Easy Way To Line Up 2, 3, and 4-Gang Wall Plates

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Most DIY electrical projects around the house end with installing a wall plate. This is going to be the main thing you and your visitors will see. Let's make sure you have fit and finished wall plates with the use of the simple tip!
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Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:44 How To Use A Template To Align Switches and Outlets
2:26 How To Easily Make A Wall Plate Alignment Template
3:20 Which Wall Plates To Get
4:02 How To Correct A Crooked Light Switch or Outlet
6:07 Recap
DISCLAIMER: This video and description contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission.

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Опубликовано:

1 авг 2024

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Комментарии : 243

@fhsdave231 2 года назад

35 years as a professional handyman and I've never seen that wall plate trick. That's ingenious! Thanks for a great time saver!

@wallacegrommet9343 2 года назад

I’m SMH!

@joshuam.3791 2 года назад

Only 25 years here but the same story! Great tip!

@kenthaslem7613 2 года назад

I have 15 years in the trade and this is pure genius and something I am thinking “why didn’t I think of that!!!” Simple and elegant. Generally don’t have much problem with 2-gang, but 3 and 4’s I have spent too much life fighting those into place. Using an epoxy to attach a level to the template would make this an even better tool. Thanks for making this video!!! Definitely stealing this idea.

@billkelly8222 2 года назад

I like the idea of gluing a level to the template. You could use a really small line level or such.

@brentandmel2007 2 года назад

I have been doing this for years…next time try using the template “inside out”…makes it easier to catch the switches to line them up and the cupped edge sticking away from the wall makes it easier to remove and adjust. Also keeps the contact area hidden…so even a freshly touched up paint job won’t show any smudged paint…

@jonesgang 2 года назад

You have been doing this for years and still need something like a template? Well alrighty then!!

@robertt9342 2 года назад

@@jonesgang . Years meaning what exactly? Did they say they were doing this day to day for years or just on occasion. I’d argue in either scenario it wastes less time and require slightly less effort.

@nutritionperfection 2 года назад

@@jonesgang The problem doesn't disappear with experience as it's not a skill issue. It's like making a jig in woodworking. Sure I could do it freehand but my demand for perfection means the jig ends up being quicker if it avoids even one or 2 minor errors. Frankly I don't see how your comment added anything constructive to the conversation.

@kmccontube 2 года назад

That should also allow you to use a 4 gang template for 2 & 3. If you have room. I think.

@dchall8 2 года назад

Piling genius upon genius. Excellent tip.

@spelunkerd 2 года назад

Good tip, I'll have to look around for the more flexible wall plates. The last time I tried to drill one of those it shattered. Just a note for beginners, don't assume there is only one circuit going through the box, there could be two or three different circuits fed by different fuses there. So even if you think you've killed all the power, it's wise to wear gloves and be careful.

@mytoolworld 2 года назад

Don't drill it. Use a burr grinder on a Dremel tool instead.

@glasshalffull8625 2 года назад

Also, not a great idea to push on the wires with a screwdriver as you might pierce the plastic coating on the wire.

@darelldd 2 года назад

Excellent idea! After all these years, I hadn't thought of it. One issue that it doesn't solve however is how deep the switch our receptacle ends up sitting below the plate. Can't count on those cans to be accurately positioned! So you can stack stuff under the screw, etc. Or of course the old trick: Leave the switch/recep screws a bit loose and then use the plate screws to snug the device up to the plate. works well for switches. But receptacles not so much as you don't want the plastic plate to be the mechanical stabilizer.

@dlwaterloo2221 2 года назад

A couple of great tips. The template idea is brilliant. I’m in the process of renovating our basement family room and I have several double and triple gang devices. This will be a huge time saver. Thank you.

@plaid11 2 года назад

I love that you mention the screws all facing the same direction. I’ve always done this and have it so the light switches are vertical and the outlets are horizontal. It’s not something most people pay attention to but I definitely do lol

@tomlangley6236 2 года назад

40 years working as a Carpenter/Handyman and general repair guy....... And something this simple never occurred to me! Not less than a week ago, I was struggling with this very problem on a 3 switch cover. Thanks, I'm making some this afternoon.

@whoisjohngalt4880 2 года назад

Great system! A journeyman electrician showed me this trick years ago and I’ve passed it on to a lot of friends and family DIYers from then on!

