fixing points. Check the position works with your nearest socket and the sign's cable length before you mark anything final.

1 each · Pencil

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1 each · Spirit level

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NS-03Work out what your wall is made ofKnock along the wall: solid brick or block sounds dull and solid everywhere, plasterboard sounds hollow between studs and solid on a stud line. Run a stud detector or magnet along the marked area to find the studs, or track along a horizontal line to spot screw heads under the plasterboard. Drill a small pilot hole at low speed in the fixing spot: fine pale dust means plasterboard or timber, gritty dust means brick or block, and grey metal swarf means you've hit a metal stud. Metal stud walls are common in flats, new builds, and any room refitted since the 1990s, so don't assume timber just because it's a stud wall.

1 each · Stud detector

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1 each · Small drill bit (3mm)

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NS-04Check for cables and pipes before you drillRun a cable and pipe detector over every mark. Detectors miss cables that are deep, in metal conduit, behind metal-backed plasterboard, or run outside the usual safe zones, and a metal stud frame can confuse cheap detectors further, so treat the reading as a guide, not a guarantee. Find your stopcock now, usually under the kitchen sink, and check it turns freely 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.

RULES

1 each · Cable and pipe detector

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KNOW THE RULES

Not a Part P issue on its own, but always isolate electrics at the consumer unit before drilling if there's any doubt about hidden cables.

NS-05Fit the right fixing for your wall typeMetal stud: use a self-drilling metal-stud fixing straight into the steel track, or a hollow-wall toggle fixing if you're landing between studs on plasterboard alone. Never use a plain plastic wall plug or an ordinary wood screw in a metal stud, they strip straight through the 0.5mm steel. Timber stud: drive a wood screw into the centre of the stud. Solid brick or block: drill to the plug size stated on the packet (typically 6-8mm), to a depth of at least 40mm, then fit the plug and screw. Dot-and-dab: use a long fixing (typically 60-75mm) that passes through the plasterboard and dab gap into the solid masonry behind. Lath and plaster: fix into a joist or stud behind the lath where possible, using a long screw (50-65mm), rather than relying on the lath itself.

4 each · Self-drilling metal-stud fixings

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4 each · Hollow-wall toggle fixings

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4 each · Wood screws (40mm)

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4 each · Wall plugs and screws (masonry)

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4 each · Long fixings for dot-and-dab (75mm)

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NS-06Add a noggin or pattress if the sign is heavy or will be pulledA metal stud track alone will not hold anything heavy, or anything that pulls away from the wall as it's used. If your sign is heavy, oversized, or has an arm or bracket that puts strain on the fixing, fit a timber noggin between the studs, or fix through to the masonry behind if there is any. Skip this step for a light, flat-hanging sign with two or three simple fixing points.

1 length · Timber noggin (50x50mm)

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NS-07Hang the sign and route the cable safelyLift the sign onto the fixings and check it's level and secure by giving it a firm tug before letting go. Route the cable to the nearest socket, keeping it clear of walkways, and use cable clips to tidy it against the wall rather than leaving it trailing. Plug the sign into an existing socket only, never hardwire it into the fixed wiring yourself.

RULES

6 each · Cable clips

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KNOW THE RULES

Plugging into an existing socket is fine and not notifiable. Hardwiring a sign into fixed wiring, or adding a new socket, counts as electrical work under Part P in kitchens, bathrooms and outdoors, and should be done or checked by a qualified electrician.

NS-08Test and tidy upSwitch the sign on and check it's working and sitting level. Sweep or vacuum up any dust or swarf from drilling, and check no screws or fixings were left loose on the floor. Stand back and check the cable run looks tidy and isn't a trip hazard.

1 each · Dust sheet

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