How To Repair Oversized Outlet Hole In Drywall

• #1

Sheetrocker cut the hole as well big on an one-time work box opening, and the tabs aren't catching. Any neat tricks or "gadgets" to fix this issue - short of cutting out the stone and patching in a new piece with a proper sized cutting out?

Boy - if it ain't one thing, it'due south some other! Can't win on this chore - everything I come to, ends upward beingness a surprise.

Thanks,

Brett

• #three

What I have washed in the past is:

Cut two short pieces of wood and insert them in the hole one at a time, screwing through the sheetrock to back up them. Make sure y'all get out enough room to install the box. At present you can plaster or sheetrock over the woods and paint. The box volition at present exist well supported to complete your work.

• #five

celtic said:

So the rocker cuts the holes for an outlet, and the electrician repairs the damage to the sheetrock....what's wrong with that picture?

Nothing as long every bit he is getting paid for it

• #7

bjp_ne_elec said:

Sheetrocker cut the pigsty too big on an old work box opening, and the tabs aren't catching.

I'm not certain I've got this.

Are "the tabs" the old piece of work box plaster ears, or

Are "the tabs" the device yoke ears?

• #9

if its nm cable, and a metal old piece of work, try using a plastic old work box they are larger than the 2x3 opening used for metal boxes.

• #13

Trevor - that'south what I was looking for!

Elec2 - I hold with you lot - I'1000 getting paid by the hour on this i.

Al - the tabs I speak of are the metallic ears on the tiptop and bottom of the box - not the yoke on the device.

Brett

• #17

Brett,

Pierre and Chris accept the solution.

Instead of lathe, I like 1/4 or 3/8" plywood (the drywall screws won't carve up it). I concord with Chris, the plywood should be in 2 strips about 7-8" long and just one-ii" broad.

Put one plywood strip at a time inside the hole, and concur the strip with your fingers against the back side of the drywall. While pressing the plywood against the drywall, set a couple drywall screws through the drywall and into the plywood.

Use a metal rework box with plaster ears that are depth-adjustable so you can spiral the plaster ears directly to the plywood besides, leaving the front end of the box out at the drywall surface where it should be.

Slap in some Durabond 30, or equiv., and leave the rest for the drywaller and/or painter to smooth out.

• #eighteen

Nosotros unremarkably take the problem beingness the drywall guys didnt cut out for the box.Why was this guy doing your job to start with ?Many ways to set this just he needs to learn.Solution #i = make him come back and repair/replace drywall.Solution #ii yous exercise the above and he volition continue to mess things up.Your an electrician and patching is not something you lot should be doing.If this drywall guy looses an hour or two for free he will first beingness more carefull.

Source: https://forums.mikeholt.com/threads/any-tricks-for-old-work-box-opening-thats-too-large.28078/

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