Do Switch plate covers come in sizes?

17 years ago

I'm having one of those days where even what should be the simplest of tasks is giving me a headache!

My house was built in 1974. I have replaced my switch plate covers before with no problem. I just got back from Home Depot and am trying to put on the new ones and they don't fit. I thought (WRONG!) there was only one size. The holes in the new switch plate are too close together. The switch that's in the wall has the screw holes 3 1/2 inches apart. The holes in the new switch plate are 2 1/2 inches apart. Do switch plate covers come in sizes...or am I going to have to get all new switches and / or junction boxes throughout my home in order to replace the covers? This isn't supposed to be so difficult! :-(

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Comments (4)

hendricus
17 years ago
Standard toggle switches and receptacles are 2 1/2" spacing. Decorator plates have a rectangular opening for switches and receptacles and are 3 3/4" spacing. There should be as many of one kind as the other at the big orange.

Basically, just return these and get the other kind.
sunny_dayz
Original Author
17 years ago
Thank you, hendricus! There were no other options available in the style I chose. I'll go back and take a closer look in Home Depot and probably Lowe's too. Then there's always good old Ace Hardware! The hunt is on. :-)
Thanks again!
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hendricus
17 years ago
We have a Menards. Home Depot and Ace are too far and Lowe's has had a snotty attitude too many times.
sunny_dayz
Original Author
17 years ago
You just reminded me of something! I'm in Florida and after the hurricanes in 2004 we had gone to Lowes to look into having our kitchen remodeled. We were told by an employee..."We are so busy right now, no one can even sit and talk to you about a kitchen." HUH? We ended up not doing the kitchen then, but we're getting ready to do it this fall and guess where we are not going? I've never heard of Menards, but I wish we had one. I'm going to see if they have a website....