How to Install Remodeling Boxes

Whenever you’re working with electricity in your home, safety is key. Before you begin installing your new remodeling box, turn off the power at your circuit breaker panel box. Use a voltage tester to ensure the power is off at the outlet to prevent electrical injuries. Once you know the outlet’s power is off, you’re ready to get to work.

Tip: Non-contact voltage testers, or voltage tester pens,
are a great way to ensure top safety when you’re doing electrical work.

The next step is to find and mark the place where you’ll install the new box.

• Use a stud finder to ensure that you don’t install your remodeling box next to a stud or pipes.
• Hold the remodeling box up to the drywall where it will be situated.
• Trace around the box with a pencil to mark the area to be cut.

Tip: Place a torpedo level on the box while you hold it against the drywall to ensure it’s completely level.

Now it's time to cut the drywall.

• To prepare the surface, use a utility knife to score the drywall paper along the pencil outline of the box.
• Then, use your drywall or jab saw to carefully cut out the hole. Go slowly to avoid accidentally cutting any wires behind the wall.
• Once you've made the hole, push the remodeling box inside for a test fit. It should fit snugly, but you shouldn’t have to force it.

• First, use a voltage tester to double-check that the power is off at the electrical outlet from which you will draw power.
• Then, unscrew the faceplate from the old outlet and pull the outlet away from the box.

• Use a screwdriver to knock a hole in the back of the old box, at one of the knockouts, usually found in the corners.
• Then, feed your new wiring through the hole and out the other side of the wall. Since it’s a friction fit, your wires will stay in place once you’ve pulled them through the knockout.
• Where the cable extends into the box, make sure you leave 1/4 inch of insulation beyond the cable clamp or friction point to protect the wires inside the cable from damage.
• You must leave at least 6 inches of conductor from where it enters the box for the make up of the receptacle.

Connect the new wiring to the outlet in the old box.

• Use wire strippers to strip 5/8 inch of insulation off the end of each wire.
• Then, using new wire connectors, connect the wires from the new cable to the existing wiring. The wire connections should be white to white, black to black and ground to ground.

Mount the remodeling box and get it ready for the new outlet.

• First, pull the cable through the hole in the wall where the new outlet will be located.
• Strip about 10 inches of insulation off the cable to make sure you have a good amount of length to work with.
• Then, insert the wires through the hole in the back of the remodeling box and insert the box into the hole.
• To complete the mounting process, carefully screw down the clamping tabs until the box is tight against the wall.

Take your new outlet and attach the wires.

• For the best connection on any outlet, connect the wires to the terminal screws.
• Attach the white wire to a silver terminal screw, the black wire to a brass terminal screw and the bare copper wire to the green grounding screw.

Tip: Keep in mind that you can’t have more than one ground wire connected to a ground terminal screw. If you have more than one ground coming to your new outlet, you’ll have to join them with a wire connector or pigtail method so there’s only one connection at the green screw.

Now you’re ready to finish the installation.

• Screw the outlet into the box securely so it doesn’t move.
• Attach the faceplate and turn the power back on.
• Use a receptacle tester to make sure the receptacle is wired correctly.