A tile back up is a great way to make a kitchen or bathroom look better.If you want to install wall tiles around an electrical outlet, extend it so it sits flush against the face of the new backsplash, rather than sinking into the wall.This is a project you can easily do yourself in a few minutes, with no special electrical knowledge required.Soon enough, your electrical outlets will be professionally installed.
Step 1: Before installing the back splash around the outlet, you need to remove the faceplate.
If you want the plate to sit on top of the tiles and hide the edges after you extend the outlet, you need to remove the faceplate.If you can get the tiles to the edges of the outlet box, you don't have to cover up the mounting straps.The outlets mounting straps have metal brackets at the top, bottom, and left and right of the outlet.These are the screws that hold the outlet to the wall.It will be difficult to get the spacing just right if you try to extend the outlet before the tiles are on the wall.You can space the outlet perfectly according to the thickness of the tiling if you wait until the back splash is done.Any kind of electrical outlet can be extended using this method.
Step 2: The power must be turned off at the breaker box.
Look at the labels on the different switches to determine which one powers the outlet that you want to extend.Plug something into the outlet to make sure there is no electricity coming through it.You can find breaker boxes in your garage, basement, utility closet, or kitchen.If you don't know which switch controls the power to the outlet, you can try different switches or turn off the master switch.
Step 3: To remove the outlet from the wall, use a drill or screwdriver.
The screws holding the outlet to the box in the wall need to be inserted with the tip of a screwdriver or drill bit.The screws should be turned counterclockwise until you can pull them out.Depending on how far you extend the outlet and how long the screws are, you might be able to reuse them after you space it.
Step 4: The plastic switch and receptacle spacers need to be snapped together.
Plastic spacers are used for extending outlets.They come in strips that you can bend to create stacks.The first two spacers should be snapped on a strip of spacers together.You can buy switch and receptacle spacers online or at a home improvement center.
Step 5: To test the spacing, put the 2 spacers between the outlet and wall.
The screw holes in the outlet box and the mounting strap are behind the stack of 2 spacers.To see how far out the stack of 2 extends it, hold it in place and press the outlet against it.If the mounting straps of the outlet rest flush with the backsplash, you don't need to add any more spacers to the stack and can skip the next step.If you can't find any spacers, you could wrap a piece of wire up into a coil until it is thick enough to extend the outlet.The concept is the same.
Step 6: Test the stack until you find the right depth.
If a stack of 2 spacers doesn't extend the outlet far enough forward, keep snapping on additional spacers.Place the stack between the outlet's mounting straps and the wall until you find the right number of spacers.It's usually enough to extend the outlet out far enough for most tiling.To put the outlet in place, you need 2 stacks of spacers.
Step 7: The stacks were made with excess spacers.
You can cut the thin piece of plastic by using a utility knife or sharp scissors.For future use, store the leftover spacers.
Step 8: The screws should be Threaded through the outlet and spacers.
The screws need to be put back through the mounting straps.Put the stacks of spacers on the screws.Purchase a longer set of screws if the screws aren't long enough to reach the holes in the outlet box.If you used a coiled piece of wire, washers, or nuts, just slide the improvised spacers over the screws after you install the outlet's mounting straps.The process is the same.
Step 9: The outlet box is in the wall.
The outlet box has screw holes in it.To tighten the screws, use an electric drill or screwdriver and turn them clockwise until the outlet is snug up against the spacers.The easiest way to start is with the top screw.Start at whichever side is more comfortable for you.
Step 10: The outlet should be Mounted back over.
The outlet has a faceplate on top of it.Use the screws to hold it in place.If it is plastic, be careful not to overtighten it.The screws should be tightened enough to hold it against the wall.
Step 11: The power should be turned back on at the breaker.
When you're done extending the outlet, go back to the electrical breaker.The switch that supplies power to the outlet needs to be flipped back on.