LarryLeveen
Member
Older (1895) home has many electrical outlets installed in the tallish floor molding. One box, made of bakelite, is loose. The box is supposed to secure in place by tightening a screw in the very back of the box (fun!), which is threaded into a rigid strap of metal that presses on the back side of the wall on both sides of the box. This draws the box into the wall until, ideally, tabs at the top and bottom of the box contact the front side of the wall; a pinch-action somewhat similar electrical boxes with pop-up wings used in retrofitting electrical into an existing wall.
The hole for this box was cut too large (and sloppy) resulting in the upper tab bending and breaking. OK, no problem, just replace it with a modern box with wings. Unfortunately, the molding is too thick/deep for the wings to reach behind -- these boxes are probably intended only for drywall, which is thinner.
Are other retrofit box types or mounting approaches that could work?
I am hoping not to remove the floor molding which will damage the plaster walls.
The hole for this box was cut too large (and sloppy) resulting in the upper tab bending and breaking. OK, no problem, just replace it with a modern box with wings. Unfortunately, the molding is too thick/deep for the wings to reach behind -- these boxes are probably intended only for drywall, which is thinner.
Are other retrofit box types or mounting approaches that could work?
I am hoping not to remove the floor molding which will damage the plaster walls.