How to install an electrical box in drywall

Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 13 years. Installing electrical boxes is one of the first stages in electrical rough-in work. Electrical box installation is regarded as easy work—more like carpentry than electrical wiring.

Follow these expert tips to install an electrical box into drywall or plaster without the need for wall studs or joists. Not all fixtures need to be attached to a wall stud or joist. Installing these handy boxes only takes about 15 minutes and they give you the freedom to decorate your space exactly how you want. Try your hand at this small electrical project using our step-by-step instructions below. Before you get started, plan the job carefully, as running cable through walls covered with drywall or plaster can be difficult.

How to install an electrical box in drywall

Adding an electrical box to your existing wall for a switch or outlet is easy when you have the right materials and know a few tricks. And you don't have to remove any drywall. The walls can stay in place. The key is to purchase an electrical box called a remodel box or an old-work box rather than a new-work or new-construction box. Many of these old-work boxes from home centers and other big home improvement stores do not come with paper templates. Either you make your template, transfer measurements to the wall with a ruler, or use the box itself as a template. Because these boxes taper from smaller to larger, you cannot use the back sides as templates. Fortunately, you can use the face as a template, since the face is flat. Tape the box to the wall with painter's tape, face-first. Apply tape to the top and bottom.

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Follow these expert tips to install an electrical box into drywall or plaster without the need for wall studs or joists. Not all fixtures need to be attached to a wall stud or joist. Installing these handy boxes only takes about 15 minutes and they give you the freedom to decorate your space exactly how you want. Try your hand at this small electrical project using our step-by-step instructions below. Before you get started, plan the job carefully, as running cable through walls covered with drywall or plaster can be difficult. Remodel boxes also called cut-in or old-work boxes clamp to the drywall or plaster rather than attach to a framing member, making the work easier. However, they are only as strong as the wall surface to which they are clamped. If the drywall or plaster is damaged , cut a larger hole and install a box that attaches directly to a stud or joist. Select boxes that meet local codes. For a ceiling fan or a heavy light fixture, buy a fixture box that attaches to a fan-rated brace.

How to install an electrical box in drywall

Adding an electrical box to your existing wall for a switch or outlet is easy when you have the right materials and know a few tricks. And you don't have to remove any drywall. The walls can stay in place. The key is to purchase an electrical box called a remodel box or an old-work box rather than a new-work or new-construction box. Many of these old-work boxes from home centers and other big home improvement stores do not come with paper templates. Either you make your template, transfer measurements to the wall with a ruler, or use the box itself as a template. Because these boxes taper from smaller to larger, you cannot use the back sides as templates. Fortunately, you can use the face as a template, since the face is flat. Tape the box to the wall with painter's tape, face-first. Apply tape to the top and bottom.

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Alternatively use a rotary cutter equipped with a plaster-cutting bit. This does not completely rid your area of drywall dust but it does significantly help cut down on it. Develop and improve services. For spaces used by people with accessibility issues requiring a wheelchair, for example, lower switch heights might be practical. This allows the box to be easily removed should the layout need to be changed before the NM cable installation. If the box does not come with a cardboard template, hold its face against the wall, use a torpedo level to make sure it is straight, and trace it. Dryer cords are attached to V outlets, and while the cords aren't frequently moved, they do place a heavy, constant burden on the outlet box. The common practice for receptacle outlet boxes is to install them so the bottom edge is between 12 and 16 inches above the floor. For switches and outlets above countertops , install them so the bottoms are about 4 inches above the countertop surface. Electrical box installation is regarded as easy work—more like carpentry than electrical wiring.

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Use limited data to select advertising. If you strike too hard, you risk pushing the box backward along the face of the stud. One metal box center has a flange that springs outward when the box is inserted; tightening a screw brings the flange forward. Select boxes that meet local codes. Use a Drywall Reference Strip. Electrical box installation is regarded as easy work—more like carpentry than electrical wiring. For spaces used by people with accessibility issues requiring a wheelchair, for example, lower switch heights might be practical. If it does vibrate as you saw, sections of plaster can loosen from the lath. Installing electrical boxes is one of the first stages in electrical rough-in work. Strip 8 to 12 inches of sheathing and run the cable into the box.