I'm currently working on a board & batten wall in our new nursery, and I've hit a snag. When I cut the hole for the outlet, I forgot to leave enough room to unscrew it and pull it out so that it sits flush with the new backing. I really want to avoid removing the backing board since that would damage the drywall. Is there an easy way to resolve this? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
4 Answers
Make sure the existing wiring is long enough first. Power off the outlet, then consider using a Roto-zip to create space for a shallow remodel box. This could give you the room to pull the outlet out. If you need a bigger hole, oversized cover plates can help finish the job! Good luck!
It sounds like you may need to cut the paneling regardless to fit the outlet properly. Try cutting a hole to match the original box and then attach an extension ring to bring it flush with the surface. An oscillating tool could really help with cutting the wall panels without removing them.
I recently did something similar—grab a dremel and use the sanding bit around the hole until it’s just right for pulling out the outlet. That should do the trick!
Awesome, I have a dremel! I’ll definitely give that a try. Thanks!
Consider looking for a wall plate spacer or extender to create the flush effect without major changes. It might just solve your issue!
Thanks for the tip! I likely will have to cut it, but I feel more confident now knowing how to approach it!