Issues with Sheetrocking Around Breakerbox
#1
07-14-15, 07:40 AM
Issues with Sheetrocking Around Breakerbox
Hey guys, not sure how to word this, I am working on adding sheetrock to my washroom but some of the electrical was stapled right onto the wood instead of channeled through the wood. This is the electrical from the breaker box and it looks to be stapled right to the header. Is this a rewiring type of situation or remove the staples, put the sheetrock beneath the electrical and have it exposed? Or even notch it? Any feedback would be appreciated 
#2
07-14-15, 07:46 AM
I would leave the wiring exposed, as-is and just edge the sheetrock around it. You'll almost certainly want/need access to the top of the panel in the future anyway. You can paint it to make it blend in better. Those three coming in from the left look too short to re-route without a junction box or two. If you want to tighten it up, take those three back to a location where you can mount an accessible (not covered by sheetrock) junction box, and run three new cables to that location through the framing to be cleaner. In any case that beam/header should not be drilled or notched so the wiring has to at least be on the surface there.
#3
07-14-15, 07:50 AM
No way do you want to sandwich the wires between the studs and the drywall!! The only choices are to reroute the wires 
reframe the wall so the wiring will be in a cavity or go with Ben's suggestion of leaving as it or painting to make it blend in.
reframe the wall so the wiring will be in a cavity or go with Ben's suggestion of leaving as it or painting to make it blend in.
#4
07-14-15, 08:48 AM
Thank you guys for the feedback. I will do that, just leave the wire exposed - I was definitely swaying that direction. I didn't want to undertake rerouting the wires as I just wanted to do more of a quick sheetrock job to clean up the washroom. Painting it to blend it - great idea as well. Thank you!!
#5
07-14-15, 10:03 AM
Group Moderator
You could also frame the entire wall out by adding an additional 2x2 (1 1/2") before you drywall.
#7
07-14-15, 04:25 PM
I am inclined to agree with George on this one; box and drywall around it. Xsleepr's idea would accomplish the same thing, but no need to lose the thickness of the additional framing on the entire wall. Either way, I would not paint it; not saying that there is anything wrong with it, have seen it done any number of times, but cables have identification stamped or printed on them, data such as size, etc., and I don't like concealing that from myself or the next guy or gal.
