What size mudring to use and how far should it stick out from the wall?

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mnoone

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This sounds like a dumb question but I don't think it is. If you sit a 1/2" mudring on a table and measure from the highest point of the mudring to the table top you get 1/2". But the non raised plate part of the mudring is ~1/16" thick. So it only accommodates 7/16" drywall. But then the screw heads stick out another 1/8". so now that leaves you 5/16" (1/2" - 1/16" - 1/8") for your 1/2" drywall.

I've typically been upsizing the mudring by 1/8" (so I use a 3/4" mudring for 5/8" drywall) and I've been installing it such that the screw heads on the mudring are flush to my studs. So that would leave about 3/4" - 1/8" - 1/16" = 9/16" sticking out for 5/8" drywall. So the mudring will actually be ever so slightly recessed in the drywall.

I am curious how others deal with this! Thank you!
 
mnoone said:
This sounds like a dumb question but I don't think it is. If you sit a 1/2" mudring on a table and measure from the highest point of the mudring to the table top you get 1/2". But the non raised plate part of the mudring is ~1/16" thick. So it only accommodates 7/16" drywall. But then the screw heads stick out another 1/8". so now that leaves you 5/16" (1/2" - 1/16" - 1/8") for your 1/2" drywall.

I've typically been upsizing the mudring by 1/8" (so I use a 3/4" mudring for 5/8" drywall) and I've been installing it such that the screw heads on the mudring are flush to my studs. So that would leave about 3/4" - 1/8" - 1/16" = 9/16" sticking out for 5/8" drywall. So the mudring will actually be ever so slightly recessed in the drywall.

I am curious how others deal with this! Thank you!
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It's called planning !
 
Add 1/8" to whatever the wall material thickness is, so for 1/2" use a 5/8" ring, for 5/8" use a 3/4" ring, the result no floating receptacles.
 
Kind of depends. A 2 gang ring is possible they don't cut close to the raised portion and if the mounting screws aren't pushing the wall covering out, you may end up protruding too far. Though a two gang ring (on a 4x4 box) can be changed out after the fact should that happen.

If using either a box with stud bracket or many hanger bar type mounts, the box often sits about 1/8" back anyway so for 1/2 wall covering you use a 5/8" ring and it will be nearly perfect every time.
 
This is especially important if you do a lot of pre-fab. Pre-fab work calls for breaking the ears of of the devices so the sheetrock can be cut clean around the ring. I agree with everything above about upsizing your rings 1/8" from your sheetrock thickness. If you're doing bigger jobs, it's hard to compete if you don't have a pre-fab dept. It saves so much time and money.
 
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