Adjust Uneven Outlets for New Wall Surface - Tile, Wainscot

Often, when you add something that builds up the surface of a wall - like tile or wainscot - you'll need to make adjustments to your electrical outlets and light switches.

For example, here is an entry-way project that involved electrical components in two spots - the light switches above and the outlet below (see arrows).

In this post, we're going to look at the outlet near the floor and the adjustments that had to be made to make it even with the new batten wall surface.

Here's how the outlet originally looked on the red wall without the cover:

In order to add the new flat wall surface for the board and batten entry project, a cutout had to be made to fit around the outlet.

Note: Cutout should be the size of the electrical box - not larger.

Note: Hole was cut much too large.

Instead of aiming for the cutout to be the size of the electrical box, the installer cut the hole just under the size of the outlet cover plate.

As a result, the cutout ended up a little too big.

When screwed back into the box, the outlet was tilted forward, with the top tabs resting on the board and the bottom resting on the red drywall.

For safety, a non-conductive plastic goof ring should be installed between your device and the new surface.

A goof ring was placed underneath the outlet, but the hole in the board was still too big. The proper installation involves the goof ring resting on top of the new surface all the way around.

You can see that that bottom still doesn't rest on the new surface as it should. Grr.

To lift the bottom up, one spacer was placed around the screw holding the outlet into the bottom of the box.

Spacers can be cut or stacked to achieve depths in 1/8" increments.

That did the trick!

As an added safety precaution, the device ears were snapped off on the bottom to prevent them from making contact with the board.

The cover was added, and the outlet is no longer uneven - it sits properly in the plate & looks great.

Tips for Cutting the Right Size Hole for Electrical Devices

When adding a new surface over a wall, such as tile, wainscot, board and batten or paneling, be sure to measure very carefully when cutting the openings for the electrical devices.

It's best to cut an opening that's too small to start with, then hold it up and adjust as necessary.

Try to cut an opening that's the same size as the electrical box, rather than basing your measurements on the devices or cover plate.

You don't want your new material to overlap the box, but still want the tabs (or ears) of your electrical devices to reach over the new surface (with a box extender ring in between).

Buy 1-gang, 2-gang, 3-gang or 4-gang extender rings (also known as goof rings).

In this entry way project, the hole for these 3 switches was cut slightly too big, but worked out fine once the goof ring was installed under the devices.

What to do if you cut too big a hole around an outlet or switch:

If your cutout is too big, the devices will sit sunken down in the space and the cover plate might not be large enough.

For sunken devices, use spacers to build them up.

For covers that aren't big enough, get an oversized cover plate.

How to Plan Space for Electrical & Avoid Unsightly Mistakes

Planning ample room for light switches and outlets (and their covers) is super important during any DIY home improvement projects.

It's one of the top things that gets overlooked during the planning stages. Which is terribly unfortunate because it can be hard to fix once installation of everything else is complete.

Below are some of the most common home improvement projects in which too little space is created for electrical devices.

Follow our advice & take time to plan room for electrical ahead of time to avoid unsightly mistakes.

Wall Tile & Trim

Adding trim to a bedroom wall or installing tile on your bathroom walls can really dress up your living space.

Before you even begin, be sure to look around the room and take note of where all the light switches and outlets are located. Then, plan the height of your tile accordingly.

And don't forget to factor in trim pieces.

The bullnose trim on this backsplash tile is too large based on how close it is to the electrical devices. The homeowner wasn't able to get the cover plate back on and had to order a specialty cover plate to complete his wet bar project.

In this bathroom, the tile runs right into the light switches. Cutting out portions of the tile was the solution, but it doesn't look good. The trim simply should have been installed higher or lower to clear the cover plate.

Another poorly planned project was completed by extending the tile up and around the switch and faceplate.

Here, the wall trim got very close to the outlet. The standard cover fit, but had it not, this shifted outlet cover is perfect for tight spaces.

