No idea what the story behind this is. It’s a single gang coax box, and just a hole next to it. Looks like previous owner started to patch the drywall by putting the backer in but gave up.
https://www.homedepot.ca/product/carlon-one-gang-low-voltage-mounting-bracket-for-rework/1000162146
You have a lot of options. If you are going to run Ethernet eventually, I’d use a big plate and keep the fist sized hole.
That looks like an easy option. Might not even have to remove the backer if it lines up right. We are planning on running ethernet but not here. It’s the corner of the dining room so it would be useless
Converting to a double gang would be pretty tough with that stud there Edit: I didn’t realize that was just a backer board for filling it in. It would probably be easier than matching the texture, but only if you can put one in without damaging the existing drywall
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Yup it’s just a backer board there. Easy enough to remove to switch to a double gang, but also easy ish to clean up and patch it, if I don’t texture
Wow, just wow.
Someone couldn’t even cut a straight opening, left it all messed up.
Hard to tell, but if you cut it square, would a double-gang fill it? If it would, then that does seem the easiest option (or just a low-voltage double gang size, as somone else mentioned).
Stuff like this is part of why I really dislike texture. It doesn’t hide imperfections (as some people claim) even when new - I can still see poor drywall work through it. I’m not really sure what purpose texture is supposed to serve. This knock-down type just traps dust and dirt in it.
Yup, it’s impressive how bad it is. It’s almost more work to be this bad lol. Its even worse if you notice that they didn’t cover up the coax ports to paint, so it’s entirely clogged up. If I wanted to use them, I would need to cut and re-terminate it.
Depends on how much work you’re willing to put in. I think you’ll find matching that texture to be quite a big pain in the ass. So what I would do is make a faux secondary outlet and just cover-up the previous mistake By making it look by design.
They sell cans that produce that knock-down texture. You just spray it on, then knock it down. It works really well, and many of them have adjustable nozzles for density control.
Very hard to match existing texture pattern if you’ve not done it before. If it’s something you’re going to look at every day, and it would annoy you to be able to see it, then I would definitely go for the double gang.
Yes, it definitely takes some experience. If he goes that route then he should practice on a piece of cardboard first. He gave me some more details in another reply, and 2 gang definitely seems like the easiest solution, and it opens up some future options.
I had to deal with this exact situation, installing the backer myself (those stirring sticks from the hardware store are choice when doubled)… getting the texture right is a righteous pita.
If I had to do this again, a cheat might be something like a two gang plate but one is blank:
If you want 3+ outlets there, yeah, do a double. If not, then don’t.
The box being so skewed wouldn’t sit with me, but you do you.
It’s not deep enough for a double gang. Are you just going to cut that wall stud? Anyways, do you have an application for double gang? Are you going to do the wiring yourself? Will it overload your breaker? Do you know what you’re doing? Patch it unless the answers to these questions support another gang. Patching is easier anyways.
Its not a stud, its a piece of fiber board screwed into place. I’m guessing it was supposed to be backing for a patch that never happened. The double gang would be empty, just a blank wall plate, or half existing coax and half blank
Oh, well that’s definitely easier then, assuming you can mount it to the current stud without it feeling jiggly.
Edit: bonus is that you’ll have a slot there if you want to run speaker wire or something in the future
You’re patching the right side no matter what since there’s a stud there. TBH, it all looks bad.
I’d square out the thing, put whatever size box fits (I’m assuming a single gang) that uses adjustable tabs to attach to the drywall, then patch whatever is left. With the stud there you probably don’t need to worry about adding blocking.
Its not a stud, just a piece of fiber board screwed into place. Likely to be used as backing for a patch that never came. I’d just unscrew it and then swap to a double gang after cleaning up the hole
