round electrical box covers for plaster rings

Round electrical box covers for plaster rings how to#
Round electrical box covers for plaster rings install#
Round electrical box covers for plaster rings code#
Round electrical box covers for plaster rings plus#

Hopefully, I already cleared that up, but how do you get a hole that is exactly right? When you’ve never used a mud ring before, you may not know how it mounts.

Round electrical box covers for plaster rings how to#

How To Cut Drywall Correctly Around Mud RingsĬutting drywall to fit a mud ring can be tricky. As it meets the electrical box, the metal ring is automatically grounded. Fortunately, in the case of metal mud rings, there’s no need for extra grounding.

Round electrical box covers for plaster rings install#

Whenever you install metal and electricity, asking where it’s grounded is a wise query.

Round electrical box covers for plaster rings code#

Always check your building code or consult a professional to determine which is best for your project. Use your plastic mud ring the same as you would use a metal alternative. You don’t need any additional steps or special equipment to install it. How To Install Plastic Mud RingsĪ plastic mud ring is a mud ring. Have yours shipped to your door by clicking here. Plus, the handle stores extra utility blades. You’ll appreciate the well-balanced ABS head and rubberized handle. Not only does this clever tool help you cut, but it also has a built-in measuring tool. Place your switch or receptacle cover plate over the opening.Ī Drywall Axe All-In-One Hand Tool from Amazon will allow you to install a mud ring quickly and easily after the drywall is in place.

Place your mud ring in the drywall and spin the ear tabs to lock it in place.

Make sure the ears are closed and facing inward, toward the wall. The ears are two tabs that spin out and lock your ring in place. You don’t want to leave very much of a gap, just barely enough to place the mud ring inside the hole you’ve left.

Next, you need to grab your drywall cutting tool and cut a rectangle (or circle in some cases) slightly larger than the marks you put on the wall.

Place your mud ring on the wall between studs and mark each corner with a pencil.

Typically wall studs are either sixteen or twenty-four inches apart. You don’t want to cut into a wall stud, so it’s important to check and verify that your placement is between them.

Move any furniture away from the area where you plan to work and gather your tools and materials.

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It shouldn’t take more than a few minutes plus cleanup. Using the steps below, you will find that this is a quick and straightforward process. Make sure your drop cloth and safety equipment are in place before you begin. To install your mud ring, you will need a mud ring, a drywall ax, a receptacle or plate cover, a stud finder, and a pencil. Additionally, you may want to grab some painter’s tape and a drop cloth to cover the area immediately below where you plan to work. More importantly, always wear eye protection and a mask when cutting into your walls. I recommend wearing clothing you don’t mind getting plaster dust on. Fortunately, in most areas, if you are a homeowner, you can mount your own mud rings. Mud rings allow you to mount receptacles and electrical boxes, so you might expect that mounting them is a professional electrician’s job. When a box is mounted, and before the drywall goes up, your mud ring is placed, and it allows you to mount switches or other receptacles. You often find these in commercial settings, but builders can also use them in residential buildings. What are mud rings used for? Mud rings are used to cover metal electrical boxes. Otherwise, you could find yourself in a world of trouble if there’s a fire or inspection.

Always check your local building codes first, and never omit something that is required. I’ll explain everything you need to know about mud rings, so you understand how to install them. You won’t always see them in modern homes, but when they’re installed right, you don’t see them at all anyhow. They are a safety feature that goes around an electrical box or socket. Though most walls now use gypsum board or drywall, the mud rings’ standards have not changed with the times. Often, they were tapered and meant to go under three layers of plaster-a base or brown layer, a scratch layer, and then a white layer. Electricians used a mud ring to protect electrical wiring boxes and blend them into the plaster. Before drywall was the industry standard, plaster was the common pre-paint lining for walls. You’ve only read about them, or you may have seen mud rings and not known what they are used for.