Measure the thickness of the drywall most likely 12 in. But every once in a while youll hear one of us say this outlet is going to need a jumbo. Now gently peel the wallpaper off the damaged pieces you set aside. Turn the patch over and score four lines, snap it, and peel off the gypsum core. Is there a name for this type of outlet, so i can try to find a replacement. The other option i would look into assuming the outlet opening is on a stud is to angle a screw through the side of an outlet box plastic into the stud and then apply the patch. An oversize drywall cutout around an electrical box can ruin the appearance of an otherwise perfect taping job. How to fix broken electrical outlets popular mechanics. Another option, if your junction box doesnt have threads on the inside of the hole, is using a knockout seal.
From small patch jobs to full wall repair, we have a product to meet your needs. Inventory is sold and received continuously throughout the day. While youre stuck at home, make the most of your time by learning a new language, skill, or even train for a remotework job with our new premium online courses. How to cover an outlet with drywall home guides sf gate. Fix drywall around outlets home improvement stack exchange.
The constant movement of loose electrical outlets can loosen the wires connected to the outlet and create dangerous arcing. This type of patch is best suited for covering up small square holes such as where an old outlet box was removed. For large jobs, our wide reinforcement fabrics can help you restore your walls without complete tear outs. Place the patch over the hole and pencil its outline on the damaged wall. If you want to permanently patch the hole with drywall, which is one option for covering the hole, you need to remove the electrical box. The gclip provides a new threaded mounting point to reattach your switch or outlet. For more info on taping and finishing drywall, see my main site at. How to patch unused electrical boxes and other holes in drywall. Now use some white glue elmers and coat the wall patch and the wallpaper you removed. Plaster walls are much harder and denser than those constructed from drywall. Electrical patch definition of electrical patch by the free. In my home built around 1970, i found a bizarre outlet when replacing the dated old ones. How to fix an oversize electrical box cutout home repairs.
If you have to patch up some holes in your drywall but dont know how, let this video series be your guide. In these videos, lean how to patch around an electrical box on drywall. How to make cuts in stucco for an electrical outlet box ehow. It is a more significant problem if the ceiling hole is too large for the recessed light. See typical tasks and time to repair drywall holes, along with per unit costs and material requirements. You have to mud these on but they stick pretty well and two coats of mud on top pretty much made them disappear. Today im going to show you how to patch over old outlets and old phone jack boxes. He basically cut rough holes through the siding, building paper, exterior wall and insulation and didnt bother to patch it back up again. Electrical box screw repairs how to fix a stripped electrical outlet or switch box mounting screw or stripped electrical box screw receiver. It isnt easy to remove the box without cutting a hole around it, but if all you. Electrical problems come fully equipped with more than their fair share of stress and with good reason. The best way to accurately cut the hole for an electrical box is to cut it. What can i use to cover a hole in my ceiling from an old. We had to pass electrical before we installed the drywall, so we had to cut the drywall big to fit around the plug ears.
Oldwork or remodel recessed lights depend on the drywall to hold them up. Post a question or comment about ways to replace an electrical outlet or switch mounting screw when threads are stripped on the screw or in the mounting box. Gclip repair stripped, broken, plastic outlet boxes. Mar 18, 2017 even with careful measuring, youll often run into an outlet hole that doesnt quite fit. Im going to make a few assumptions about your question. For small jobs, our patches are designed to meet your needs whether you are repairing a hole from a door knob to ceiling repairs. To install the gclip, press it onto the edge of the electrical box, over the damaged hole. Easy installation, precut to fit standard receptacle box repairs and reinforces miscut or damaged drywall areas around receptacle box material is not affected by water and damp conditions material will not fuzz up during sanding.
Spread joint compound over the patch with a drywall knife. Draw an x on the wall above the hole and an arrow on the patch that points at the x so youll know how to orient the patch in step 6. When doing your howto patch, for your old electrical outlet location, is best. So i dont believe the electrical tape and tucking would workbe safe in. Get fair costs for your specific project requirements. Oct 25, 20 the trick to perfect looking outlet holes. How to repair the hole in wall after you removed a swicth or outlet. Do i have to patch an outlet hole in the drywall or can i. The previous owner of our house did some renovations which included adding a couple of water faucets and an electrical outlet to the outside of the house. Multibrand 50003 8piece hole in the wall patch kit. Get an extra piece of drywall and cut a patch 2 inches larger than the hole on all sides. Aug 15, 2017 now gently peel the wallpaper off the damaged pieces you set aside.
