How to Install Tiles Over an Electrical Outlet

Remove the Outlet

• 1

  Turn off the circuit breaker that supplies power to the outlet. Insert the leads of the neon voltage tester into the outlet slots to verify the power is off. The power is off if the neon lamp stays off.

• 2

  Remove the screw holding the cover plate on and remove the cover plate. Remove the two screws that hold the outlet on the wiring box and carefully pull the outlet out of the box. Save the two screws that held the outlet in place.

• 3

  Cut the wires attached to the outlet as close to the outlet as possible. Place a wire nut over the end of each insulated wire and turn it clockwise until it is tight. The bare ground wire does not require a wiring nut.

• 4

  Fold the wires into the box. Cut and fit tiles around the box to continue your tile installation.

• 5

  Place the blank outlet cover over the wiring box and fasten it in place with the supplied screws. Turn on the circuit breaker that was previously turned off.

Covering Empty Outlet Boxes

• 6

  Place the steel plate over the front of the outlet box. Only cover empty outlet boxes after you have verified that the wiring inside the box is unused and disconnected from the home's electrical system. Fasten the steel plate to the wiring box with the two screws that were used to hold the outlet in the box.

• 7

  Fill the gap between the steel plate and the wall surface with drywall repair compound and use the wide putty knife to smooth it, and make it flush with the wall surface. Apply a second coat if the compound shrinks while drying. A perfect repair is not necessary, but fill the opening in the wall sufficiently to allow you to spread mortar over the repair.

• 8

  Wait for the drywall repair compound to dry thoroughly. Spread mortar or adhesive over the old outlet location and continue your tiling project.