Board and Batten / Wainscoting

I am obsessed with wainscot walls. So much so that within the last 2 years I've added either wainscot or board and batten to 4 different rooms in my house.

Here's an example of a wainscot wall I saw recently that is very well planned out. You can see that none of the grid beams intersect with switches or sockets.

Even though I know to plan enough room for the wall plates to go back up, I had some mis-fortune when installing my first board and batten wall.

The two orange arrows indicate where the trim got in the way. It covered the top of my dimmer switch and the side of my outlet.

In the original design of our accent wall, the beams cleared the electrical box (as I'd planned when determining the beam spacing).

But I didn't like the look of the thick batten beams we purchased after we put them up.

To fix it, we added decorative trim inside each rectangle. Once the decorative part was up, there wasn't room for the standard outlet cover anymore, and I had to get this narrow one.

For the dimmer switch, we were able to notch the trim to fit over the standard size cover. It's not nailed into place so we can still access the switch if we need to. Another option is this trimmed rocker plate.

By the way, I highly recommend buying metal switch plates and painting them to match your wainscot. It really makes quite a difference not having the stark white cover creating an eye sore on such a beautiful statement wall.

I saw this in a model home recently:

Such a shame that the placement of this outlet ruined the look of an otherwise nicely upgraded room. Especially since it could have been avoided if someone had planned the spacing of the beams to avoid running right into this receptacle.

Here's another example:

I really recommend adjusting the spacing of your batten or wainscot trim so that it avoids ALL electrical devices. Your project will look much better in the end if you do!

My sister-in-law did a great job avoiding this outlet:

She built this entire batten wall by herself! Very impressed! There's no cover there yet - she still needs to put a single spacer behind the receptacle to pull it forward and then cover it with an oversized socket cover.

New Wall Surface

If you're putting up a mirror wall or adding paneling, be sure you cut a big enough opening to access any electrical devices.

There are 3 reasons you want tile, mirrors, beadboard, wainscot and paneling to completely clear the electrical:

1. to meet safety code / prevent a fire
2. to have the ability to pull devices up to new surface so they're not sunken in the switch plate
3. to have access to switches and outlets to replace if any break or if you want a different style or finish down the road

This homeowner installed a mirror over their dimmer switches.

As a result, the switches can't be pulled up to the final surface of the mirror. The cover plate will rest on top of the mirror and the switches will be set back quite a bit.

Don't Forget the Cover Plate Dimensions
Always keep in mind that electrical device covers extend beyond the electrical box. Leave ample room around electrical boxes for the covers to fit back on.

Here, an outlet in a kitchen island is put in the center of the cabinet. A good way to go to ensure you don't run into any problems.

For covers sitting on cabinets, consider painting them to match, or selecting a quality metal finish that complements your color scheme.

If you want to add trim or granite and find that you don't have room for the outlet and cover, keep in mind you can always rotate the electrical box so that your devices sit sideways.

If you end up cutting too large a hole for the electrical box and a standard cover doesn't hide everything, buy oversized switch covers.

If you've already created a problem and need a solution:

Get instructions for shifting your electrical devices and measuring for a short or narrow switch plate.

Complete Your Kitchen Remodel Faster with This Essential Tip

You've selected the tile floor, the granite counters, the perfect wood cabinets and a fabulous backsplash. You may have purchased all new stainless steel appliances to match your new high-end look. From the moment you decided to do your kitchen remodel you've been anticipating the end results - the feeling of walking into your kitchen every morning and loving it. Am I right?

But, there's a good chance you left one essential item of your to-do list - new switch plates. It's so easy to overlook this detail. After all, before the remodel there were white plates on white walls or plain tile. But now, against the gorgeous grain of your new granite countertops and rich tile backsplash, those white switches, outlets and cover plates stick out. And they're awful!

