A471 outlet box plaster ring
Typically wall studs are either sixteen or twenty-four inches apart. You don’t want to cut into a wall stud, so it’s important to check and verify that your placement is between them.
#A471 outlet box plaster ring install#
To install your mud ring, you will need a mud ring, a drywall ax, a receptacle or plate cover, a stud finder, and a pencil. Additionally, you may want to grab some painter’s tape and a drop cloth to cover the area immediately below where you plan to work. More importantly, always wear eye protection and a mask when cutting into your walls. I recommend wearing clothing you don’t mind getting plaster dust on. Fortunately, in most areas, if you are a homeowner, you can mount your own mud rings. Mud rings allow you to mount receptacles and electrical boxes, so you might expect that mounting them is a professional electrician’s job. When a box is mounted, and before the drywall goes up, your mud ring is placed, and it allows you to mount switches or other receptacles. You often find these in commercial settings, but builders can also use them in residential buildings. What are mud rings used for? Mud rings are used to cover metal electrical boxes. Otherwise, you could find yourself in a world of trouble if there’s a fire or inspection. Always check your local building codes first, and never omit something that is required.
#A471 outlet box plaster ring how to#
I’ll explain everything you need to know about mud rings, so you understand how to install them. You won’t always see them in modern homes, but when they’re installed right, you don’t see them at all anyhow.
![a471 outlet box plaster ring a471 outlet box plaster ring](https://www.electrical-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Juction-box-access-post-11.jpg)
They are a safety feature that goes around an electrical box or socket.
![a471 outlet box plaster ring a471 outlet box plaster ring](https://www.triparinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/1401-1-6.jpg)
Though most walls now use gypsum board or drywall, the mud rings’ standards have not changed with the times.
![a471 outlet box plaster ring a471 outlet box plaster ring](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/MRQAAOSwk5FUvokb/s-l640.jpg)
Often, they were tapered and meant to go under three layers of plaster-a base or brown layer, a scratch layer, and then a white layer. Electricians used a mud ring to protect electrical wiring boxes and blend them into the plaster. Before drywall was the industry standard, plaster was the common pre-paint lining for walls. You’ve only read about them, or you may have seen mud rings and not known what they are used for.