Bathroom Tiles Oddly with Power Outlets

10 years ago

Hi guys I really need your help here.

My contractor suggest to put the tile at 4 ft to the top of the power and light switch socket. This is my first project so I don't know much...but this feels really weird to me.

At the top of the tiles we will put a metal edge trim....so is there going to be room for the socket and light covers?!?

Wouldn't the covers stick out oddly?

How are my solutions to this? Any suggestions?

Thank you guys in advance

Featured Answer

PRO

Patricia Colwell Consulting

10 years ago

I repeat this is wrong you need to remove those tile and extend the wall tile upt to completly go past the outlets and please do not use pencil tile or any other trim tile until you fix the problem

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Comments (19)

Laura Winkelmann
10 years ago
Have you placed an outlet or switch cover over the space to see how it will rest? This should give you an idea of what the end result will look like. If you don't like it, work with your contractor NOW. After all, this is your home.

One question.... is it too late to move your switch up about two inches? This would allow for an uninterrupted tile job.
Heather Macdonald
10 years ago
I think it will look good when it's finished.
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Sonsoles de Lacalle
10 years ago
Moving the outlet would take huge amount of time! Are you adding a trim to the tiles? That may be what finishes it off nicely
PRO
The Kitchen Abode Ltd.
10 years ago
Not sure things are going to lineup as expected. Looks to me as if the tile needs to be about 1" higher than it is. The electrical trim/cover plates should be in the tiled area, not extend over any edge trim.

Graham
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
10 years ago
The tile needs to encircle the outlet box so that the faceplate rests all the way around on the tile now you would have a space behind the outlet faceplate at the top, the trim is just for the tile it will not fill in that gap
leelee
10 years ago
My tile installer suggested (almost insisted) metal trim. I declined and I'm so glad I did. Use Pencil Tile.
PRO
Cinar Interiors, Inc.
10 years ago
The pencil tile will extend past the height of the tile and will not allow the face plate of the outlet to sit properly. I would suggest your tile installer remove the entire top row and extend an additional 3" and stop. This will give you plenty of room for your outlet face plate to sit properly.
Daniel Chou
Original Author
10 years ago
This is what it looks like right now with the metal trim at the top. I put the cover infront and it sticks out at the top and forward.....so this is wrong right?

The contractor said he will fix it.

But I want to provide options and get suggestions on what is the right way to fix this.
PRO
Cinar Interiors, Inc.
10 years ago
If that's a wainscotting it will look silly once completed. If it's stationed high on the wall you will most likely never notice it.
mikerear
10 years ago
Just add another row of tile across the top of the existing top row. The cover plate will then sit on the tile properly.
PRO
JudyG Designs
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
legrand popout outlets…I have them and tiler work right around them in my kitchen. Love, love…

http://www.lumens.com/pop-out-outlet-1-gang-by-legrand-adorne-R354467.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=PLA&utm_term=&scid=scplp9736551&sc_intid=R354467
User
10 years ago
Four feet of tile seems high to me for a partial application...

I have only seen bathrooms from the 50's done this way.

What room is this for? Seems to me that this is an issue you shouldn't be having with someone experienced.
PRO
Reach Design
10 years ago
Ugh... this what tile layout is for. This should never have happened in the first place. The tiler could see that it was about to happen and didn't do anything to remedy it. How you have to take out a raw or tile and make them go higher...
Daniel Chou thanked Reach Design
Laura Winkelmann
10 years ago
Cinar Interiors, Inc. is absolutely right.
Daniel Chou
Original Author
10 years ago
This outlet is for the bathroom. You guys feel that 4ft is way too high?

We originally wanted at 3.5 feet to go under the outlets but the contractor said that because we will use vertical tile pattern we can go up to 4 ft.

Looks like we need to either go up higher or go lower.
Daniel Chou
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
How high should modern contemporary wall tiles go?

Thanks to all who gave feedbacks. From what I gathered, I think there are 3 options I can approach to fix this issue

1. Lower the tiles down so it is below the outlet. Prob 3ft?

2. Raise the tile up to go past the outlet. 4.5ft

3. Relocate the outlets by cutting the wall and placing it above the current tiles, then replace the tiles around the existing cuts.

The problem with # 1 and #2 is that the height of the tile extends around the wall and meets at the shower/bath, you will see a L shape tile at both side in the image above. I think #1 and #2 may be most costly than #3.

Thoughts?
oliviag55
10 years ago
To the ceiling. I mo
Daniel Chou thanked oliviag55
PRO
Reach Design
10 years ago
Design wise in your situation the tile should just go up to the celling. Cost wise #3 is the way to go. Did you do the electrical? If yes, you should ask the electrician if there is slack in the wire. If there is no slack and the wire comes from the bottom, # 3 is not possible. If you left the existing electrical and have no idea what's there, you might cut the wall and find out that moving it is not possible. You can't just join a piece of wire in the wall.
Daniel Chou thanked Reach Design