Can Surface Mount Boxes Be Recessed Into a Wall?

Boxes

• Device boxes come in a variety of styles: nail-on, square, junction and pull. They house conduit and cables, allowing you to run electrical wiring to different appliances that require it. You may use a box when installing a new electrical receptacle or a light switch. The two main ways to differentiate between boxes is by whether one is surface-mounted or flush-mounted. A surface-mounted box is attached to the face of a wall or the side of a building. A flush-mounted box is recessed into the wall, so its edge is flush with the exterior of the wall.

Recess

• Recessing device boxes into a wall can improve the appearance of both the fixture supplied by the box and the wall itself. You can install most device boxes either way. The box itself is fairly easy to recess into the wall; the only thing you have to ensure is that you have the right kind of cover for the box. Most flush-mounted boxes use a cover that is larger than the box. The larger cover hides any small gaps between the box and the hole cut out of the wall, improving its appearance.

Exceptions

• Some surface-mount boxes cannot be recessed into a wall. Nail-on nonmetallic device boxes are not rated for flush-mounting and will not meet code if placed inside a wall. Some wiring methods have to be surface mounted according to code. When working with certain materials, such as electrical metallic tubing, you must surface mount the box, no matter if the box itself can also be recessed into the wall.

Considerations

• When recessing a device box into a wall, the wall material matters. The box must be exactly flush with walls made from wood or other flammable materials. If the wall is constructed of noncombustible materials, then the box has to be within ¼ inch of the wall surface. Recessing a box too far back into the wall violates the NEC, as does failing to securely fasten the box to a stud or joist within the wall.