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Anyone have a junction box cover?

15 years ago

Hi All,

I removed a large fluorescent light from my kitchen ceiling and installed recessed lights. My contractor says I have to maintain access to the junction box for code by using a cover. I'm not to thrilled will the look of it. Do I have any options? Anyone else have the same thing? Thanks!!!

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Comments (6)

chairthrower
15 years ago
He's right. If you have access from above (i.e., attic) you could put in a new rectangular box and patch the hole. Your only other option is to pull the wiring out to the box or boxes it runs to and patch. If the only wire is to the switch this may not be too bad (but you may be poking holes to remove staples--you're not supposed to leave the dead wire in the wall, it has to come completely out). If you have a switch loop or other lights on the same switch you may need the wires to continue the circuit to other fixtures.

If you have to keep the cover, paint it the ceiling color. It will still be noticeable but less so.
raenjapan
15 years ago
I don't think it's that noticeable. It sticks out to you, but I doubt anyone who walked into the kitchen would give it a second look. I'd paint it the ceiling color (or at least paint that one screw white) and enjoy the rest of the kitchen.
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just get a bigger/deeper cover. i used some blank covers and drilled them out and installed F-females for my satellite feeds in my house. all but 1 feed is in an old work box and they all sit flush. i did have 1 cover that sat out from teh wall, but it was an old one that i just had laying around in the shop. all my new ones fit flush.
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momof3kids_pa
15 years ago
yep, we have one. i don't even notice now (actually forgot it was there til you posted this). we left it the factory finish white, but our screws were already white -- I would paint those or the whole thing.
slateberry
15 years ago
If you have very young kids, paint a really silly smiley face on it, or something crazy like that. Then paint it the color of the ceiling when they are older.

We had this wierd plumbing access panel in our dining room ceiling (!) at a rental we used to live in. Put a picture frame on it with a scrap of blue sky and cloud wallpaper in the frame. Everyone laughed when they saw it--and we all need to laugh. Landlord left it that way when we moved out!

I'm all for serious, beautiful decoration, but sometimes if you have a wierd feature, you can have fun with it.
laxsupermom
15 years ago
I think the metal screwhead is kindof shouting at you. If you painted over it, you wouldn't even notice.

Slateberry, I had to laugh at your access panel cover. We have 4zone heat and 2 zone c/a in our house so there are thermostats everywhere. We have 2 thermostats(one for the heat, one for the c/a) right when you walk into our MBR about 6 inches away from each other. They are big, ugly, and eye level when you walk into our room. I hung a ridiculously ornate empty picture frame around them and people always comment on how it's such a cute idea.
wa8b
15 years ago
Go to your hardware store and buy a different cover. The one your contractor installed is just plain ugly. For a couple of bucks you can get one that looks much better. It will still show, but at least it will have a finished look - not the temporary, utilitarian look you have now.

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