@seenstee 2 года назад

Screwless plates also do the same trick. All 4, 8, 12, 16 screws will be adjustable

@SP10371 2 года назад

I’m currently replacing my house’s light toggle switches with paddle switches. The timing of this video is perfect. Thanks!

@Irony58 5 месяцев назад

I just finished installing a 3- and a 4-gang switch box. I wish I had searched for this video before I started the project. Brilliant is the best word for this. I've got a 3-gang to do tomorrow - guess what I'll be getting first??? THANKS!!!

@lawofvisualization 11 месяцев назад

Genius! I just spent the last hour trying to align a 3 panel deco plate.

@briangardner6190 10 месяцев назад

The Lutron wall plates come exactly how you did your template. There are holes that allow you to screw the plates to the switches, and then holes that allow you to access the screws that go from the switches to the boxes. After that, there is a smaller cover plate that goes over the initial plate you used and everything is good to go. Using the Lutron one, I found it easy to start the screws from the switches to the box, then screw the plate into the switches to mount it up and get them level and straight. Then finish screwing the screws from the switches to the box. Everything is lined up and good to go. Pop the top cover plate on and bob is your uncle.

@RobertLeBlancPhoto 2 года назад

I like using the “screwless” wall plates, because I can leave the outlets/switches a bit loose, install the backing plate, then tighten the outlets/switches, and then snap on the screwless cover. Easy and great looking.

@qpSubZeroqp 2 года назад

Completely agreed

@pepstein 2 года назад

Yeah, the inner part of a Lutron screwless wall plate is effectively the same as this template.

@richardallen468 2 года назад

Absolutely fantastic and eye opening- the hours I have spent explaining to my wife why it is NOT possible to straighten up and align the switches with the face plates, is really going to take some explanation 😉

@mikewaskewicz 2 года назад

Glad I found your video. Installed one 3 gang plate yesterday and felt like Curly Howard. The rest will be a piece of cake. Great idea!

@imakecocktails 2 года назад

Great tip. I was working on creating and 3d printing a jig for the same purpose but this is so simple that it's genius. Thank you for sharing.

@kgt9535 2 года назад

Great idea, bro. Some of the best practices like this are almost always easy and/or next to nothing in cost or close to nothing. Thanks for sharing ✊

@w1swh1 2 года назад

Absolutely brilliant! Using a template is so obvious why didn't I think of that! Only yesterday I had exactly that problem of a two-gang decor light switch. Took me forever! I also left the switches crooked because I couldn't straighten them, I will go back and try again 😀Thank you so much.

@jdubya54 2 года назад

I’ll give you guys a great tip. I put all my screws at 1 oclock when Im done. that way I know if someone was in there after I was

@nikkifoster1746 7 месяцев назад

Man!!! I knew I needed a template, but I couldn't figure out what would work best and save the most time. This is BRILLIANT!!!

@curtharris7426 2 года назад

Another great tip! I am all vertical! As you said, leaves a nice finished look.

@kingreno35 2 года назад

I’m weird I guess I like the horizontal. I like my lines to be parallel 🤷🏾‍♂️

@paulierox7341 Год назад

lol.. I just did this yesterday.. 4 gang switch.. I spent half hour going back n forth with slight adjustments then checking with the face plate then minor adjustment,, back n forth.. I wish I knew about this hack,. Brilliant

@danddb2 2 года назад

Really cool tip! For someone who would use the template frequently, an enhancement might be to add a small bubble level to each template to eliminate the need for holding a separate level while mounting. There are bubble levels available on Amazon for about a buck apiece that could be glued on.

@paracha3 5 месяцев назад

Damn this video is what i needed. I was pulling my hair out last weekend and ended up braking face plate in frustration. Will definitely make templates and keep them handy.

@johnlcallaway 2 года назад

Where was this video thirty years ago! Thank you for saving time now that I'm closer to retiring and need every second I can get. Great video!

@electricboyo 2 года назад

This is a superb trick to save time and keep all your wall plates perfectly square and lined up.

@benjaminreinhardt259 2 года назад

That's slick. I like it. As a DIY homeowner, not sure I do enough of these to justify making and storing the template - but I will remember this one. Thanks!

@realpdm 2 года назад

Oh man I have so many crooked switches right now because all these smart switches are so big they never work quite right. Thank you for this genius tip!

@robertdavidsonii5331 2 года назад

I love the template. Definitely making one before the next project.

