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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Electrical Questions >> Can a light outlet box be installed in solid wood? https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1422776700 Message started by derekblain on Feb 1^st, 2015, 7:45am

Title: Can a light outlet box be installed in solid wood?
Post by derekblain on Feb 1^st, 2015, 7:45am

Getting my kitchen remodeled and had a light outlet box installed on a wall just left of a 4x4 wall post. Turns out the wall wasn't wide enough and four more 2x4's were added to widen it.

Now instead of being 6" to the left of the wall edge, my light box is too far at 14". I want my contractor to move it but they claim it can't be moved because everything to the right is solid wood (the 4x4 and 4-2x4's).

Seems to me they should be able to cut a hole in the solid wood with a router and drill a hole through the wood to run the electrical from the old spot, then patch up the old one. Only talking about a 6" to 8" move or so.

Are they correct that it can't be done or is likely a matter of it being inconvenient and they just don't want to?

Thanks for helping me out.

Title: Re: Can a light outlet box be installed in solid wood?
Post by woodsmith on Feb 1^st, 2015, 9:40am

It's impossible to say without seeing the job but if I understand you correctly you want them to run the cable horizontally for about 8 inches then it would run up from where the light switch was going to be fitted. This wouldn't be allowed as the wires would be outside the permitted zone, wires should run either horizontally or vertically directly in line with the back box. To move the back box you would need the wires to be run down the wall directly to the new position. Not necessarily impossible. The other option is to leave the existing back box and fit a blank plate over it, then you could run the wires horizontally between the old and new back boxes as this would then be in a permitted zone.

Title: Re: Can a light outlet box be installed in solid wood?
Post by derekblain on Feb 1^st, 2015, 5:26pm

If i was able to attach the pic correctly, hopefully this can show what i was talking about which is ultimately moving the light switch closer to the wall edge. But it would get mounted in solid wood. You can see where add'l 'wall' via 2x4's was added.

So if I'm readying you correctly, you're saying this original outlet would have to remain with a blank plate over it and the wires could then run to a newly punched hole 8" to the right? But, I couldn't run the wires to the new spot and cover up this original hole with drywall? Just making sure. Thanks.

Title: Re: Can a light outlet box be installed in solid wood?
Post by thescruff on Feb 1^st, 2015, 10:19pm

Does the cable come down or go up at present.

Looks to me as though the cable could be re-routed from above or below to be in the studwork.

Sparkies will confirm. Lec may even re-size the pic so it only fits one on my monitors [smiley=happy.gif]

Title: Re: Can a light outlet box be installed in solid wood?
Post by derekblain on Feb 1^st, 2015, 11:21pm

Thank you for your input. Currently the cable feeds down into the top of the switch box. If they moved the box 8" to the right, the cable would have to go through studs to get there. And the switch box itself would have to be sawed into the studs.

Title: Re: Can a light outlet box be installed in solid wood?
Post by woodsmith on Feb 1^st, 2015, 11:50pm

Derek are you in the UK? I'm asking because that's a strange choice of back box for a light switch and you called plasterboard drywall! For the UK you would need to fit a cover over the old box to show that wires ran vertically from it, fitting a back box into timber should not be a problem for a decent carpenter. If you are in the US then I'm afraid I have no idea what regulations would apply.

Title: Re: Can a light outlet box be installed in solid wood?
Post by thescruff on Feb 2^nd, 2015, 9:23am

wrote on Feb 1^st, 2015, 11:21pm:

I was thinking if the cable comes down the wall at pressent, can you pull it out above the ceiling and move it over to come down in the stud wall.

IP shows Burbank C.A. Woodsmith so certainly different regs.