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.

Get Your Home Prepared for Holiday Guests

Are you hosting your family for Thanksgiving or having a Christmas holiday party with friends? This is the time to get your home guest-ready. Many people love having family and friends over during the holiday season and it's a fun time to show off any renovations or work you've done to your home since last year.

Do you have a tricky switch plate that needs to be replaced but you weren't able to find it at your local hardware store? We get a lot of calls this time of year from people who have waited last minute to fix this problem.

Many times you don't even realize you have an odd switch plate until a trip to the Home Depot. You'd be surprised how many configurations they don't carry. And, the more switches you have in the same plate, the more tricky it can be to find the right match. It gets even trickier if you want a specialty finish like stainless steel or oil rubbed bronze.

Save yourself the stress and order your plates early from Kyle Switch Plates. That way, you won't have to pay a fortune to have it shipped overnight it last second (although that's something we can do if need be!).

Kyle Switch Plates' oil rubbed bronze switch plates are especially popular with the rustic look everyone has going on in their homes these days. Adding quality wall plates to your room is the best way to polish off Restoration Hardware decor in any home.

Shop Kyle Switch Plates for coordinating light switches, outlets, decorative dimmer knobs and beautiful cover plates made in the USA.

Replacement Parts for Old School Low Voltage Light Switches

We've heard a lot of terms used when referring to low voltage lighting systems. But our favorite is when callers describe their outdated light switches as "old school."

Do you have some old school light switches and cover plates in your home? There's a variety of older, outdated systems out there. So, to clear things up, here are the most popular lighting systems used in the United States in the early 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

Once you identify the system you have, we can direct you to the proper replacement parts.

Despard Style Switches

If your toggle style light switches go sideways and are stacked 3 high in a single switch plate, or if you have low voltage trigger switches by Sierra, then you have Despard switches. You might even have some Despard style outlets as well.

These switches and electrical outlets are all sold separately and sit in metal straps or brackets. They may say "Sierra" or "Leviton" on them.

Shop Replacent Despard Switches & Outlets

Shop Despard Cover Plates

Shop Relays for Despard Lighting System

GE Low Voltage Lighting

If your home has low voltage lighting, you might have these old fashioned GE light switches, which were discontinued years ago.

The good news is, GE does manufacture replacement switches, cover plates, relays and other parts.

You can learn more here: GE Low Voltage Replacement Parts Guide

Shop GE Low Voltage Parts



Bryant Light Switches

If your old style switch was made by Bryant, you will replace old parts with new GE low voltage lighting here.











Remcon Lighting Parts

Remcon was commonly installed during the 1950's and 1960's in U.S. homes. Most everything from this system has been discontinued and you won't find original replacement parts for a Remcon system, with the exception of new Remcon relays sold here.

If you need new Remcon brand light switches or cover plates, you can swap out your old switches with the newer up-to-date Touch Plate system.

Note that with Touch Plate, you'll have 2 buttons ("on" and "off") that replace each of your old Remcon switches. To replace an old plate with 3 Remcon switches, you will need a Touch Plate unit with 6 buttons - "on" and "off" for each old switch.

Shop Remcon Replacement Parts

Pyramid

Pyramid parts were discontinued in the 80's, and the replacements for Pyramid parts are Remcon relays and Touch-Plate light switches.

New Pyramid cover plates like the one shown cannot be purchased. If you need a new plate you will have to replace the switches as well (with Touch Plate).

Shop New Parts for Pyramid Lighting Systems

More Information On Low Volt Lighting:

For more info about old style light switches and currently manufactured replacement parts, see Kyle Switch Plate's Comprehensive Low Voltage Lighting Guide.

Narrow & Short Switch Plates for Board & Batten Panelling

Like most Pinterest users, I find it impossible to scroll through the pins upon pins and not start visualizing my "new" house. That butcher block kitchen table I hate - I could paint it! That rusting over-the-toilet storage contraption could be replaced by floating wood shelves. We could cut a hole in the wall and create additional storage underneath our staircase! Sound familiar?

My latest and greatest revelation was that our kitchen wall needed board and batten. My husband was totally up to the task after getting a new saw for Christmas, so by New Years we'd turned this:

...into this:

Hmmm. We had initially had some disagreements on the height and style of board and batten to go with. I had gotten my way. And now I was hating it. I'm picturing farm animals grazing on the other side of this hideous fence that has become my kitchen wall. Ugh! Is it too late to change my mind?!?

Back to Pinterest to see what I've done wrong. OK, this can be salvaged. We just need to add some decorative trim pieces along each edge and a cap to the top. A day later we're comparing samples and once again we are not reaching an agreement on what looks best. Since I've steered us wrong thus far, I let him win. After all, his favorite was my second choice ;)

There's just one problem with this new plan - we had positioned the boards with just enough room for the switch plate and outlet cover. Adding trim would prevent the covers from going back on. Here you can see a comparison (on the left, we had not yet added the trim next to the outlet):

I had my husband notch out the very bottom of the trim so that a cover could slide underneath. This worked for the light switch as you can see here (we hadn't bought the new white plate yet so we used our old decorative one in the meantime). Since he only notched the bottom of the trim, you can't see it unless you bend down and look upward.

