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Paint Home Repair Design Dilemma

How can I conceal unpainted wall exposed by replacing thermostat?

4 years ago

I have two places where unpainted regions of walls are exposed. In one case, a replacement thermostat is smaller than the thermostat that was in place when the wall was painted (long before we owned the house). In another, plaster broke during the process of replacing an old, un-grounded electrical box. I'm wondering how I might conceal these areas.

I Googled escutcheons and mainly found plumbing parts. I Googled Access Panels and found things with doors. I'm considering cutting rectangles of 1/4" plywood and using a round-over bit on the edges. For the outlet, I'd cut a rectangle and for the thermostat, I'd just drill a hole. Them I would prime and paint it to match the trim in the room. But I'd rather buy something.

What other search terms should I try? How else might I address this?

I plan to replace the outlet cover. For that, I might buy a Brushed Brass Steel - 2 Toggle / 1 Duplex Wallplate and fill the two toggle slots with Toggle to Blank Switch Plate Fillers. Or a large, blank plate to which I have holes for the outlets added. How else might I address this?

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Comments (4)

latifolia
4 years ago
So how long has it been since this room was painted? Why don't you just prep and paint? It sounds like less work than your solutions, which will look odd, IMO.
outshopping422
4 years ago
Maybe use a picture frame around the

thermostat. And if you replace the outlet cover, just try to match the paint as best as you can On the wall.
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DavidR
4 years ago
Terminology is always the stumbling block, isn't it? You can't find it if you don't know what it's called. That's why online buying will never replace the old-timer at the hardware store. At least I hope not.

You need a thermostat backing plate or a thermostat wall plate.

This is the reason that I always remove everything possible from the walls and ceilings before I paint.

For the receptacle, priming and painting is the only good fix I can think of. That's too big for an oversize cover plate. A switch wall shield (meant to keep kids' dirty fingerprints off walls around switches) might cover it, but I can't recall ever seeing one that was anything but clear plastic.

The links are for information and don't mean that I endorse the vendors or the products.
sjboege thanked DavidR
sjboege
Original Author
4 years ago
You're right about hardware stores. I gladly paid a bit more at Orchard Supply Hardware just to be able to talk to someone who knew their inventory and could put a name to what I was describing.

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