paint overspray on wiring

[scotw]

The painters have just finished spraying kilz primer on my walls, and all the wiring in the electrical boxes is now white (boxes were not covered). Cannot tell red from black from white.

How much paint am I required to remove to pass electrical inspection? Just enough to find out what color the wire is or all of it? What is the best way of removing the two day old overspray?

Thanks.

 

[Costner]

You only need to remove enough to identify the wires. Quite often you can scrape it off with your fingernail as the paint doesn't like to stick to the wires very well.

I'm assuming the wire hasn't been stripped yet, but if any has you need to be sure the paint is removed from the exposed copper. As to your ground wire, just be sure there is no paint on the last inch or so that connects to your device.

Between drywall mud, sprayed texture, and paint sprayers, this is the reason I like to insert cardboard cutouts in my boxes prior to the tapers or painters starting their work. When they are done I pop out the cardboard and the box is perfectly clean. It takes a few extra minutes up front but saves me time in the long run.

 

[kbs2244]

scotch brite pad works fast

 

[scotw]

Thanks. I'll try it.

 

[tcianci]

If your drywall is done and painted, then you must already have passed your rough inspection. You or whoever is doing the wiring is responsible for properly connecting the wires to the devices as this is what the final inspection will check for, the don't actually verify the colors though, they just plug a tester into the finished outlet and verify that the hot, neutral and grounds are properly connected. Don't worry about it too much.