How to find electrical box behind drywall

[vavet]

I installed drywall in my garage about a year ago. Because of a back injury, the project got put on hold until I finally paid a contractor to finish hanging it, mudding, taping, etc a couple weeks ago. Now I’m finishing up some little things before I do the major move back in...hanging the ceiling fans and clock, reinstalling switch plates, etc.
I found a receptacle while rooting around in a box looking for some screws. I thought, well, that’s odd. I looked around the garage and decided that there was a place on one of the walls where it seemed odd that I hadn’t specified a receptacle. Looking back through pre-drywall pics, there was an outlet there.
Now I have an electrical box with no receptacle. I have a pretty good idea of the location based on pics that show me the location relative to the window above, but it’d be nice to have a way to confirm before punching holes in my freshly painted wall.

Do the voltage detectors work through drywall? How close would it get me to the exact location to drill a hole?
Once I’ve identified where I think it is, my plan is to drill a small hole, maybe 1/4”, so I can look in with a flashlight. If I see emptiness or a blue box, then I know I’m good. If I see a bunch of insulation, then I know I missed. Reasonable plan? Any tips?

 

[CJ7VFR]

Are the boxes that were installed metal or plastic? If they are metal, you can use a strong magnet to figure out where the box is.

Jim

 

[laser3kw]

If I see emptiness or a blue box, then I know I’m good. If I see a bunch of insulation, then I know I missed. Reasonable plan? Any tips?

Are the boxes that were installed metal or plastic?
Jim

I'm guessing plastic.
measure the height of the other outlets from the floor. Then figure where the stud is. Picture should provide general position and spacing or use stud finder. Then you should be able to find it fairly accurately.

 

[brewchief]

A straight edge can help as there should be a high spot. If the drywall guy buried it I would call and ask him if he would like to find it or if he would rather simply patch it after I found it.

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[Ralphxj]

Sounds like a good excuse to buy a stud finder from walabot.com!

 

[vavet]

A straight edge can help as there should be a high spot. If the drywall guy buried it I would call and ask him if he would like to find it or if he would rather simply patch it after I found it.

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I could call him, but I think I'd rather just bang his wife. I hung most of the drywall, including the sheet covering this box.
IDK why I didn't think about using a stud finder.
That should help.

 

[sparky 1971]

Just use a straight edge. I use a 2' level turned horizontal at the height of the box. There will be a hump in the wall where the box is. I usually push a #12 solid wire through the drywall. This way, you will either feel the wires in the buried box or hit the back of the box. If the wires doesn't go in the depth of the wall cavity before stopping, you are more than likely in the box.

Or you could do it like a coworker used to have. A switch got buried at a store we were working on so he went to the truck and got out his box finder. A two pound hammer. He started knocking holes in the wall about six inches off the floor and worked his way up until he found the box.

 

[BillK]

I could call him, but I think I'd rather just bang his wife. I hung most of the drywall . . . . . . .

I am voting for this as one of the best replies ever on Garage Journal

 

[Kevin Essiambre]

There's a very good chance that the drywall screws will pop after the box Is cut out.



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[sparky 1971]

There's a very good chance that the drywall screws will pop after the box Is cut out.



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I have probably uncovered 200 boxes in my 26 years of experience. The vast majority of those when I spent three years doing resi in Texas. I have never seen a screw pop when cutting out a buried box. Even if it happens, so what. The receptacle is buried and needs to be uncovered.

 

[Kevin Essiambre]

I have probably uncovered 200 boxes in my 26 years of experience. The vast majority of those when I spent three years doing resi in Texas. I have never seen a screw pop when cutting out a buried box. Even if it happens, so what. The receptacle is buried and needs to be uncovered.

That's odd, as every box that I've ever cut out that was burried popped the screws when the drywall finally rested against the studs. My point is that he's going to avoid making holes to find it, but may end up with a bunch of popped screws, which would defeat the purpose of avoiding making any holes.

