Switch Plates for Tile Backsplashes {with trimmed edge}

Updating your home is a fun way to personalize your living space. Adding a tile backsplash to a wet bar, installing board and batten to your walls, or upgrading your kitchen with marble counter tops are all popular ways to make your living space your own.

One issue that DIY homeowners often run into when doing projects like these, however, is that the newly installed tile or wainscot materials can leave little space for your light switch or outlet cover.

When Your Switch Plate Won't Fit

Here, an existing light switch and outlet were tiled around after granite was added to a wet bar countertop:

We've outline the area that the cover plate takes up around these electrical devices. As you can see, the trim around the tile eats into the space where the outlet cover needs to rest.

Note: There is some wiggle room with switches and outlets. Loosen the screws mounting the device into the electrical box and push as far as you can in the direction you need the devices to shift. Sometimes, that's all it takes to get a cover plate to fit into a tight spot.

In the situation shown here, shifting the devices as far to the right as possible wasn't enough.

But a 2nd solution is very simple - a cover plate with all of the openings shifted in one direction.

The {trimmed} left edge of this narrow plate allows it to fit:

Narrow Switch Plates Fit Tricky Tight Spaces

In some cases, you'll need a cover plate that has a single edge that is "trimmed" or narrower than a standard plate (as shown above). Other times, you may need an outlet cover that is narrow all around.

Find a variety of hard to find narrow cover plates at Kyle Switch Plates - where we specialize in switch plate solutions for DIY homeowners.

Stainless Steel vs Nickel Plates - The Difference

Choosing coordinating granite, tile and paint colors is tricky. In fact, much tricker than I thought when I recently updated my builder-grade kitchen. Costly mistakes were made. *Sigh*

Finding the right updated light switches & cover plates is an unexpected part of most remodel projects. And it's something most homeowners only think of as an afterthought.

Getting a perfect match to your marble, tile, wallpaper or paint isn't likely. But there are lots of finishes to choose from, so with a little bit of effort, you can find switches, outlets and covers that blend with your fresh new color palette.

One of the most popular finishes for kitchens is stainless steel. Many customers want to coordinate with stainless steel fridges, ovens and other kitchen appliances.

We always recommend our residential grade stainless steel faceplates for rooms in which you're trying to match appliances with a satin stainless finish.

Stainless switch & outlet covers are neutral, and don't pull toward any particular color like nickel plates do. Here you can see that nickel switchplates have a yellow tone in comparison to stainless steel:

Note that you can't get actual light switches in stainless, but you can use white, gray, black, red or ivory switches with stainless plates.

A customer emailed us this week to share a picture of her white electrical devices with an oversized stainless steel plate on white mosaic tile:

Pretty fabulous, huh?

Shop stainless steel switch plates in every size and get $6.95 flat-rate shipping. And please send us pictures when you have them installed! 

We'd love to see how our plates have improved your living space.

Get Your Outlet to Sit Flush With the Wall in 1 Easy Step

If you've done any remodeling to your home, you've probably run into this common problem:

"My outlet box sits too far back in the wall!"

When you add board and batten, wainscoting (shown above), panelling, a tile or granite backsplash or any other surface to your walls, your electrical box will no longer sit flush with the wall's surface, but will instead be recessed into the wall (where it's always been).

The good news is, there's a quick an easy fix to this problem!

Add what's called a Goof Ring to your electrical box. It's a cheap plastic sleeve that slides into your electric box. It rests between your electrical box and device and the front tabs sit on your outermost surface.

Here's what it looks like installed in a kitchen with a new granite backsplash:

It can adjust the depth of your device up to 1.5" which is plenty for pulling an electrical outlet or switch out to sit flush on your pretty new surface.

These rings are UL listed and are the safest way to bring your outlet out from your electrical box so it sits firmly where you need it.

Have the opposite problem?

Another problem DIYers encounter is when the electrical box & outlet protrude from the wall. This happens after you remove existing paneling or other decorative surfaces from your walls. Then, the electrical box is left sticking out from the drywall or sheetrock.

If that's the case, simply add some deep cover plates.

You know how a normal switch plate has a beveled edge that bends back to meet the wall? Deep switch plates simply have a deeper bevel so the plate can reach even further back to meet your wall without leaving a gap.

