The wall outlet is in the way of my paneling what to do?

There are two common situations when installing wall paneling around an electrical outlet, each with several possible solutions.

1. Applied Wall Trim 

When an outlet interferes with applied wall trim or molding, consider the following options:

• Miter a profile return back into the wall on each side of the outlet as shown in the image below.
• Use an extra-deep oversized outlet cover if the molding is relatively thin, allowing the molding to butt into the electrical box.
• Move the outlet by turning off the power, removing the outlet, and remounting the electrical box above or below the molding.
• Notch the molding if it only slightly overlaps the outlet.
• Miter the molding to box around the outlet, creating a framed detail around the outlet.

   

2. V-Groove or Shiplap Wall Paneling

When installing V-groove or shiplap paneling, the best solution is usually to extend the outlet box so it sits flush with the new wall surface. This is typically done using an electrical box extender, which brings the outlet forward to match the thickness of the paneling. Before installing:

• Turn off the power to the outlet.
• Use longer screws to secure the outlet through the extender.

Once installed, the outlet cover plate will sit flush against the finished paneling surface.