@glennrudolph9867 2 года назад

Simplicity is the ultimately complexity… man, brilliant… just brilliant! Thanks for posting as you have eliminate a big frustration I’ve had for years, decades hahaha

@jragadio 2 года назад

That is one of the best tips I've seen yet. Well done bud!

@Desertkitfox93 2 года назад

My hat is off to you sir! Great solution to a vexing problem.

@galfert Год назад

Having spacers is also a good idea as sometimes the switch or receptacle is recessed too much.

@ronaldnayman4841 2 года назад

Love your idea of using a templet. Tks

@johnthompson3462 2 года назад

Very clever and re-usable

@konradpetz7317 2 года назад

Great idea!!!! and having the decorra style more and more popular you don't need to keep many plate combinations

@wallacegrommet9343 2 года назад

A simple idea that’s brilliant

@TeaPartyGuy 2 года назад

Great tips for what is sometimes a real pain in the tail. Thanks.

@bengoolie5197 2 года назад

That is a brilliant idea. Thank you for all your helpful videos!

@garbo8962 2 года назад

I'm a sparky and have a 6 gang cover by front door. Of course it was a big pain in the butt to line up. Used metal stackable work boxes and broke the first $22 plate. Great ideal. Retired from a large hospital that had at least a combined 16 receptacles on patient head wall. ( normal & emergency devices ). Skilled carpenter would make a 4' wide template up for every single room.

@EverydayHomeRepairs 2 года назад

Dang! I would say a template is a must for 4’ 😮

@harryinoklahoma1866 2 года назад

Good Deal. Going to buy a tripple cover tomorrow and make a template.

@Tre16 2 года назад

Apprentice electrician here. This is genius. Very simple yet very clever. Thank you for this!

@dustintunis9347 2 года назад

So simple and effective, but I never thought of it. I'll definitely use that trick.

@Northwest736 2 года назад

Wall plate templates - brilliant!

@Munnjo1 2 года назад

This is very clever. Thanks for the tip!

@JustSayN2O 2 года назад

All my white wall plates have turned into light almond. The sun yellows the plastic, even if the plate is not in direct sunlight. By the way, these tips are Nobel Prizeworthy !!!

@50srefugee 2 года назад

Great little trick! Thanks!

@paulclement1025 2 года назад

Neat idea for standard wall plates. I've been replacing the wall switches in my house with Lutron Caseta smart switches and also swapping out the wall plates with their two-piece Claro plates to eliminate the visibility of the screws. The inside plate allows you to align the switches and tighten the screws and then you simply press on the outside plate to hide the screws and screw holes.

@qpSubZeroqp 2 года назад

Yeah those switches look CLEAN

@LeadBariBass 2 года назад

THIS. IS. AMAZING! Monetize this if you can. You deserve it.

@bigdollarbill 2 года назад

Wow---I am shocked at how brilliant this idea is! Keep up the content!

@rojax_the_great 2 года назад

thats genius

@EverydayHomeRepairs 2 года назад

👍

@kazilziya830 2 года назад

Excellent idea. Thanks

@gbinman 2 года назад

Clever, I usually put the plate on reversed to check alignment as tightening.

@robertmungenast4193 2 года назад

nice tip will have to use so simple

@Derakkon2 2 года назад

Awesome tip! Thank you!

@jeremiahpowell3028 2 месяца назад

The templet idea is so smart I will try it this weekend

@jeremiahpowell3028 2 месяца назад

Installing Caseta Lutron switches and new covers for the 5 areas I have going

@Daynaleo1 2 года назад

Excellent idea!

@DireNeeds 2 года назад

Thanks. Now I can go around my house and straighten up every switch I've installed over the years.

@andrewc6385 2 года назад

Absolutely brilliant. Thank you sir

@EverydayHomeRepairs 2 года назад

You bet!

@eostrike Год назад

That template is pretty awesome, I know what I am doing this weekend. Thank you for sharing!

@jdubya54 2 года назад

That is such a great tip, Bravo!!!!

@hassanbazzi3545 2 года назад

The template is ingenious. Well done 👍

@jake9705 2 года назад

Brilliant idea! Great job

@bobcalder724 2 года назад

Fantastic! Love the idea !

@AD-hr4is 2 года назад

A great tip and idea for those multiple plug or switches.