For the outlet, we loosened the screws on the device to push it as far right in the electrical box as we could get it. (They are made to be slightly adjustable side-to-side.) Then, we added a narrow switch plate that was just wide enough to cover the right side of the hole we had cut out of the board. My husband notched the trim to fit the left side of the plate. And, problem solved:

I've noticed people come up with many creative solutions for adding board and batten around light switches and outlets. Some people choose to create a gap in the trim piece or extend the size of the boards to incorporate the devices. I wanted a seamless look which is why I carefully planned out the spacing of my boards. But, everything was thrown off when we added the extra decorative pieces. 

Whether your project has taken an unexpected turn like mine, or you didn't realize how much space your wallplates would take up around your switches (a common mistake!), you can use narrow cover plates to complete your board and batten.

I decided to paint our new metal switch plates so they would match the board and batten perfectly. Here's a nice tutorial for painting switch plates.

If you run into similar problems when installing board and batten, cabinets or even a kitchen backsplash or island, you can buy narrow switch plates which aren't as wide as standard ones, or you can buy short switch plates which aren't as tall as standard ones. 

In the end, we love our new board and batten kitchen wall. 

Of course, once this was complete I had to paint the kitchen table and door. Which leads into my next project - staining those chair legs black.

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.

Your Complete Guide to Low Voltage Lighting {Found in Older Homes}

If you have an older home (built 1940s-1980s) and have not been able to find light switches and switch covers that match what you have, you may have low voltage lighting. You may have had the unfortunate experience of an electrician taking a look at your wiring and scratching his head because he's never seen this before. Yikes!

Whether you're fixing up an older home to put it on the market or you're just tired of certain switches not working, you're in the right place.

Your Guide to Buying Replacement Parts for Low Voltage Lighting Systems in Older Homes

The good news is, no matter what type of old system you have, there are compatible replacement switches, relays, transformers and cover plates which can be ordered online at Kyle Switch Plates.

Step 1 - Determine the Brand of Your Low Voltage System

The first step in replacing any broken switches, relays or other low voltage lighting parts is to identify what brand your system is. Take a look at this image to determine which brand is yours:

Your switches and plate may be installed horizontally instead of vertically, but take a close look at the switches and see what looks familiar. Note that in the first square the center switch is different. That switch was manufactured by both GE and Bryant, so you may have a Bryant system. If so, GE is the compatible replacement.

Step 2 - Determine Which Parts Need Replacement

Determine what's not working in your system. Is a switch stuck or broken? Has a relay gone out? If certain lights aren't working, the best way to determine whether it's due to a broken relay or broken switch is to take a switch you do know is working from another location in your home and wire it into the spot where the light isn't functioning. If the light now works, you had a broken switch. If it doesn't, you'll need a new relay.

Step 3 - Determine Your Options for Replacement Parts

Like I said before, many of the parts pictured above have been discontinued. Some entire brands are no longer available. Kyle Switch Plates sells replacement parts for all of the above systems, and the options vary between systems. I suggest you use the links below to read further information about (and find replacement parts for) each of the above systems. If you're looking for something not pictured above, you'll find more pictures at each of these links which may help you identify what you have.

GE Low Voltage Lighting Info

Bryant Low Voltage Lighting Info

Remcon Low Voltage Lighting Info

Touch Plate Low Voltage Lighting Info

Sierra Low Voltage Lighting Info

Pyramid Low Voltage Lighting Info

If, after reading all the information at each of the above links, you're still unsure about what you have, you can snap a picture of your switches (preferably still mounted in the wall - with or without a cover plate) and send them to Kyle Switch Plates. Call 1-800-551-5953 to obtain an email address. Then, we can take a look at what you have and talk to you about your replacement options.

Step 4 - Order Replacement Parts for Low Voltage Lighting Systems

GE Low Voltage Lighting Parts

Bryant Low Voltage Lighting Parts

Remcon Low Voltage Lighting Parts

Touch Plate Low Voltage Lighting Parts

Sierra Low Voltage Lighting Parts

Pyramid Low Voltage Lighting Parts

Brand new replacement relays, transformers, switches and switch plates can be found at the above links. The replacement options can be a little overwhelming, so if you need reassurance that you're ordering the right parts, or prefer to place your order over the phone, call Kyle Switch Plates at 1-800-551-5953 Monday through Friday between 7:30am and 5:00pm PT.

About Kyle Switch Plates

At Kyle Switch Plates, we specialize in hard-to-find switch plates and outlet covers. We carry quality, metal switch plates and electrical devices, which we stock in our Livermore, California warehouse. You can find gorgeous wall plates in 17 finishes as well as decorative switch plates that feature Kyle's unique etched metal designs (available in polished gold, silver, copper and brass).

We get several calls every day from people who need to replace their broken low voltage light switches with currently manufactured parts. We ship out tons of low voltage switches and cover plates every day. If you're having trouble finding the right parts for your system, we'd love to help you out. Visit our site at www.kyleswitchplates.com and click on "Low Voltage" in the menu bar, or give us a call (1-800-551-5953) and let us get you set up with the right replacement parts for your home.

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.

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