Proper use of sheathing tape on outlets

Daox · 12-11-10, 10:56 AM

Does anyone know the right way to use sheathing tape to seal around power outlets and light fixtures in a wall/ceiling? I'm working on the garage ceiling right now and am ready to start taping things up. A quick web search didn't find anything real useful.

strider3700 · 12-11-10, 11:49 AM

they make these little plastic bags specifically for the outlets/fixture boxes. basically you put the box in the bag then attach it to the wall.

Next slice a small hole in the bag and put the wires through the hole reattaching everything in the box.

Tape the hole shut as best you can.

cover the entire wall with poly and cut a small hole out by the bag making sure it overlaps 1/2" or so.

tape the edges of the bag to the poly and you're air tight.

It's a pain in the *** to do this after the fact because you have to remove and reinstall the box to do it right. You could just let the box swing free and skip the dewiring with a big cut requiring a bit more tape that never seems to get it completely sealed.

Ryland · 12-11-10, 10:06 PM

tape to stop drafts?
I used foam in a can to seal around my outlet boxes, to do this I cut the power to the box and put foam in the holes in the back of the box and around the outside edges, this keeps drafts from even getting to the box to make it cold.

Daox · 12-12-10, 09:24 AM

That blocks the rear of the box. What about the front of the box?

strider3700 · 12-12-10, 12:35 PM

I use those sticky foam covers like in this article.
http://www.green-talk.com/2010/04/20...ut-the-window/

Ryland · 12-12-10, 11:38 PM

You can also stick your outlet covers on with seal and peal caulk.
But I agree, the foam backers that go behind the covers would work best.

Daox · 12-13-10, 07:31 AM

Would it be horrible to lay the plastic over the front of the receptical, cut the plastic, then apply the tape on the inside of the receptical out to seal the plastic? Here is a pic to illustrate what I mean.

Receptical = black
Plastic = grey
Tape = red

strider3700 · 12-13-10, 01:19 PM

your box should stick 1/2" beyond the plastic so that it ends up flush when you add the drywall (adjust depth for different boarding materials) so just tape the poly to the outside of the box if you'd like. It's not great since those boxes are really leaky through the openings for the wires, but it's better then nothing.

Add in one of those foam gaskets to seal across the front and the last major holes are through the outlet itself. You can get outlets with sliding covers for child protection or just use those plastic safety plugs if you want to go that far.

Daox · 12-13-10, 01:24 PM

I don't need to get crazy on the garage. I was just wondering what the correct way was to do it. Is taping to the inside of the box a bad thing?

strider3700 · 12-13-10, 04:44 PM

I'm not sure if it's necessarily a bad thing, You just wouldn't normally do it since taping to the outside is easier. I'm not sure what the code requirements on the taping are if you don't go with the poly box.

12-11-10, 10:56 AM	#1
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Proper use of sheathing tape on outlets Does anyone know the right way to use sheathing tape to seal around power outlets and light fixtures in a wall/ceiling? I'm working on the garage ceiling right now and am ready to start taping things up. A quick web search didn't find anything real useful. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

12-12-10, 09:24 AM	#4
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	That blocks the rear of the box. What about the front of the box? __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

12-12-10, 11:38 PM	#6
Ryland Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Western Wisconsin. Posts: 913 Thanks: 127 Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts	You can also stick your outlet covers on with seal and peal caulk. But I agree, the foam backers that go behind the covers would work best. Last edited by Ryland; 12-13-10 at 09:09 AM..

12-13-10, 07:31 AM	#7
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Would it be horrible to lay the plastic over the front of the receptical, cut the plastic, then apply the tape on the inside of the receptical out to seal the plastic? Here is a pic to illustrate what I mean. Receptical = black Plastic = grey Tape = red Attached Thumbnails __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

12-13-10, 01:24 PM	#9
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	I don't need to get crazy on the garage. I was just wondering what the correct way was to do it. Is taping to the inside of the box a bad thing? __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

12-11-10, 11:49 AM	#2
strider3700 Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vancouver Island BC Posts: 745 Thanks: 23 Thanked 37 Times in 30 Posts	they make these little plastic bags specifically for the outlets/fixture boxes. basically you put the box in the bag then attach it to the wall. Next slice a small hole in the bag and put the wires through the hole reattaching everything in the box. Tape the hole shut as best you can. cover the entire wall with poly and cut a small hole out by the bag making sure it overlaps 1/2" or so. tape the edges of the bag to the poly and you're air tight. It's a pain in the *** to do this after the fact because you have to remove and reinstall the box to do it right. You could just let the box swing free and skip the dewiring with a big cut requiring a bit more tape that never seems to get it completely sealed.

12-11-10, 10:06 PM	#3
Ryland Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Western Wisconsin. Posts: 913 Thanks: 127 Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts	tape to stop drafts? I used foam in a can to seal around my outlet boxes, to do this I cut the power to the box and put foam in the holes in the back of the box and around the outside edges, this keeps drafts from even getting to the box to make it cold.

12-12-10, 12:35 PM	#5
strider3700 Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vancouver Island BC Posts: 745 Thanks: 23 Thanked 37 Times in 30 Posts	I use those sticky foam covers like in this article. http://www.green-talk.com/2010/04/20...ut-the-window/

12-13-10, 01:19 PM	#8
strider3700 Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vancouver Island BC Posts: 745 Thanks: 23 Thanked 37 Times in 30 Posts	your box should stick 1/2" beyond the plastic so that it ends up flush when you add the drywall (adjust depth for different boarding materials) so just tape the poly to the outside of the box if you'd like. It's not great since those boxes are really leaky through the openings for the wires, but it's better then nothing. Add in one of those foam gaskets to seal across the front and the last major holes are through the outlet itself. You can get outlets with sliding covers for child protection or just use those plastic safety plugs if you want to go that far.

12-13-10, 04:44 PM	#10
strider3700 Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vancouver Island BC Posts: 745 Thanks: 23 Thanked 37 Times in 30 Posts	I'm not sure if it's necessarily a bad thing, You just wouldn't normally do it since taping to the outside is easier. I'm not sure what the code requirements on the taping are if you don't go with the poly box.