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[Norcal]

That's odd, as every box that I've ever cut out that was burried popped the screws when the drywall finally rested against the studs. My point is that he's going to avoid making holes to find it, but may end up with a bunch of popped screws, which would defeat the purpose of avoiding making any holes.

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Lot easier to patch popped nails then patch holes made by a twenty pound box finder hammer, the straight edge is the best way to find a buried box, the box finder is used when the drywaller is a butthead and want to send a message but sometimes the message about the box finder operator is not that good either.

 

[SGKent]

if the wall is not insulated, try to find the stud you think it is at looking for the drywall screws. Then drill a hole down low and use a HF borescope to look up to see if it is on that stud, A lot easier to hide a hole down low than at waist level. if the wire is hot, then a tool made to look behind the drywall for studs and wires will see it. I use one of these to look for drywall screws. Couple of dollars at any hardware store.

 

[Marctrees]

So simple assuming you had proper projection on the boxes.

You already know the height, so just straightedge and you should find the bump easily.

Then seeing where the closest stud to bump is by various signs poke through w some slim tool... cut wire coathanger is my favorite .. will be obvious when bottoms out in box.

So simple.

Marc

 

[ard]

So simple assuming you had proper projection on the boxes.

You already know the height, so just straightedge and you should find the bump easily.

Then seeing where the closest stud to bump is by various signs poke through w some slim tool... cut wire coathanger is my favorite .. will be obvious when bottoms out in box.

So simple.

Spot on.

A very thin probe to make sure you are IN the box is the way to go. Easy to patch w a drop of paint on your fingertip! Coathanger, super fine screwdriver..... Especially out here in CA where everything is textured....

Far better than drilling 1/4" holes and trying to look around...

 

[vavet]

I confirmed location with a straightedge. Sure enough there was a bulge. I drilled a 3/16 hole. JACKPOT!
I did this last night. I screwed around with a rotozip bit in my cordless drill but it’s slow goin. I figured I’d bring the rotozip tool home from work to finish the cut out. I left it at work. No biggie. I can get most everything moved in this weekend and bring the rotozip home Monday....I hope.
Thanks for the suggestions. I’ll update after I get it cut out about the screw pops.

 

[Marctrees]

I would avoid the rotozip and use hand tools that permit a more delicate touch,,, not to cut into the wires.

Power off ?

It will be a challenge to get the rock to even partially flatten out but will work out somehow.

Marc

 

[larry4406]

I agree with Marc - use a hand held drywall keyhole saw. With power off, plunge the saw into the center of the box, then cut out to the inner perimeter of the box. Then, since you now know the limits of the box, use the saw to carefully cut along the outer perimeter of the box.

As was discussed prior, when the drywall now relaxes straight across the box you will likely have nail pops/screw pops form in the vicinity since the bow in the drywall has been released.

 

[Zeke]

Jeez, I went 40 years w/o a rotozip. Use a keyhole or plunge dry wall saw.

 

[Marctrees]

The main thing.... no matter what saw is used... is the finger tactile feel.

Marc

 

[vavet]

I used the rotozip bit in my cordless drill. No nail/screw pops.

 

[Marctrees]

Huh?

When you pushed the rock towards flat there where no pops ?


Marc

 

[ard]

Huh?

When you pushed the rock towards flat there where no pops ?


Marc

I think the box can get bent back into the stud bay- so the rock actually doesnt move, the box pops out. And maybe the rock isnt totally snug to the stud, and never will be- and doesnt need to be....

 

[nsula_country]

I could call him, but I think I'd rather just bang his wife. I hung most of the drywall, including the sheet covering this box.
That should help.

This needs to be your new signature!

CT

 

[nsula_country]

Stud finder, straight edge, tape measure, keyhole saw or rotozip. Done.

CT

 

[TractorJeff]

LOL!
I never noticed a buried box until time to hang the heater!
Then I noticed I "forgot" the box?
Until I looked closer to see the Bulge in the drywall!
The guys were up on the scaffold and we all forgot about it as I pushed the last sheet of the day up!