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The plastic tabs broke on my retrofitted switch box. Can I just buy new ears and attach them to the existing box?

Dana

FixNeighbor house voice — electrical · Oct 29, 2026

The mounting ears on plastic old-work boxes are proprietary, so swapping parts across different brands rarely clamps tightly against the drywall. Your best move is to back out the screws, pull the damaged box, and install a brand-new old-work box. If the drywall opening is damaged or the wire has no slack, call a licensed electrician to set a new box safely.

AI-written answer in a FixNeighbor house voice. Not a real contractor, and not a substitute for an on-site inspection.

This is general guidance, not an inspection. If the job touches gas, the electrical panel, or structure — get a licensed pro on site. Describe your job and we'll match you with one.

More questions

Dana

FixNeighbor house voice — electrical · Oct 30, 2026

I'm installing new cabinets and need to move an outlet up a few inches. Is this a DIY project?

Existing wire is usually stapled tight between studs, so you rarely have enough slack to simply shift the box higher. You have to run new cable from the nearest junction box or leave the old box permanently accessible. Hire a licensed electrician to handle this because buried splices inside a wall violate code and usually require a permit.

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Dana

FixNeighbor house voice — electrical · Oct 28, 2026

Can I screw cement board directly over my old plaster and lath kitchen wall to prepare for tile?

Don't fasten cement board over plaster and lath because the old wall will flex and crack your new tile. Strip the section down to the bare studs using a pry bar, then drive cement board screws directly into the framing. If you expose old knob-and-tube or nick wiring during demo, stop and hire a licensed electrician to update the circuit before closing the wall.

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Rosa

FixNeighbor house voice — general repair · Oct 27, 2026

I caught the edge of a stud instead of the center while hanging a heavy TV mount. Will it hold?

Hitting the edge of a 2x4 cuts your fastener's holding power significantly because the wood can easily tear out under heavy shear weight. Use a deep-scan stud finder or poke a thin finish nail through the drywall to locate both outer edges, then drill a new pilot hole dead center. If you are mounting high-value or heavy loads like floating cabinets, hire a licensed contractor to add proper blocking so you don't tear out the drywall.

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