Mud Rings

[BeachBoy]

When using 4x4 electrical boxes with mud rings is it best to use the mud ring height that matches the drywall (i.e. 5/8" mud ring for 5/8" drywall) or is it better to pump it up an eight? (i.e. 3/4" mud ring for 5/8" drywall).

On the last remodel down-to-the-studs I did I used 1/2" mud rings and 1/2" drywall and they were all recessed more than I preferred, generally about an eighth.

[harbor]

Re: Mud Rings

When using 4x4 electrical boxes with mud rings is it best to use the mud ring height that matches the drywall (i.e. 5/8" mud ring for 5/8" drywall) or is it better to pump it up an eight? (i.e. 3/4" mud ring for 5/8" drywall).

On the last remodel down-to-the-studs I did I used 1/2" mud rings and 1/2" drywall and they were all recessed more than I preferred, generally about an eighth.

I just dont understand the question."mud ring' must be a regional terminology,or maybe Im undereducated......I have no idea what your talking about.Btw,I finish drywall for a living,no engineering degrees.

[David Meiland]

Re: Mud Rings

We call those "plaster rings". I use the 5/8" ones and with the flange of the ring behind the face of the studs they work OK with 1/2" rock. The 1/2" ones are too short. I believe they do make 3/4" but I rarely see them.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/ite...BaseItem=1XC32

[Overbuilders]

Re: Mud Rings

When using 4x4 electrical boxes with mud rings is it best to use the mud ring height that matches the drywall (i.e. 5/8" mud ring for 5/8" drywall) or is it better to pump it up an eight? (i.e. 3/4" mud ring for 5/8" drywall).

On the last remodel down-to-the-studs I did I used 1/2" mud rings and 1/2" drywall and they were all recessed more than I preferred, generally about an eighth.

Eighth-inch? That's a near perfect condition. Seriously, electrician's tape measures only read in half-inch increments, anyway.☺

Mud rings, plaster rings...same thing. Here, they're used for commercial applications, not residential. Use the designated size. In a perfect world mud rings would finish flush with the drywall. And corners would be perfectly square, walls absolutely plumb, jobsite superintendents knowledgable.

It's much better to have the ring 1/8" recessed rather than 1/8" proud of the wall surface. If you're striving for flush on every opening, you're much more of an overbuilder than me.

[Kgphoto]

Re: Mud Rings

I find that the electricians normally recess the box too far, so that is why the rings come up short. I prefer to use the deeper mud ring 5/8 for 1/2 so that there is no chance of a bump over the box mount in the drywall.

Code allows the 1/8 recess in drywall, but I prefer flush boxes. The only down side is that if the box is set crooked, then you the issue of a protrusion or un-flat plate to deal with.

On multiple covering walls (internal shear and drywall), I make a sandwich of the materials and cut an opening. I use that as a jig to set the boxes. The marks on the sides of the boxes are unreliable, mostly due to the radius on the stud edge.

[David Meiland]

Re: Mud Rings

The marks on the sides of the boxes are unreliable, mostly due to the radius on the stud edge.

It think it's easy to get a nice fit with metal boxes and mud rings. I tend to use the deep 4-square boxes for work around my own place, and set the metal edge of the box back enough so that the plaster ring AND the screws that hold it are all behind the drywall. Doing this with a 5/8" plaster ring and 1/2" rock works perfectly, with no bulge in the rock.

[Manny Davis]

Re: Mud Rings

Mud rings, plaster rings...same thing. Here, they're used for commercial applications, not residential.

Around here I see them often used in houses for cable and phone wires.

[Lawrence Taylor]

Re: Mud Rings

I generally see the 1/2" ring for 1/2" rock, 5/8" ring for 5/8 rock.

Some times I get an occational 5/8' ring with the 1/2" rock. I must admit, it kinda leaves one with a nice tight finish. But I finish with 16" trowels.

But, the benifit (to me ) is so small (if any) that I really would not make a point of focusing on or being distracted by that kind of detail. Plate will cover.

If you end up proud here or there, you definetly got some extra mud to apply here or there.

If it works for you though, I say go for it.

Sparky probably doesn't give a hoot.

[Overbuilders]

Re: Mud Rings

Around here I see them often used in houses for cable and phone wires.

Sure, for low-voltage applications, but how often do you see the metal mud rings used for electrical boxes as described by the OP in residential construction? I know, we must choose our words carefully...

[BeachBoy]

Re: Mud Rings

Thanks for all the comments. I'll add an eighth. Perhaps a little explanation is in order. I recently installed a couple hundred Raco 235 4x4 (deep) electrical boxes in a house I'm building for myself. They have a 'TS' bracket to position them on the studs. On another project I used the same boxes with 1/2" mud rings and 1/2" drywall but found the rings ended up recessed in farther than I like. I used small washers on the mounting screws (behind the captive paper square) to space the switches & outlets out to where I like them so they would have a solid mount (yes, I know there is no one else in the world who would go to the trouble, but I hate the sound of the cover plate breaking if an outlet is not spaced out and you have to push a plug in with force) (and I dislike the shiney nylon unbreakable cover plates) You get pretty good at guessing the number of washers to use and it doesn't take much time but I wouldn't recommend it for commercial work. Ok for your own house. Those little z-fold green things work OK too but fall out and are not quite as solid. I get to do the electrical and some drywall on this project so I have to blame myself if I don't like the installation!

[Overbuilders]

Re: Mud Rings

I used small washers on the mounting screws (behind the captive paper square) to space the switches & outlets out to where I like them so they would have a solid mount (yes, I know there is no one else in the world who would go to the trouble, but I hate the sound of the cover plate breaking if an outlet is not spaced out and you have to push a plug in with force) (and I dislike the shiney nylon unbreakable cover plates)...!

You're really not kidding, are you? I Googled and you're actually the only person, not just from our world, but the only person on four of the eight planets in our solar system (since Pluto was recently decommissioned) to install outlets and switches this way.

[Toolwhore]

Re: Mud Rings

Ricardo,

You are in fine form this evening. Keep on, keepin' on! LOL!!! :)

[m beezo]

Re: Mud Rings

Ricardo,
add another on to the list. I carry a bunch of washers and the little plastic z shims in my truck. I cannot tell you how many times I have been called in to tile a backsplash or something that means the plugs have to be pulled out. Since I know for a fact that the outlets on the countertop are going to be used all the time you had better have some way to firm up the outlets or you will have a bunch of broken plate covers. The best way is to use an extender box but I have run into a couple of occasions where the electrician did know that the wall was going to be drywalled and then tiled so the boxes were set out some. Just not enough and not enough to need an extender so a few washers on the screw and you had a secure fitting outlet.

[Overbuilders]

Re: Mud Rings

Ricardo,
add another on to the list.

My mistake. Google only shows results for our planet, and your name didn't show up until the fifth page of results.☺

I do understand the need to prep an occasional outlet or switch under certain circumstances. But an entire house or project? How do you bid that competitively?

[frenchie]

Re: Mud Rings

I know NYC isn't on the same planet, either... no argument there... but I see mudrings on 1900 boxes a lot.