Drywall taping near receptacle boxes

[WI/MI Border]

I lacked foresight when locating ceiling receptacles I now have to deal with taping the seams while not filling the receptacle openings. Does anyone have a trick to mud these seams?

Blue painters tape and then cutting through tape to reopen them?

Thanks

 

[PCustoms]

I **** at drywall, but I've always just stopped at the edge of the hole...

 

[The Cobbler]

shove some paper or insulation in them . makes it easy to knock out . or just tape away & knock it out when you're done

 

[Dagny]

Your supposed to completely fill the screw holes first then fill the box but make sure you cut the hole to big in the drywall so it breaks out there while the electrician is chiseling it out of the box.

 

[no704]

Just don’t mud over them?

 

[WI/MI Border]

Thanks everyone. Not my favorite job...drywall

Reason I don't think I can mud just to edge of boxes is there will then be a step nd I think it would look like **** when I put covers on. I'll spend some time taping the boxes closed and pretend they're not there until I get the final mud finish on.

 

[karoc]

As an electrician going behind drywall people they don’t believe it’s a problem. Sometimes on box it’s good, other times I’ve had take side cutters and screwdriver to knock mud off. But most of time that mud break off easy due not sticking to plastic boxes. Then there’s times that outlet boxes just disappears, but you know theres box someplace.
Point being, don’t sweat it. You’re going get mud in box, just go back in Hr or so take finger or ice cream stick clean it out. Doing tape/floating is huge challenge for us DIY’er, something I would give second thought if I was going to do this again. As I set in my living rm recliner for last 45 yrs can still see my mistakes

 

[Bert_]

If you want to do it just like the professionals, you tape right over the box and or fill it with mud.

Couple months ago I was trimming out an office. I thought they forgot to cut out for a light, I knew I put a box there. Nope, they cut the hole but it was right on a joint. They taped over the box and had it finished well enough I couldn't even tell it was there!

 

[Burt Shaver]

Pictures would help, I was a drywall finisher for a few years. Normally if you cut the box to big, just pre fill the hole, you can use 20 for this, then tape, then fill coat and finish coat as per usual, if you get mud in the box and you will, it just breaks out after it’s dry.

 

[purplezr2]

Thanks everyone. Not my favorite job...drywall

Reason I don't think I can mud just to edge of boxes is there will then be a step nd I think it would look like **** when I put covers on. I'll spend some time taping the boxes closed and pretend they're not there until I get the final mud finish on.

Is you box not flush or slightly inset from face of the drywall?

 

[WI/MI Border]

Is you box not flush or slightly inset from face of the drywall?

Slightly inset. But box mounting depth has nothing to do with what I was referring to. Several boxes are located about 3/8" to 1/2" from a beveled seam edge. On those the entire box will be mudded over to create a smooth surface for the receptacle and cover. Most of the boxes on the ceiling will not have any mud nearby.

I've created a box cover with thin cereal box material. That should solve the problem of filling the box. As stated, some mud will get in the box and I can remove it easily. The issue is when the box is completely covered. With the patch I will have a hollow behind the mud and that should help me find the boxes. And, I am the elec box installer, the drywall finisher and the electrician. So it's not going to be an issue for someone else to find the boxes. It's all on me.

 

[Burt Shaver]

Why don’t you post a picture of two

 

[Burt Shaver]

Normally there is no muddling to do around boxes

 

[mm08822]

When the devices aren't yet installed, I would take a wad of insulation and stuff the box. Painters tape over screw holes.

Then tape & mud as if the box wasn't there. As successive coats are put on to feather out the joint it is easier to finish it. Cover plates fit nicely then.

Taping with devices in the way is a PIA and slow.

 

[mm08822]

Normally there is no muddling to do around boxes

Not when they are at the perimeter of the sheet.

 

[Burt Shaver]

If there’s no receptacle in the box you just mud right over them, once the mud is dry it falls right out. You don’t have to fill the box with mud, start your fill coat one the bottom of the box and at the top of the box going each way, then do the same when you do the finish coat taking that joint out to about 2 feet. Don’t take this the wrong way, I’m all about DIY, but mudding is one of those jobs that unless you’ve done it professionally it’s best to leave to someone who knows. I’ve seen some crazy stuff when it comes to mudding with DIY’ers like using a 4” knife for every coat, using a belt sander because the mud is so thick. Etc. If you value your time, just hire it out to someone that does it. You will be 6 times as long and still won’t have as good of a finished product

 

[Burt Shaver]

Not when they are at the perimeter of the sheet.

Most people don’t board doing stand ups so yea, usually if done professionally there’s no seems hitting receptacle boxes, screw the sheet on, rotozip the outside of the box, done

 

[mm08822]

Most people don’t board doing stand ups so yea, usually if done professionally there’s no seems hitting receptacle boxes, screw the sheet on, rotozip the outside of the box, done

???? Switches?

 

[Burt Shaver]

???? Switches?

What about them?

 

[Hank11]

If you mud carefully this is not an issue. Why would anyone even consider slathering the boxes full of mud?

Pull the mud out four ways from the box and go to the next. Use a big knife.

 

[mm08822]

What about them?

Many switches hit the 4' line of rock applied horizontally. Tapers can be total DH's jamming compound into boxes, not on purpose but b/c, f it, not my problem. So my method eliminates most of the DH action. I'm the guy who has to get into the box after they are long gone.

 

[mm08822]

If you mud carefully this is not an issue. Why would anyone even consider slathering the boxes full of mud?

Pull the mud out four ways from the box and go to the next. Use a big knife.

Pull the mud out 4 ways...... 3 more directions than straight across.

 

[Hank11]

How many boxes does the OP have to mud around? Is he taking this up as a living? This is not complicated. And I’ll add that this is one place where less mud each pass equals less work.

 

[WI/MI Border]

I'm finding replies to my original post sometimes helpful, sometimes comical. If you read the first sentence of the original post it will address a lot of the questions/comments I rec'd after.

Please take no offense. I truly got a chuckle out of some of the replies.

Anywho, I've got it figured out. Thanks again for replies.