I have done very few installs on commercial metal siding. Most times I am able to place camera at solid location or place a piece of wood on other side to stable the flex of the mount against the siding. However some locations where optimal there is no rigidity of the siding and not thick to hold tek screws well. I have had to repair installs from other installers and had to use toggle bolts. Not a preference due to size of hole needed to drill, so looking for other options I may not have thought of. Thank you for your comments
Subscriber Discussion
Looking For Improvments For Camera Mount To Metal Siding
Christopher McLarty
Mar 12, 2019We always mount at the wall girts. I try to attach the top two base screws into the steel girt itself using self tappers and then drill our cable hole directly beneath the girt. That gives you a solid mount and most girts are going to be at typical camera mounting heights. You can obviously see where the steel siding attaches to them with the tappers used to attach the siding. The main key is to waterproof everything very thoroughly. If you can drill the cable hole on one of the raised parts of the steel siding you can get a tight seal around the penetration and just use longer tappers to reach the girt from the camera base. I have also used small Centex boxes or NEMA boxes that fit nicely between the raised portions of the siding and then mount the camera to that. Reducing your gaps and silicone everything is the focus here.
RS
Ross Samek
Mar 12, 2019We went to a local metal working shop and purchased 1/8" aluminum plates, about 1' square. We screw those to the sheet metal then mount the camera over that. It provides smooth and solid surface to mount to. Also makes weatherproofing the connections easier.
John Scanlan
Mar 12, 2019Have you considered switching the toggles to machine bolts / nuts, like show below?
This reduce the size of the holes required for mounting hardware to pass through.
DC
Dwayne Cormier
Mar 12, 2019Yes, in a lot of cases most of the suggestions work great. I didn't point out very well, is that the issue i face is not able to get to the exterior wall from inside. The way they built the walls does not allow me to reach the exterior to make attachments. Only able to use rods to fish the wires.
Thanks
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Mar 12, 2019
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Mar 12, 2019If you can't get to the interior side of the wall to attach some type of backing or support, you might be able to use rivet nuts to secure the mount to the exterior panel. You should research rivet nuts, nutserts, etc. There are aluminum and steel rivet nuts. Be careful using aluminum because you can strip the threads if you over torque. If you want to use steel rivet nuts, buy a good tool to install them.
DC
Dwayne Cormier
Mar 12, 2019i just looked at these before you posted. need size 8. i also looked at fab-lok. prety expensive fasteners
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Mar 12, 2019It sounds like you're dealing with a steel wall panel, probably 24 - 26 gauge thick. Like you suggested, you're not going to get any holding strength if you use simple sheet metal screws or tek screws, a strong wind might loosen the mounting bracket. And, you can't get to the interior to install a support of any kind so you're stuck with an exterior approach to mounting. Toggles might work too, but I don't like the idea of losing a wing nut in the wall if I have to do any maintenance or changes.
I tried fab loks and didn't like them as much as the rivet nuts. The fab loks stood too proud of the surface where the rivet nuts had a lower surface profile to accommodate the camera mounting box.
You can get a rivet nut tool for as low as $45.00 on the internet, and there are lots of sources online for rivet nuts. I bought a Harbor Freight tool for a lot less, their kit is primarily for aluminum rivet nuts, but wanted something more substantial so I ordered a better tool and steel rivet nuts online.
Also, an auto body supply might have other fasteners for steel panels where it is impossible to get behind the panel.
DC
Dwayne Cormier
Mar 12, 2019great input ...thanks for the info.
I did look at trivet nut as well as the jack nut. I think both will hold the camera well and not want to tear out of the siding.
New discussion
Ask questions and get answers to your physical security questions from IPVM team members and fellow subscribers.
Newest discussions