What the heck is this in my wall?
#1
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What the heck is this in my wall?
I have an older house, built in the 1920s. I was going to replace a worn out rotary dimmer in our dining room with a Lutron Diva. Wall appears to be standard 2x4 framing with plaster.
I knew the switch was screwed directly to wall without a box, and planned to pop a box in. However I was surprised to find a finished wood 'something' inside the wall. Is this an old abandoned pocket door?
Link to pic:
Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet
I knew the switch was screwed directly to wall without a box, and planned to pop a box in. However I was surprised to find a finished wood 'something' inside the wall. Is this an old abandoned pocket door?
Link to pic:
Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet
#3
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It doesn't sound hollow. Thought it would be loose and have a little give like a pocket door does, but it doesn't. Maybe screwed down?
The wall divides the dining room from the living room. Nothing on other side.
The wall divides the dining room from the living room. Nothing on other side.
#5
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It looks too tight against the wall to be an abandoned pocket door. I would expect there to be a gap between the door and wall framing. Granted, I don't have a better answer as to what it is... but I do like Ray's process to figure it out. The current wiring makes me shiver a bit - good that you're updating it!
#6
You can see the wood better, but the picture looks like the wood isn't finished. It looks like the wood has taken on a patina over the years and is just naturally beautiful. I think it's a 2 x 4 like any other.
Many old homes have nice wood like this, I have an entire roof made of old growth pine planks and it's a shame they're all covered up.
Many old homes have nice wood like this, I have an entire roof made of old growth pine planks and it's a shame they're all covered up.
#7
Looks like a nailer for the other side of the wall. What happens on the other side of the wall? Is there a corner?
#8
If that wall is 2X4 install a new box and be done with it,is the wall on the other side plastered?
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Arlington ONE-BOX Single-Gang Outlet Box
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Hi guys, sorry for the late response...busy weekend outside of the house.
I took a 1/2 bit to it. Got about 2 inches into the suspect board, and the Chuck was hitting the plaster, so I quit. It's solid.
I snapped some more pics - take a look at the linked album. (Pardon the mess)
As I think more about it, I wonder if it's a post? As it looks like a beam going across the ceiling in the pic with the yellow chair?
PS - thank you all for your thoughts and ideas. I really appreciate it.
Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet
I took a 1/2 bit to it. Got about 2 inches into the suspect board, and the Chuck was hitting the plaster, so I quit. It's solid.
I snapped some more pics - take a look at the linked album. (Pardon the mess)
As I think more about it, I wonder if it's a post? As it looks like a beam going across the ceiling in the pic with the yellow chair?
PS - thank you all for your thoughts and ideas. I really appreciate it.
Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet
#10
Is the opening at least 1½" deep? If so I'd just screw a box to the mystery piece. If less than that here is a 1" deep box. You could just cut the side mounting brackets off and screw to the mystery wood through the back of the box.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Raco-1-in...04SP/204855688
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Raco-1-in...04SP/204855688
#12
how deep of a box do I need for a lutron dimmer switch?