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Electrical Wiring

electrical outlets between backsplash and bar top

15 years ago

Hi, We are building a new home, and today our cabinets and countertops were installed. We have formica countertops with integrated backsplash, and we have a breakfast bar also of formica. The breakfast bar is a peninsula that sits a few inches higher than the kitchen countertop. So on the kitchen side there is a standard height countertop with backsplash over a base cabinet, then approximately 3 or 4 inches of sheetrock above backsplash, then the formica bar top. The problem is that there were two electrical outlets in the sheetrock between the countertop and the underside of the bar top, but the backsplash covered the outlet boxes. Is there a solution to keep the outlets and have them accessible? I am not familiar with plugmold, but wondered if it could be used since it is narrower than a standard outlet. There is only a base cabinet in this area, no overhead cabinets. We are in Ga. Thanks for your help.

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Comments (4)

Ron Natalie
15 years ago
I sure hope nobody covered over the boxes with backsplash. That would most likely be illegal. Is there enough room to rotate things 90 degrees? The code doesn't require receptacles to be oriented the tall way.
texasredhead
15 years ago
What idiot installed Formica over outlets. Presume there are hot wires wrapped up in those hoxes. Either have the stupid installer pull of the backsplash or find which breaker is feeding those outlets, turn it off and have it disconnected. In order to use plugmold you need power and it cannot come from a source that you do not have access to. If I do not understand your problem perhaps you can tell us why receptacles were covered.
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kedkeb
Original Author
15 years ago
Hi, Sorry, I should have stated that the electrician came in and pulled the wires from the outlets, so they are no longer outlets behind the backsplash. The electricity is not connected yet, but he pulled the wires into the base cabinet below the bar, and I am not sure what he plans to do Monday when he returns. The boxes were already oriented horizontally, and there still was not room for them. The cabinet installer said he thought the electrician mentioned that he could turn the outlets so that would be accessed from the bar side instead of the kitchen side, but I would prefer having them on the kitchen side. Thanks.
texasredhead
15 years ago
Your other option is to use plugmold. It's not my favorite and as an electrician it's a pain to install. If you go this route, have your electrician install a GFCI breaker on this circuit.

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