John Dirks Jr Posted December 13, 2009 Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 Click to Enlarge 24.88 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted December 13, 2009 Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 I'm guilty of having done that on more than one occasion. - Jim Katen, Oregon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bain Posted December 13, 2009 Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 I've done that before, in old houses with plaster walls I've lived in. Not that it's best practice, mind you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtblum Posted December 13, 2009 Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 Is there a box behind it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted December 14, 2009 Report Share Posted December 14, 2009 I've done that before, in old houses with plaster walls I've lived in. You've lived in plaster walls? (Ha, ha, I kill myself!) - Jim Katen, Oregon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon Whitmore Posted December 14, 2009 Report Share Posted December 14, 2009 I've seen it that way plenty of times. I'd prefer to have them modify the trim and not the cover plate. Wouldn't the modification of the plate technically not be allowed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bain Posted December 14, 2009 Report Share Posted December 14, 2009 I've done that before, in old houses with plaster walls I've lived in. You've lived in plaster walls? (Ha, ha, I kill myself!) - Jim Katen, Oregon Well, but before they got my medicine regulated just so, that was the only place where I truly felt safe. And it had to be plaster. Gypsum simply wasn't sturdy enough . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bain Posted December 14, 2009 Report Share Posted December 14, 2009 I've seen it that way plenty of times. I'd prefer to have them modify the trim and not the cover plate. Wouldn't the modification of the plate technically not be allowed? I'll defer to others RE the plate, but modifying the trim is a major pain in the arse, and the final product looks awful besides. It's meaningless, but those switchplates are tough to trim because they break so easily. Once in place, though, after the rough edges are caulked and painted, everything blends in pretty well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted December 14, 2009 Report Share Posted December 14, 2009 Yeah, what carpenter, working on their own old house, hasn't done that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlieb Posted December 14, 2009 Report Share Posted December 14, 2009 I've seen it that way plenty of times. I'd prefer to have them modify the trim and not the cover plate. Wouldn't the modification of the plate technically not be allowed? I'll defer to others RE the plate, but modifying the trim is a major pain in the arse, and the final product looks awful besides. It's meaningless, but those switchplates are tough to trim because they break so easily. Once in place, though, after the rough edges are caulked and painted, everything blends in pretty well. Spend a few more cents and spring for the nylon plate. Cuts like a dream. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dirks Jr Posted December 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2009 Is there a box behind it? I didn't remove the cover. The switch worked and it felt solidly mounted. If there was no box, what would hold the switch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neal Lewis Posted December 14, 2009 Report Share Posted December 14, 2009 The switch yoke could be screwed into the wood lathe without a box. Did it a few times when I was young and didn't know any better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted December 14, 2009 Report Share Posted December 14, 2009 Is there a box behind it? I didn't remove the cover. The switch worked and it felt solidly mounted. If there was no box, what would hold the switch? The coverplate is screwed onto the switch yoke. The switch might be screwed to a box or it might be screwed to a couple of pieces of lath. - Jim Katen, Oregon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Remas Posted December 14, 2009 Report Share Posted December 14, 2009 I too will join those in admitting I have done that before. I had to shave off about 3/8" at the most though. Always in an older home that had wide trim. Never on new construction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kogel Posted December 14, 2009 Report Share Posted December 14, 2009 Make it fit, or make the wall fit. [] Click to Enlarge 16.57 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted December 14, 2009 Report Share Posted December 14, 2009 If there was no box, what would hold the switch? I've found them foamed in place with Great Stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Raymond Posted December 14, 2009 Report Share Posted December 14, 2009 To get really creative, when I wanted wood covers in my kitchen I had to custom make one for a three gang box with two switches and a duplex receptacle. After some careful measuring and cutting I laminated two covers together. Far better looking than the decora device alternative. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dirks Jr Posted December 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2009 If I ever see this again, I'll do some exploring by removing the cover to see what is, or isn't under it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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