It also provides price estimates to patch chips and fill cracks in your drywall or sheetrock. The installer says that the outlet has to be completely removed as they can only install against drywallsheetrock. Do i just remove the wall plate, outlet and wallbox, seal the wires with plastic wire caps, then patch the drywall. The common mistake is to screw the drywall to the framing before trimming the opening. Shop drywall repair and a variety of building supplies products online at lowes. How to cut holes in drywall for electrical boxes protradecraft. If you hope to cut a hole in the wall without destroying the finish on the entire wall, you need to follow a specific procedure. The fibatape family includes a full line of wall repair products. Create a patch piece so that it is the size of the hole in the wall. Start with the round wallpaper then the damaged wallpaper. The hole and vent is outside and leading into our unfinished basement so it would be easy to run an electrical outlet gfi where the hole is to where we are going to put a fountain with some landscape design.
If you could tell me what type of outlet you are talking about and which metal parts of it you mean i might have a better chance of giving a correct answer. Then the drywall will break around the electrical box left, requiring extra time to patch. Whatever the reason, cutting a hole in a plaster wall can be quite difficult. This will cause the patch piece to recess into the wall about 116inch. The best way to fix it is with drywall compound and joint tape.
How to patch drywall drywall repairpatching drywalldrywall finishingfixing drywall holespatching holes. Start by using a drywall saw to cut a square around the hole. Unfortunately, these were done very poorly, as the photos show. Your wall is 12 or 58 drywall over wood studs spaced either 16. An electrical box patch is used when an electrical box does not fit right because the hole was either cut too large to begin with, or somehow or. Nov 25, 2008 do i have to patch an outlet hole in the drywall or can i tape and float it. Patch the hole in the wall with a drywall patch kit. How to patch unused electrical outlets or other holes in drywallhomestagingbloomingtonil. We actually learned this a number of years back when the err of our ways was much more egregious than it is now. Prices, promotions, styles and availability may vary by store and online. Is there a name for a duplex outlet that takes eight wires. Find a scrap of drywall thats the same thickness as the damaged drywall, and cut out a squarecornered patch big enough to cover the hole. These come in various sizes, so knowing the size of your hole is important. If you have a loose electrical switch or outlet, you probably have a damaged or stripped electrical box.
In summary, this drywall patch, available at the straitflex website, would be a nice item to have on hand to repair a drywall wall outlet hole after cutting just a little too big. How to fix a wall electrical box patch drywall repair part 1 of 2. I removed my popcorn ceiling and took out an outlet that was in the ceiling. Before replacing that damaged plastic box, try using the gclip. If you could tell me what type of outlet you are talking about and which metal parts of it you mean i might have. Relocation of outlets, switches, ceiling lightsfans and can lights. Jun 28, 2016 the previous owner of our house did some renovations which included adding a couple of water faucets and an electrical outlet to the outside of the house. Drywall patch combo pack electrical outlet patches. The phone cable is very low on the wall, only about 1 1 12 inches from the floor and the wires come straight out of a small hole only big enough for the wires. The front is your standard duplex, but on the back there are holes for 8 wires 4 hot, 4 neutral plus the ground. The switch plates and outlet covers will not cover much more than a 316 in. Apr 08, 2008 i am having some additional kitchen cabinets installed and there is a standard electrical outlet on the wall where they are going. Draw a line along the outside of the lath strip indicating how l. When you relocate an electrical outlet, youre usually left with an empty electrical box nailed to a wall stud.
What is the best way to patch an 8 x 9 hole behind a double. Depending on actual sheetrock hole size pre patch an old work box may work but both tabs must catch on the original sheetrock. Aug 04, 2015 i am not quite understanding your question. If it is pvc or metal and threaded on the inside of the box, you can use metal outlet plugs, shown below.
Installing an electrical outlet into a stucco covered wall will mean that a hole has to be cut into it and while cutting the hole is not difficult, there is some danger in the process. Homeadvisor s drywall repair cost guide provides the average cost per square foot to have small and large holes fixed by a contractor or handyman vs diy. First, take a lath strip and place it next to the electrical box, covering the damaged area. So i dont believe the electrical tape and tucking would workbe safe in this scenario. It isnt easy to remove the box without cutting a hole around it, but if all you want. Even with careful measuring, youll often run into an outlet hole that doesnt quite fit. When the impacted area is small, you may be able to avoid replacing the whole wall. Can i place the electrical outlet in the hole and cement around the outlet with the electrical wire into the basement. Can i cover the outlet with tape and float it or do i have to go buy a patch or cut a piece of drywall and put it in there. Gently rub with a damp sponge over the wallpaper patch. Home repairs might seem foreign to some people, but its not as hard as dealing with contractors. I really doubt there is an electrical box behind the drywall. I am having some additional kitchen cabinets installed and there is a standard electrical outlet on the wall where they are going. A california patch is not well suited for holes in ceilings.