Metal switches/sockets over patress box

dickibobboy

Hi All,

After having the house rewired the electrician used dry lining patress boxes after the plastering had been done (they tell me this is the best way rather than before)

After the plastic switches and sockets had been fitted you could still see the lip of the drywall box so the socket wouldn’t sit flush against the wall.

Does anyone have any experience in branded metal switches / sockets that fit over the lip properly? I will probably end up buying a couple of different ones and testing them out but thought it was worth a shot asking on here first.

Thanks

Andy_L

If you go to the manufacturers site, rather than a retailers, they frequently have dimensioned drawings which may help narrow down your choices

bris

It's strange and not the way most would do it. It should be hidden, if it's not then it's badly installed so get the guy back to fix it.


They are all universal sizes, you should be able to buy any brand and not have this problem.

societys_child

you could still see the lip of the drywall box so the socket wouldn’t sit flush against the wall

I had this "problem" with a double light switch.
Using the tip of a Stanley knife, I carefully cut into the plaster around the the drywall box and scraped the bit of plaster out allowing the box to be recessed. Tightened the box, re-fitted the socket and the box was no longer visible, took about 10 minutes.

chrisw

societys_child wrote: »

Using the tip of a Stanley knife, I carefully cut into the plaster around the the drywall box and scraped the bit of plaster out allowing the box to be recessed. Tightened the box, re-fitted the socket and the box was no longer visible, took about 10 minutes.

You'll probably have to do this if you're using flat plate switches and sockets, otherwise use the raised profile type. They stick out a bit like the white plastic ones, but the thinner metal means they cover the box lip.

I used these:-

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00A4BLY28/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&psc=1