So, whichever problem you encounter, there's an easy fix at Kyle Switch Plates.

Narrow Switch Plates for Tight Spaces

If you've nearly completed your kitchen, bathroom or other remodel project and you're just now discovering your switch plate covers won't fit in their new space, you're not alone. We get calls almost daily from people who carefully planned out the placement of their outlets and switches, but forgot to consider the space the wall plates take up around those devices.

That's right - the number 1 mistake people make when remodeling their home is failure to consider the space a switch plate takes up around their switches, outlets and other electrical devices.

Sometimes it's a corner the plates run into, other times it's a window frame, mantle or cabinet. Your first thought may be that you need to rip out your freshly laid tile or sheetrock, or create a new location for the switches. Or, you may head to the hardware store to find some narrow switch plates. That trip will probably lead to a google search, which may have landed you here.

Although hard to find, thin or narrow wall plates do exist and Kyle Switch Plates stocks a variety of sizes in various finishes to help you complete your home's project. Find narrow toggle, Decora rocker, duplex outlet, phone, cable jack covers and more.

The number 1 question customers ask is, "Do you carry narrow electrical boxes?".

Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a narrow electrical box.

Some people use a standard electrical box to mount their devices, and then slightly cover the box's edges with tile or whatever they're installing in this tricky space. Then, they use the skinny face plate to fit where they need it to. However, this may not be up to code and is something we don't recommend until you've checked with an electrician in your area.

If you need a narrow switch plate for another purpose, such as on top of a desk or fireplace mantle, Kyle Switch Plates has the perfect plates for you.

Shop narrow switch plates and outlet covers.

Are Metal Switch Plates Really Better than Plastic Ones?

People often ask what the difference is between a metal plate and a plastic one, and I can hear the hesitation in their voice as they question ordering a replacement plate that's metal.

You've been surrounded by plastic switch plates your whole life, but probably haven't given them much thought. Most people don't until they decide to update the look of their home - either adding a fresh coat of paint to the walls or doing a kitchen remodel.

One of the first steps when painting a room or remodeling your space is removing all the face plates from the walls. It generally isn't until you reach one of the final steps - putting those cover plates back up - that you notice how dingy your plates are. How did I not notice this before? you wonder. They may be dirty or discolored and if you're like me, you've managed to crack one when screwing in the screw too tight.

When replacing your switch plate - whether it's a single one or you're revamping an entire room - it's always better to go with a metal one.

Benefits of Metal Switch Plates

• Metal plates are sturdier. You're not going to crack the plate because you've screwed a screw in too tight. They won't bow or warp over time either.
• Metal switch plates never discolor. Quality metal plates, like we sell at Kyle Switch Plates, are going to last. Even if they see a lot of sunlight from a nearby window, they are not going to yellow over time the way plastic ones will.
• Metal face plates are a better value. Since they won't crack, break or discolor, you'll never have to replace them, so they'll save you money in the long run.
• Metal covers come in more sizes. You will find more configurations and sizes available in metal plates than you will in plastic ones. That's why so many of our customers ask about the difference - they need a plate they can't find in plastic and want to be sure it will not stand out among their old plates (they won't).
• Bigger selection of finishes. Whether you're looking to match your stainless steel appliances or you want to add appeal with polished brass or oil rubbed bronze, you'll find 20 finishes at Kyle Switch Plates.
• They're paintable. Although we do carry a huge selection of finishes, there are some circumstances in which a plate needs to be painted to achieve the desired results. See our Tips for Painting Switch Plates to learn how.
• They're green. Well, not in color, but our metal switch plates are made of steel, bronze, copper or brass and can be recycled when no longer needed.
• They're perfectly safe. Most Kyle Switch Plates cover plates are UL approved - a testament to their safety.
• Metal switch plates are more attractive. They're weightier and their surface quality stands out.

So if you're replacing your switch plates, consider ditching the cheap plastic ones and upgrading your look to metal. The metal plates really are a lot better than the plastic ones. And if you only need 1 plate in a configuration you can't find anywhere else, replacing just that plate with a metal one is OK - besides holding it in your hand or tapping it with your finger, you're probably not going to notice the difference.

Shop quality metal switch plates at Kyle Switch Plates.

#switchplates #coverplates #faceplates #remodel #homedecor