Comments on: Outlet / Switch / Wall Plate Sizes Explained http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/materials/outlet-switch-wall-plate-sizes-explained/ Home improvement and related topics from four evening and weekend warriors striving for the perfect homes... Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:37:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Fred http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/materials/outlet-switch-wall-plate-sizes-explained/#comment-291 Fred Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:57:27 +0000 http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/general/outlet-switch-wall-plate-sizes-explained/#comment-291 Anita, Thanks for stopping by. Yep, yours and my take are the same. The Jumbo plates just look silly. I'm glad there's another like myself out there :-) Anita,

Thanks for stopping by. Yep, yours and my take are the same. The Jumbo plates just look silly. I’m glad there’s another like myself out there :-)

]]> By: Anita http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/materials/outlet-switch-wall-plate-sizes-explained/#comment-285 Anita Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:13:11 +0000 http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/general/outlet-switch-wall-plate-sizes-explained/#comment-285 We learned about the different-sized plates after volunteers replaced our Katrina-destroyed sheetrock. The cut-outs for the outlets, etc. were less than optimal and we were told to buy the 'jumbo' plates to cover the gaps. However - when we got them home and started putting them up... It was all wrong. The jumbo plates are so out of proportion to the receptacles that they give the appearance of a movie prop - you know like the giant telephone prop used for dramatic phone-ringing-in-the-foreground scenes? We then opted to repair the biggest gaps and size the plates down to 'midsize' - and I totally agree with you... I actually prefer the midsize plates to the standard size plates. Therefore - even as we move upstairs with repair and remodelling projects where sheetrock gaps are not an issue - we're replacing old plates with new midsize ones! We learned about the different-sized plates after volunteers replaced our Katrina-destroyed sheetrock. The cut-outs for the outlets, etc. were less than optimal and we were told to buy the ‘jumbo’ plates to cover the gaps. However - when we got them home and started putting them up… It was all wrong. The jumbo plates are so out of proportion to the receptacles that they give the appearance of a movie prop - you know like the giant telephone prop used for dramatic phone-ringing-in-the-foreground scenes?

We then opted to repair the biggest gaps and size the plates down to ‘midsize’ - and I totally agree with you… I actually prefer the midsize plates to the standard size plates. Therefore - even as we move upstairs with repair and remodelling projects where sheetrock gaps are not an issue - we’re replacing old plates with new midsize ones!

]]> By: Fred http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/materials/outlet-switch-wall-plate-sizes-explained/#comment-245 Fred Tue, 18 Mar 2008 21:32:00 +0000 http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/general/outlet-switch-wall-plate-sizes-explained/#comment-245 Jennifer: I'd have to see the bigger plates in action to tell. I think the problem is primarily one of scale between the receptacle/switch itself and the plate (rather than the plate and the room) that makes it seems funny to me. But, I suppose that in certain circumstances, they might look good.<br/><br/>Jon: I tend to agree with you about the bigger plates... and the LED lights sound intriguing (and rich!) I may end up putting them in the basement when we finish it. Have you found a good price online? When I looked in Depot, I think they were pretty expensive. Jennifer: I’d have to see the bigger plates in action to tell. I think the problem is primarily one of scale between the receptacle/switch itself and the plate (rather than the plate and the room) that makes it seems funny to me. But, I suppose that in certain circumstances, they might look good.

Jon: I tend to agree with you about the bigger plates… and the LED lights sound intriguing (and rich!) I may end up putting them in the basement when we finish it. Have you found a good price online? When I looked in Depot, I think they were pretty expensive.

]]> By: Jon http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/materials/outlet-switch-wall-plate-sizes-explained/#comment-244 Jon Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:20:00 +0000 http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/general/outlet-switch-wall-plate-sizes-explained/#comment-244 Yo, bigger isn't better when it comes to plates. I think the large ones look gaudy and draw attention.<br/><br/>On a personal note, as we renovate rooms at Chateau McD, we've been replacing all the plates and switches. The OLD plates were all different types (some wood, some ceramic, some ornamental!) with a common white plate. And I'm in love with the switches with built in LEDs. In the OFF position, the LED glows very faintly. During the day it isn't noticeable, but at night they are fantastic. Just an FYI.<br/><br/>-Jon Yo, bigger isn’t better when it comes to plates. I think the large ones look gaudy and draw attention.

On a personal note, as we renovate rooms at Chateau McD, we’ve been replacing all the plates and switches. The OLD plates were all different types (some wood, some ceramic, some ornamental!) with a common white plate. And I’m in love with the switches with built in LEDs. In the OFF position, the LED glows very faintly. During the day it isn’t noticeable, but at night they are fantastic. Just an FYI.

-Jon

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/materials/outlet-switch-wall-plate-sizes-explained/#comment-241 Jennifer Tue, 18 Mar 2008 01:48:00 +0000 http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/general/outlet-switch-wall-plate-sizes-explained/#comment-241 I think it depends on the scale of the house, room, and the rest of the trim/molding.<br/><br/>In our tiny bathroom with tiny 1980's trim, the jumbo cover is ridiculously large. :) <br/><br/>We have the standard sized covers in the rest of the house... they seem to match the scale of our house much better.<br/><br/>I could see in a house with a very open floorplan/vaulted ceiling/huge moulding that you might want the bigger plates? I think it depends on the scale of the house, room, and the rest of the trim/molding.

In our tiny bathroom with tiny 1980’s trim, the jumbo cover is ridiculously large. :)

We have the standard sized covers in the rest of the house… they seem to match the scale of our house much better.

I could see in a house with a very open floorplan/vaulted ceiling/huge moulding that you might want the bigger plates?

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