EcoRenovator  

Go Back   EcoRenovator > Improvements > Renovations & New Construction
Advanced Search
 


Blog 60+ Home Energy Saving Tips Recent Posts Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-11-10, 09:56 AM   #1
Daox
Administrator
 
Daox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 5,525
Thanks: 1,162
Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts
Default 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.
Daox is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-11-10, 10:49 AM   #2
strider3700
Master EcoRenovator
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Vancouver Island BC
Posts: 745
Thanks: 23
Thanked 37 Times in 30 Posts
Default

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.
strider3700 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-11-10, 09:06 PM   #3
Ryland
Master EcoRenovator
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Western Wisconsin.
Posts: 913
Thanks: 127
Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts
Default

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.
Ryland is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-10, 08:24 AM   #4
Daox
Administrator
 
Daox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 5,525
Thanks: 1,162
Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts
Default

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.
Daox is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-10, 11:35 AM   #5
strider3700
Master EcoRenovator
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Vancouver Island BC
Posts: 745
Thanks: 23
Thanked 37 Times in 30 Posts
Default

I use those sticky foam covers like in this article.
http://www.green-talk.com/2010/04/20...ut-the-window/
strider3700 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-10, 10:38 PM   #6
Ryland
Master EcoRenovator
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Western Wisconsin.
Posts: 913
Thanks: 127
Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts
Default

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 08:09 AM..
Ryland is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-10, 06:31 AM   #7
Daox
Administrator
 
Daox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 5,525
Thanks: 1,162
Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts
Default

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
Click image for larger version

Name:	sheathing.jpg
Views:	1591
Size:	9.8 KB
ID:	1144  
__________________
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.
Daox is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-10, 12:19 PM   #8
strider3700
Master EcoRenovator
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Vancouver Island BC
Posts: 745
Thanks: 23
Thanked 37 Times in 30 Posts
Default

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.
strider3700 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-10, 12:24 PM   #9
Daox
Administrator
 
Daox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 5,525
Thanks: 1,162
Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts
Default

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.
Daox is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-10, 03:44 PM   #10
strider3700
Master EcoRenovator
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Vancouver Island BC
Posts: 745
Thanks: 23
Thanked 37 Times in 30 Posts
Default

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.
strider3700 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Tags
sheathing, tape, tuck

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:07 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Ad Management by RedTyger
Inactive Reminders By Icora Web Design