Remodel Finish-Trim Electrical in Camas, WA (Sconces + Box Recess)

A 50-minute trim visit on a Camas remodel for one of our general contractor partners. Two sconces and one outlet box, but the outlet box had to be right before the built-in cabinet could go in.

Why an outlet box that sticks out is a problem

When the wall ends up thicker than the framer planned for (two layers of drywall, shims, or shiplap added later), the outlet boxes can end up sticking out past the finished wall. NEC 314.20 says a box in a wood or drywall surface has to finish flush with the wall. And you can’t push a cabinet flat against a wall with a box sticking out of it.

Here a built-in cabinet was going in that corner, so we moved the box back two full inches to land flush with the drywall. It’s the same kind of outlet work you run into any time the wall finish changes after rough-in. Here’s what we did:

1. Shut off the breaker and tested it dead
2. Pulled the outlet and the box
3. Moved the box back in the stud bay
4. Remounted it so the edge sits just behind the drywall face
5. Put the outlet back, tightened everything, turned the power on and tested it
6. Told the cabinet installer the wall was ready

The two sconces

The GC also needed two wall sconces hung. The rough-in was already done on an earlier visit (boxes in, wires pulled, grounds attached), so this was just hanging the fixtures and testing them. That’s quick when the rough-in was done right, and it’s one of the most common finish jobs in our residential lighting work.

What we check on a sconce:

• The box is tight and square
• The mounting bracket fits the box
• Ground first, then neutral and hot
• Wires tucked in and the fixture tight to the wall
• Bulb in, switch on, make sure it works
• Set screws tight on the trim

When a box is in the wrong spot or the framer missed the height, trim takes longer. Everything on this house was square, so each sconce took under 15 minutes.

Working with general contractors

We’re usually on a GC’s remodel a few times: rough-in, any inspection fixes, trim, and a final punch list. Having an electrician who’ll come out for a 50-minute visit, not just the big days, keeps a remodel moving. Our contractor and builder page shows how we work with GCs.

Running a remodel in Camas or anywhere in Clark County and need an electrician who shows up for the small stuff? We handle remodel electrical from the first walk-through to the final punch list. Call 360-828-7143 or tell us about the job for a free estimate.