Replace knockout box

[rossi.tek]

Hello, I need to replace the knockout box of a light switch with a deeper one. The light switch is on a partition drywall. It seems to be attached to an horizontal piece of wood between the studs. That would prevent me from using a deeper box. Any idea on how I could create more space behind the box?

 

[rsgaz]

attached to an horizontal piece of wood between the studs.

That's pretty standard for a stud wall, the horizontal piece is called a nogging.

Can you tell how deep/thick the nogging is? They are usually just offcuts of the same size timber that the carpenter was using to build the stud wall at the time, but tilted up 90°.

If it's thick enough, you can use an oscillating multitool to slit many, many vertical cuts to, say, 15mm deep and then break them all out with a chisel and just tidy up any rough bits and re-fit the box.

It would be extremely difficult to do this by hand with just a hammer and chisel, because the noggings aren't usually fixed all that securely with just a couple of nails banged in. If you try and chisel, the whole wall just vibrates and you don't get anywhere!!

 

[rossi.tek]

Thanks, I'll try.

 

[Burnerman]

If you don’t have a multi tool, perhaps you have a smallish flat bit for your drill? Chain drill to exactly the same depth and you’ll get there.
John

 

[securespark]

Sometimes the timber is less substantial and it is possible to remove it. Then you fit a drylining box. But a picture would be helpful!