Replies

1. 
   dustinf | Nov 28, 2005 12:45am | #1

   Some people do it that way. 

   Personally, it makes me think someone missed a measurement when cutting the panel.

    

   Stacy's mom has got it going on.

2. 
   DanH | Nov 28, 2005 01:37am | #2

   If they didn't frame around it, and continued with that style of trim, the outlet cover wouldn't sit flat. So either they need to do something similar to what you see or move the box. (I would have probably tried harder to move the box.)

   If ignorance is bliss why aren't more people

   happy?

3. 
   4Lorn1 | Nov 28, 2005 02:41am | #3

   Re: "Is this the usual way to handle an electrical switch, frame around it??"

   Ummm. No. Looks like a lack of coordination between the electricians, assuming there was a real electrician, and the carpenters.

1. 
   FrankDuVal | Nov 28, 2005 02:49am | #4

   What's coordination? Trim carpenters doing wainscotting are always working around poorly placed boxes. Remember the 5 P's: Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance...As long as box extenders are used it does meet NEC.Frank DuVal

1. 
   4Lorn1 | Nov 28, 2005 03:32am | #5

   Re: "What's coordination?"A rare and seldom seen animal on most construction sites. Your right. I have seen decisions and necessary information delayed or withheld until whole sections had to be reconstructed. Once had a HO yell at me because she had 'told us' that she decided that stove, sink and microwave had to be changed around from what was shown on the plans. When we, by then the boss had shown up, got specific about who she had talked to she pointed at a man on site. He was a landscaper. She hadn't actually talked to anyone concerned with electrical work. Asked about it later he said a 'crazy lady had fussed at him'. He didn't actually speak english very well and had no idea what she was talking about.Some builders are so poor at finalizing and working to a plan and coordinating toward that end most electrical and plumbing contractors working with them start by tossing out the plan.

1. 
   xosder11 | Dec 01, 2005 12:23am | #7

   on the higher end homes, when we supply a set or interior design documents, we always specify box heights so that they will work around our baseboards and wainscotting etc. We are even specific about floor finishes, for example if there is tile with a mud job, the outlet box height will be different from the subfloor as opposed to say hardwood. We do the same for all the trades, hvac registers and the like. That's called coordination. Thats why you hire an architect. Am I right?

1. 
   4Lorn1 | Dec 01, 2005 08:15am | #9

   Re: "Thats why you hire an architect. Am I right?"Some architects will coordinate if paid to. Great when it works that way. Mostly no one wants to pay. So the GC, the general, gets the job. Most GCs are working several jobs so they are always looking for places to trim time. Usually this ends up with them worrying about the structure and leaving the 'stuffing', decisions about finishes and floors 'to be determined'. It can be arduous for a GC to try to beat a final decision out of most HOs so, like licking out the sweet filling first, the easy calls get made while these tend to be put off into some undetermined time in the future. Most HOs seem to go along with this as they tend to vacillate on the details and only get serious when the deadline looms large. Sometimes not even then.I have seen house sit idle waiting for flooring, trim, cabinets and fixtures to be decided on. Details like box heights and depths of floor boxes usually get set where they mostly seem to work out and are moved as needed. Or tails are left sticking out the wall waiting for more information. More trouble but old-work boxes set fairly quickly. Not sure if this is a southern thing. Possibly a continuation of the general 'let it ride', 'wing it', 'it will work out', easy going attitude. It would be great to have a finalized, detailed and complete set of plans that include interior finish and fixtures spelled out. And have them chiseled in stone before the land is cleared but mostly it doesn't happen.A lot of trades end up faking it, making WAGs or delaying pending a final call. Just the way it is.

2. 
   xosder11 | Dec 01, 2005 05:21pm | #11

   >Mostly no one wants to payThat's it. The story of our lives. There is something about architectural plans that people do not understand the value of a good set of plans. I think it is because they are not tangible enough for people to realize the amount of work put in. I suspect the trades do, however. Pay now or pay later is what I say. A mortgage on a property where you are waiting an extra 2 months to move into your new home would pretty much cover the additional cost of hiring a good architect. Sorry I sidetracked this discussion.

2. 
   sharpblade | Dec 01, 2005 02:47am | #8

   >>> Remember the 5 P's: Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance...

   Uhh. I thought it was the 6 P's: Prior Planning Prevents P*ss Poor Performance...

4. 
   WayneL5 | Nov 28, 2005 05:18am | #6

   Common, but only a fair way.  It would have been much better to move the box.  And better yet if it were planned.  Very much of modern home construction is just winging it.  When details are planned the results are much above the average so-so home.

5. FHB Editor
   JFink | Dec 01, 2005 05:18pm | #10

   What is that anyway? a double switch? Why is there another box just to the right of it?

   In any case...I probably would have widened up that stile (the one that sits next to the door casing) so that it ran at a continuous width from floor to ceiling. Then do the same for the rest of the stiles adjacent to the rest of the door casings to make it uniform.

   Justin Fink - FHB Editorial