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A tile backsplash is a classy way to bandbox up whatever kitchen or bathroom wall. If y'all want to install wall tiles around an electrical outlet, extend the outlet so it sits flush against the face of the new backsplash, rather than sinking into the wall. With some handy plastic spacers made just for this job, this is a projection you tin easily practise yourself in simply a few minutes, with no special electrical knowledge required! Soon enough, your electrical outlets volition look professionally installed equally if the backsplash was always there.

  1. 1

    Remove the faceplate and install the backsplash around the outlet outset. Remove the faceplate from the outlet before you install the backsplash so that the plate volition sit on top of the tiles and hide the edges later on you lot extend the outlet. Mount the tiles around the outlet every bit shut as you tin get them to the edges of the outlet box without covering up either of the mounting straps.[1]

    • The outlets mounting straps are the ii metallic brackets at the pinnacle and bottom or left and right of the outlet, depending how it is oriented. These are the brackets that screws become through to hold the outlet to the outlet box in the wall.
    • Don't try to extend the outlet before the tiles are on the wall because information technology will be very hard to go the spacing just correct if you do information technology that mode. It's much easier to wait until the backsplash is done so you tin infinite the outlet perfectly according to the thickness of the tiling.
    • This method tin be used to extend whatsoever kind of electrical outlet, including those with plugs or light switches.

  2. 2

    Turn off the power to the outlet at the billow box. Locate your breaker box and look at the labels on the different switches to decide which one powers the outlet that you desire to extend. Flip the switch to turn it off and test the outlet past plugging something into it to ensure that there is no electricity coming through it.[2]

    • Breaker boxes are typically located in your garage, basement, a utility closet, or sometimes a kitchen.
    • If you aren't certain which switch controls ability to the outlet, yous can attempt testing different switches until you detect the right i or just plough off the master power switch to shut downwards everything.

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  3. 3

    Unscrew the outlet from the wall using a drill or screwdriver. Insert the tip of a screwdriver or drill fleck fastened to an electrical drill into the screws belongings the outlet to the outlet box in the wall. Plow the screws counterclockwise until y'all can pull them out, then set them bated.[3]

    • Depending how far yous end up extending the outlet and how long the screws are, you might be able to reuse these screws to reattach the outlet after you infinite it.

  4. 4

    Snap 2 plastic switch and receptacle spacers together. Switch and receptacle spacers are little plastic spacers specifically made for extending outlets. They come up in flexible strips that y'all can bend to snap multiple spacers together and create stacks. Start by snapping the first ii spacers on a strip of spacers together.[4]

    • You can buy switch and receptacle spacers at a dwelling improvement heart, hardware shop, or online.

    Tip: If you're trying to find these spacers in a shop, you tin try asking an employee for electrical spacers or caterpillar spacers, which are other common nicknames for them.

  5. 5

    Put the two spacers between the outlet and the wall to exam the spacing. Identify the stack of two spacers you lot just fabricated behind the spiral hole on the outlet's mounting strap and the screw hole in the outlet box in the wall. Hold the stack in identify and press the outlet against information technology to encounter how far out the stack of 2 extends it.[5]

    • If the mounting straps of the outlet rest flush with the backsplash using but 2 spacers, you don't need to add whatever more spacers to the stack and tin can skip the next pace.
    • If you tin can't discover any spacers, you could wrap a slice of wire up into a coil until it is thick enough to extend the outlet.You could besides stack up some small metallic washers or nut-type fasteners. The concept is the same as using the plastic spacers.[half-dozen]

  6. 6

    Snap on boosted spacers and test the stack until you notice the right depth. Keep snapping on additional spacers, 1 at a fourth dimension, if a stack of 2 spacers doesn't extend the outlet far plenty forrard. Place the stack betwixt the outlet's mounting straps and the wall after each boosted spacer you snap on until you observe the right number of spacers.[7]

    • A stack of three-4 spacers is normally sufficient to extend the outlet out far enough for nearly backsplash tiling.
    • You need two stacks of spacers—i to put underneath each spiral that holds the outlet in place.

  7. 7

    Cut the excess spacers off of the stacks you made. Utilize a utility pocketknife or sharp scissors to cutting the thin piece of plastic attaching the string of remaining spacers to the stacks of spacers you already snapped together. Store the leftover spacers for future apply.[8]

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  1. 1

    Thread the screws through the outlet and spacers. Put the outlet's screws back through the holes in the mounting straps. Slide the stacks of spacers onto the screws.[9]

    • If the outlet's screws aren't long enough to reach the holes in the outlet box with the spacers installed, purchase a longer set of screws to utilize.
    • If yous used a coiled piece of wire, washers, or nuts instead of spacers to space the outlet, just slide the improvised spacers over the screws later you put the screws through the holes in the outlet's mounting straps. The process is the same as using the plastic spacers.

  2. two

    Screw the outlet into the outlet box in the wall. Marshal the tips of the screws with the spiral holes in the outlet box in the wall. Use an electric drill or screwdriver to tighten the screws by turning them clockwise until the outlet is snug up against the spacers and flush with the backsplash.[x]

    • If the outlet is oriented vertically, starting with the top spiral is easiest. If information technology is oriented horizontally, start at whatever side is more than comfortable for you.

    Alert: Ever utilise plastic spacers to extend an outlet and then it has sufficient support behind it. Don't always effort to extend an outlet by just using longer screws and not screwing them in all the mode or you will stop upwards with a wobbly, unstable outlet.

  3. 3

    Mount the faceplate back over the outlet. Snap the faceplate dorsum into place on top of the outlet. Use the provided screws to secure information technology firmly in place against the backsplash.[xi]

    • Exist careful non to overtighten the faceplate or you could damage it, specially if it is plastic. Just tighten the screws enough to agree it apartment against the backsplash.

  4. four

    Plough the power to the outlet back on at the billow. Get back to your electrical breaker when you finish extending the outlet. Flip the switch that supplies power to the outlet dorsum on so your outlet is fix to use.[12]

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  • Remove the faceplate from the outlet before you install the backsplash or you won't be able to correctly extend the outlet with the faceplate sitting apartment against the surface of the backsplash.[13]

  • Don't try to extend an outlet simply by using longer screws and non screwing them in all the way or it will be loose and wobbly.[14]

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Things You'll Demand

  • Electric drill or screwdriver
  • Plastic switch and receptacle spacers
  • Utility knife or scissors

References

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