I am pretty sure there as many answers to this question as there are responders, but …
What height is “best” to place the boxes for wall switches in rough in electrical?
I have read 48 inch to center of the box. I have read 48 inch to the top of the box.
Which has the least issues with drywall installation and finishing?
The issues I see are:
1. if you place the top at 48 inches and you are a bit low, then the drywaller might have a gap of 1/8 of an inch at the top of the box. (cut not cut a whole for the box leaving an 1/8 or 1/4 inch strip of drywall above teh box)
2. if you place the box with the center line at 48 inches, then you have to cut both peices of sheetrock to notch arouund the box. and the drywall seem is RIGHT AT THE BOX and might cause a bulge at that point (drywall mud) and make coverplates not fit well or require teh outlet receptacle to be shimmed
Overthinking this?
naturally I would ask the drywaller (I will be subbing that task), but don’t have one yet.
Thanks
Calvin, my engineer is still on vacation.
Replies
42" to bottom
Your drywaller does not want to: Cut the top piece of rock. Cut both pieces of rock. Tape across an electrical box.
Wall outlets go at 12". For wheel chair users. 18" for outlets, 36" for switches.
Mike,
Drywaller does not care where you put it since he is just going to run a router around the box. Finisher does not care either since he is just going to mud the box full. We put switches at 44"s to the bottom.
KK
Not sure I like the sound of ...
Not sure I like the sound of "The finishers is going to mud the box full".
How do you prepare for that disaster?
DoRight,
That was said half way jokingly. Any mud pops right out, just be sure all the wires are pushed back so they don't get routed. Put your boxes at what ever height you want.
KK
36 inches?
36 inches I don't think so. Midgets maybe. Thank you for your input.
For wheel chair users 36" . For midgets in a wheel chair 24".
Switches in my old house are 50" center of box to floor. I like that height pretty well myself, but drywall was not used then. Maybe some compromise needs to be made when drywall is laid horizontal.