This is my first posting. My wife and I moved into a new home this january. We have granite countertops in the kitchen but had the builder leave the backsplash as painted sheetrock. We would like to tile the backsplash ourselves. The tiled area is a standard L shape. However, my wife’s brother-in-law pointed out that if we end the tile directly in line with the overhead cabinets, we will be 2/3 of the way through a three gang switch box. The switches control the ceiling fan and two sets of recessed lights in the ceiling. The granite extends beyond the edge of the overhaed cabinets with a half bullnose finish. I have looked at this problem for a while now and can’t figure out a way to solve it that is not crazy. Taking the tile further out is out of the question as it would then be on a 9 foot high wall. What seemed like a relatively straightforward job (the tiling) now has a “wrinkle” in it that is preventing me from getting started. Any thoughts? I could e-mail a picture if that is helpful. Thanks!
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Youre tiling anyway so move the outlet box towards the way the wire came in (unless it just came straight up or down) Either way....move it.If the rock repair is under the tile you wont have to worry about the spackle job much. You have to move it. Its no biggie. If you have to use a junction box do it...I don't mean you personally should...get an electrician. It won't cost much.
See how easy that was.
Your welcome
Be well
andy
The secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..
oh yeh...sorry for being so rude...Welcome to Breaktime...just look out for this guy named Gunner....you'll know him when ya meet him.
The secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..
I vote also for moving the box.
Doesn't sound like there's much choice... to do it right ya gotta move it. Like Andy said...not a biggie.
I can't think of an alternatives that would look right, and you might wish you'd done it differently later....
Seems like the best way would be to move it out into the room, so you don't "lose" it under cabinetry. If wire length is there and room allows I'd get it at least a couple of inches away from edge of tile. Another possibility would be to split it somehow. Say under cabinet lighting was on the gang, move that one further into tile field and move the others away from it.
Picture might help to conjure more ideas.
PJ
Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.
If you were able to take a plumb line up from the outer edge of the counter, would you clear the cover plate of the device? If so, use bullnose tile up that line and an outside corner bullnose to turn the corner back to the cabinet.
Or, if you're not using any dimmers, blank out part of the box and install a stacked switch or a single gang switch and a double stacked.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Hey Cal...whats shakin'?
I think he said the outlet box is 2/3 into the upper cab counter line.
Say hi to Joyce for me
Be well
andyThe secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..
I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides,
I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace.
I honor the place within you where if you are in that place in you
and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.
Yo andy, joyce sends a hello back (I'm sure).
Cab line is in the box, counter extends past the cab line. I'm sure not enough, but perhaps. Move it or blank it and use stacked switches seems the only way to go.
Back in town after a trip north to Stratford, Ont. Nice weather, nice time. Now the grind stone............Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Thanks to all of you who responded...I am impressed with the quickness and thoroughness of the answers. I will measure and see if the box problem could be cured by the bullnose tile. My wife's brother-in-law said that he would not do the bullnose because it will look more like a bathroom (????) installation. What is up with that? Do any of you agree?
I guess that moving the box is always an answer since it will be behind the tile anyway (duh..!!!!....why didn't I think of that). Anyway, I am really glad to have the FHB forum to lean on. Thanks again.
Hogie
hogie, maybe you are (or the BIL) are thinking of something other than Bullnose tile. This is a tile matching (if offered) the field tile that has a finished edge, slightly rolled. It's not cove base. Some tumbled stone tile looks fine w/o a finished edge, but most ceramics have a discolored edge, necessitating the bullnose.
You can also use a diff. trim tile to frame that and the other end. Bringing that trim out beyone the counter edgeline and returning to the upper.
Here's another, and it's not the ideal but might look alright. I once had a switch box that couldn't move w/o a major wiring job. Was changing over door casing in a period kitchen. The box was partly in the new wider trim line. I mitred out and around and back again to encompass the switch and coverplate. I'll try to find a picture and repost later.
Best of luck.Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
your BIL is mistaken...They sell "trim" pieces that are gorgous. I "just" did that to my kitch backsplash. Each trim piece was about $15 for 10".
You can spend mega or little depending on what you want/afford. It also makes the backsplash look real custom...you know...finishing touches?
I did two ceramic roosters framed with trim pieces and mosaic over the stove. Don't ask what that cost and how long it took...LOL.The secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..
I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides,
I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace.
I honor the place within you where if you are in that place in you
and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.
thanks to you too!!!
Plain bullnose can look ... plain. But there are lots of rope trim pieces that can really accent the tile-wall transition.
Maybe bump a piece of tile out to surround the switches, and wrap it with rope trim. Make it an accent rather than a liability.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
You may have hit it...the sweep out around the switches may do the job! Also, andybuildz idea is pretty cool too. Thanks again. I will be sure to let you know but it may not be for a month or more. Too many end of summer projects to try and wrap up before the upstate NY weather starts to make a chore to work outdoors.
Thanks again! Hogie
Here's the trim, bumped out and around the switch. Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
If its feasable moving the upper cabinet a bit would be easier than moving the box