New Switches, Outlets and Cover Plates will Complete Your Kitchen Remodel

You can easily avoid this disappointment by planning ahead and purchasing matching devices and wall plates in advance. That way, you won't have to live an extra week or so with the old tacky plates in place once the rest of your kitchen is complete.

If you head down to your local hardware store you may find that their selection is limited. The best way to find all the parts you need is to shop Kyle Switch Plates - your order will ship out in 1-2 business days (sometimes even the same day) and the flat-rate shipping means you can order as much as you want without outrageous shipping costs.

At Kyle Switch Plates, you'll find outlets and switches in a vast array of colors - including black, ivory and gray which are popular in kitchens. You can also order switch plates and outlet covers in 17 different finishes - stainless steel, black, oil rubbed bronze, brass and more. We keep everything in stock and ready to ship from our Livermore, California warehouse.

If your newly renovated kitchen has stainless steel appliances, you'll love the look of gray switches with stainless steel plates. If your new granite counters have a lot of black, deep brown and tan shades, you can go with black switches and faceplates or do brown switches and outlets with either brown or dark bronze cover plates. Play around with different finishes to find the look that appeals to you.

Don't forget to budget for new switch plates!

When budgeting for your project, take into consideration how your old switches and faceplates will look with your new color scheme. A single switch or cover plate isn't expensive, but it can add up when you're re-doing an entire room. Determine what color will work best in your kitchen, and calculate the cost of ordering replacement electrical devices and covers. See our post on Replacing Switch Plates for a handy printout that will help you avoid order mistakes. We just hate to see when someone forgets 1 plate or outlet and has to wait for a 2nd order to arrive.

Shop Kyle Switch Plates to order new switchplates and matching switches and outlets for your kitchen. It will be the perfect finishing touch on your project - we guarantee it.

#remodel #kitchen #kitchenremodel #switchplates #electricaldevices #homedecor

3 Convenient Yet Unconventional Places to Add an Electrical Outlet

You buy the perfect table and accessorize with great pieces including that trendy lamp you've been eyeing for months. The only glitch is that now you have to run a hideous cord about 6' down the wall to plug it in.

You're sipping coffee on your couch on a Saturday morning, happily pinning away when your laptop or tablet battery gets critically low. Of course the charging cable won't reach the nearest electrical outlet (why are these cords always so short?) which means you have to pull out an extension cord to continue your lazy morning. Annoying!

You decorate your fireplace mantle with a gorgeous lighted holiday garland only to be distracted for the next month by the ugly green cord stretched awkwardly across the wall.

Any of these sound familiar?

Some well-placed electrical outlets can really simplify things and leave you with the aesthetic appeal you're looking for. Floor box outlets with fancy covers and twist-on caps for when they're not in use are the perfect solution.

3 Places to Add a Floor Box Electrical Outlet in Your Home

1. Underneath your couch or table

I have an outlet directly underneath my couch along with some spare computer and phone chargers. They don't create an eye-sore but they're there when I need them. Another great place is underneath an accent table. Then, you can use a variety of techniques like this easy one to hide your lamp cord.

2. On your fireplace mantle

Add an outlet to the side or top of your mantle and it will change your world. It's great for lighted Thanksgiving or Christmas garlands but you'll most likely find it handy throughout the rest of the year as well.

3. On your headboard

Imagine the convenience of an outlet right there when you're lounging in bed. If you use your smart phone, reading tablet or laptop between the sheets, chances are you need a convenient place to plug in. In my bedroom, the nearest outlet powers my nightstand lamp, alarm clock and phone charger leaving no space for my bulky computer charger. Make using electronics in bed simple with a conveniently placed floor box electrical outlet installed right into your headboard.

Now you know - floor box electrical outlets aren't just for floors. You can add one virtually anywhere you need power. The icing on the cupcake is that they're available in attractive nickel and brass finishes and come with round caps to cover the ugly devices when they're not in use.

Shop floor mounted electrical outlets at Kyle Switch Plates to find the perfect power supply solution for your lifestyle.