Install devices before OR after floating drywall compound

If I am not mistaken I think that in new construction, most people install light switches and electrical outlets after floating and painting the walls. Correct? I am beginning to question my own assumption on that and wanted to get some other opinions on this.

I have had a new room addition that we installed the light switches and outlets to AFTER all the all the drywall taped and floated, and even painted. The problem was that there was so much drywall compound floated around the areas of the electrical switches and outlets boxes that it was near impossible to even see the screw holes for the gang boxes. There was considerable time and effort in cutting out the excess drywall mud just so we could cleanly install the light switches. How do you avoid such a situation?

Do you guys install light switches and outlets before OR after floating drywall compound?

 

Depending on the job.... sometimes temp devices are needed for power and lighting but the finished devices always go in after the final painting.

You need to exercise control when applying the joint compound to keep it out of the boxes.

I have gone to jobs where the boxes were 1/4 to 1/2 full of joint compound.
Word gets out and usually gets back to the drywall company.

 

Usually, the joint compound that gets into boxes can be easily chipped out by tapping with a hammer. The pain comes in when your switches are already installed. You end up picking it out of the crevices of the switch. Every finisher is different. I do my own, so I take time to avoid that which I will have to correct later on. I'm mostly a remodeler, so when ever practical, I leave the old switches in and switch them out for new after everything is done. Don't have to worry about hitting them with paint etc.

 

Hirer better or more conscientious contractors

Normally the electrical finish work is done after the painting on new construction but small additions are often all about who can be scheduled when. I've painted many additions where the electrician got there first, the only time I complained was when they installed all the switch plates before I painted. It isn't a big deal to paint around the devices and a rag will take care of any occasional errant paint.