@jakebloss3621 11 месяцев назад

Great advise! Thank you

@BigJay039 2 года назад

That template...pure awesome. Your videos are da best!

@EverydayHomeRepairs 2 года назад

Thanks!

@protoman247 2 года назад

Pretty neat idea.

@RXSVN_2 2 года назад

0:43 WOW! Never thought of this!!

@JohnComeOnMan 2 года назад

This is actually a really good idea. Probably won't use it on two gang, as I can usually get those pretty close by eye, but definitely three and four gang.

@tedlahm5740 2 года назад

Slick idea. Nice sculptured carpeting.

@EverydayHomeRepairs 2 года назад

Thx!

@freelunchforchildren4040 2 года назад

Very good trick, thanks

@Speeddemon3 2 года назад

That's brilliant! I never would've thought of that..

@lamar9525 2 года назад

GAME CHANGER! THANK YOU!

@BrianBarsamian 2 года назад

What a great idea

@davegarrett6835 2 года назад

What a great idea.

@scottfeatherstone7156 2 года назад

Great tip thanks

@milwaukeemikee4063 2 года назад

Great tips!

@lesterwatson8519 2 года назад

Great Idea

@dfrechettej3v 2 года назад

I do the same with the Lutron 2-piece wall plates. You take the back part (it already has the necessary holes), flip it over (so the screws on the plate do not interfere) and use it to set your switches / outlets straight and well spaced. This is simpler since you normally have the plate with you at the moment of doing the work.

@jhonnyrestrepo6780 2 года назад

Thanks for the great hack. Excellent channel

@KrisJolls 2 года назад

What a great idea. Thanks for sharing!

@strasburgboy 2 года назад

Thank you!! I real time saver!

@housewirestv Год назад

very useful stuff here on your channel! A people can learn a lot of from you!

@shubinternet 2 года назад

I have not used a template. That’s a great idea! Thanks!

@danieldallasdd3395 2 года назад

Thank you sooooo very much this is a gooood idea

@prodson8310 2 года назад

Excellent

@sw5926 2 года назад

Genius! Thank you! Would be a good idea to create one with a built-in level.

@tonyd3029 2 года назад

very nice, Thank you

@WowRixter 2 года назад

Very clever

@Lughnerson 9 месяцев назад

In one box near the kitchen counter I have 3 light switches and one outlet - original installation. The cover plate got chipped so I had to go online to find another one. Then when I replaced the outlet with a higher quality, it was a bit difficult getting things aligned. The ECX screwdriver tip on an electric screwdriver helped with the many screws involved.

@fredgarvin3216 Год назад

Thanks!

@watching999 2 года назад

Very clever 👍

@samfeldman1508 2 года назад

This is brilliant

@johnbrisbin3626 2 года назад

That tip alone is worth a click on the Subscribe button.

@EverydayHomeRepairs 2 года назад

Thanks John and welcome to the channel. Happy to have you 👍

@hankkline7300 2 года назад

To straighten a cocked outlet or light switch I simply grasp it with my wire strippers across the yoke top and or bottom as necessary, without loosening it, and twist it until its straight. Easier

@jackconnolly2665 2 года назад

Yup. It's all about making the device go in straight. Get your fingers in there and adjust the wires before you start tightening the screws. Then make sure the screws are in the center of the slot and don't crank them down. Just snug them.

@hankkline7300 2 года назад

@@jackconnolly2665 If you put all the devices all the way to the left, or all the way to the right, the plate will usually line up.

@jackconnolly2665 2 года назад

@@hankkline7300 I just shoot for the center so I have wiggle room both ways. I remember my first day as an electrician in 1975. My new boss dropped me off at a new tract house. He gave me strippers and a wobbly screwdriver and showed me the basics in 3 minutes. After one attempt I asked for a regular screwdriver and he said no, you will get used to it :).

@johnolthuis1952 2 года назад

I really like your template idea. I have not seen that before. As an alternative, I have been using screwless face plates. They actually have screws but hidden behind a snap on cover. The plate behind the cover gives you the same access your template gives, allowing for perfect alignment. The added benefit is that there is no further debate about whether the face plate screws should be vertical or horizontal. ;-)

@EverydayHomeRepairs 2 года назад

😂the timeless debate of vertical or horizontal. The other 2 healthy debates on the channel is to wrap or not to wrap outlets with electrical tape and whether the ground should be installed up or down on a standard outlet.