{"title":"Outdoor Wall Sconces","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAn outdoor wall sconce gets the hardest weather of anything you own.\u003c\/strong\u003e Direct rain, ice, freeze-thaw, road salt, and a range from +35°C to -35°C in a single year. Most fixtures sold as \"outdoor\" are not built for that.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWet-rated, not damp-rated\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the whole decision. A \u003cstrong\u003edamp-rated\u003c\/strong\u003e sconce belongs only under a soffit or covered porch ceiling that never takes direct precipitation. On an exposed wall — a garage side, a deck, a front elevation with no overhang — you need \u003cstrong\u003ewet-rated\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe failure mode here isn't rain, it's the freeze cycle. Water finds the gasket, freezes, expands, splits the seal. Look for \u003cstrong\u003esealed housings with silicone gaskets\u003c\/strong\u003e and finishes that are powder-coated or marine-grade rather than thin paint over steel — once painted steel is breached it rusts from the inside and no touch-up saves it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eMounting height and pairing\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBeside a front door:\u003c\/strong\u003e centre of the fixture \u003cstrong\u003e66 to 72 inches from the threshold\u003c\/strong\u003e. For a pair flanking the door, each should be roughly \u003cstrong\u003eone-third the door's height\u003c\/strong\u003e. For a single sconce above the door, one-quarter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlong a garage wall:\u003c\/strong\u003e same height, spaced to cover the run. On a double garage, two sconces flanking the door beat one centred above it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOutdoor sconces are the fixture people most reliably buy too small, because they judge scale from a product photo instead of against a full house elevation. Step back and look at the whole wall first.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eDown-facing vs open designs\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDown-facing shades\u003c\/strong\u003e put light on the path and cut glare into a neighbour's window — increasingly relevant in Canadian municipalities with dark-sky or light-trespass provisions in their bylaws.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOpen-top designs\u003c\/strong\u003e look better lit, but they throw light upward and in winter they collect snow and ice inside the shade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eInstallation and certification\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eExterior sconces are hardwired and run on \u003cstrong\u003e120V at 60Hz\u003c\/strong\u003e. Replacing an existing fixture on an existing exterior box is reasonable with the breaker off. A new location on an outside wall means running cable and, in most provinces, a \u003cstrong\u003epermit and inspection\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCheck for the \u003cstrong\u003eCSA or cUL mark\u003c\/strong\u003e — an uncertified fixture in a wet exterior location is an insurance problem, not just a safety one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a Canadian company that knows what a February looks like.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDo outdoor wall sconces need to be wet-rated?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn any exposed wall, yes. Damp-rated is only sufficient under a soffit or covered porch ceiling that never takes direct rain or snow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow high should outdoor wall sconces be mounted?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCentre of the fixture 66 to 72 inches from the threshold. A pair flanking a door should each be about one-third the door's height.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWill they survive a Canadian winter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWet-rated fixtures with sealed silicone gaskets and powder-coated or marine-grade finishes will. The usual failure point is the gasket splitting during freeze-thaw, not the fixture body.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eOne sconce or two beside a door?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwo flanking the door gives even, shadow-free light on faces and looks balanced. A single fixture above the door works but casts downward shadow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I install one myself?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReplacing an existing exterior fixture on an existing box is a reasonable DIY job with the breaker off. A new exterior location requires running cable and generally a permit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\n{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Do outdoor wall sconces need to be wet-rated?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"On any exposed wall, yes. Damp-rated is only sufficient under a soffit or covered porch ceiling that never takes direct rain or snow.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How high should outdoor wall sconces be mounted?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Centre of the fixture 66 to 72 inches from the threshold. A pair flanking a door should each be about one-third the door's height.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Will outdoor sconces survive a Canadian winter?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Wet-rated fixtures with sealed silicone gaskets and powder-coated or marine-grade finishes will. The usual failure point is the gasket splitting during freeze-thaw.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"One sconce or two beside a door?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Two flanking the door gives even, shadow-free light on faces and looks balanced. A single fixture above the door works but casts downward shadow.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Can I install an outdoor sconce myself?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Replacing an existing exterior fixture on an existing box is a reasonable DIY job with the breaker off. A new exterior location requires running cable and generally a permit.\"}}]}\n\u003c\/script\u003e","products":[],"url":"https:\/\/maisonmonashee.com\/collections\/outdoor-wall-sconces.oembed","provider":"Maison Monashee ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}