Need some help with a vanity light fixture replacement

[Rehan]

I'm trying to replace the light fixture above the mirror in my bathroom, and I've run into an issue that I hope someone here can help out with.

This is what I had before:
http://i35.tinypic.com/2vj8zf5.jpg
(48" wide)

and I'd like to replace it with two of these:
http://i37.tinypic.com/jhcvww.jpg
(24" wide each)

The mirror above which these are being installed is 44" wide.

There are no electrical boxes in the wall (house was built 10 years ago...I don't know what was required back then) and one of my issues is getting those added.

Here's a picture showing the wall after I removed the old fixture:
http://i38.tinypic.com/2n7qoso.jpg

The red lines show where the studs are located and the green ovals show approximately where the lights would be attached to the wall.

Normally, a rework octagonal electrical box with swing arms could be installed exactly where the light fixtures need to be. But the drywall here is doubled up, and the max depth of the rework boxes is 3/4". I'm guessing the reason the drywall is doubled is that this is the side of our semi-detached house that is connected to the neighbors and there are no concrete blocks in between, so they used doubled drywall instead. In any case, because of the 1 1/4" thickness of the wall the rework box wouldn't work as intended. So I'm looking for ideas to work around this problem.

The other issue is the splitting of the wiring to support two fixtures instead of one. Is there anything special involved in splitting the wiring? I already have the fixtures and they match what we have in the other bathrooms of the house, so I would really like to use those. There isn't a wider one in the same style.

Thanks for any tips.

[CaptSmethwick]

To be honest with you, unless I desperately loved the new fixtures, I would return them and find an attractive single unit that wouldn't require the work that you need to do to do it right. Just not worth the hours of work to make these new ones fit IMO.

[patrob]

It's a bit of a messy job. Cut the drywall where you want to install the new box all the way to the closest stud. Cut enough to fit the wood in. Add 1 or 2 short pieces of wood (2x2 or 2x4), mount it to the stud & the box to it on the side. Run the wire to the closest box. From that box, run another wire to the other box, drill through studs for that. Where the double wire is, I hope you know what to do (black/black - white/white to the light fixture).
Do the same thing on the other side. Patch the wall, touch up with paint & done :)

[TTony]

you need slim box same thickens as the drywall so you can attach wood behind and screw in to drywall without stud support

[Rehan]

Thanks for the replies.

It's a bit of a messy job. Cut the drywall where you want to install the new box all the way to the closest stud. Cut enough to fit the wood in. Add 1 or 2 short pieces of wood (2x2 or 2x4), mount it to the stud & the box to it on the side. Run the wire to the closest box. From that box, run another wire to the other box, drill through studs for that. Where the double wire is, I hope you know what to do (black/black - white/white to the light fixture).
Do the same thing on the other side. Patch the wall, touch up with paint & done :) Yeah, it's kind of messy but I guess that's the best way to do it. The bathroom is going to be painted on Monday anyway, so it's okay if it gets a little messed up first.

If I didn't have to rework the wiring, it wouldn't be a big deal. But to get the wiring to the two boxes I'll have to take a big chunk of drywall out. So I'll just take plenty out so I can work on both sides of those two studs near the center.

[Rehan]

Mission accomplished. :)

http://i33.tinypic.com/2lwxh6r.jpg

(I know it's not the same as in the picture in the first post. I used that pic because it was more clear than any I could find for the fixtures I actually installed.)

[Carpe Diem]

I'm getting a craving for the Pickle Barrel 6 desert sampler.

[3weddings]

Great Job!!

We bought very similar fixtures!!

[Rehan]

Great Job!!

We bought very similar fixtures!! This is from the Milano series at Canadian Tire. We have them throughout our house -- bathrooms, ceilings, chandelier, stairwell fan, wall sconces... They look nice and the price is great when they're 40% off. :)

[patrob]

Looking good :)

[speedyforme]

If I wanted to hang pendants like Sarah does in her bathrooms in front of bathrooms vanities, anyone find any potential issu in doing so?

https://www.decorpad.com/photos/2008/10/10/f123f708ed50.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fEUNAJTQaVc/SWf4QWsF9UI/AAAAAAAACZg/Vs7Y25W5Cic/s400/Picture%2B994%5B1%5D.png

[dealerguy]

Hey, aren't the bulbs supposed to face downwards

[Rehan]

Hey, aren't the bulbs supposed to face downwards No, these are meant to be upwards facing.
http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT<>prd_id=845524443306211&bmUID=1257954081620