After creating my plan for the shower and tub, I started cutting the drywall to make room for the cement board and I noticed a problem. The light switch was right next to where the shower wall will end. Additionally, the switch for the Jacuzzi tub was still there with a random outlet. So I started my google search to see if I could DIY this electrical work and this is how it went.
Google search: How
7YO: “Mom… Can I have some water?”
I get water.
Google search: do you
3YO: “Mom. Mom. Mom. MOM…. Watch me twirl”
I watch.
Google search: relocate
6YO: “Mom… How do you write ‘once upon a time there was a girl with a lot of friends and she also had a dog…’?”
I spell.
Google search: a light
3YO: “Mom. Mom. Mom. MOM…. Watch my booty!”
Oh for f*#% sake. I am not watching that.
Previously I said that I was remodeling my house by myself, but that is not 100% true. I am doing all the research and work, however, on the weekends my amazing husband has taken the kids on amazing adventures to give me the time I need to work. This happened to be a weekend. After my previous google search attempt, the family took off allowing me to get something done.
Anyway, I finally found out that this is something that I could do. To be sure, I verified the information on multiple sites, watched a few more booty moves, said goodbye to the family, then rolled up my sleeves and dug in.
Removing the drywall
To even get started I had to remove more drywall. This allowed me to see what I was working with. I ended up removing a 2×2 foot square.
The light switch
To begin, obviously, I turned off the breakers and made sure they were not hot by using a noncontact voltage checker. After about 20 times, I was somewhat confident I was not going to die.
I decided the light switch only needed to be moved from one side of the stud to the other. Using a hole saw, I cut a 1″ hole in the stud.
You attach it to your drill and it cuts a perfect little hole in the wood.
That was the easy part. Next comes the scary part. I had to disconnect all of the wires in the box.
I unscrewed the switch and took a picture to ensure I could get it back together in the same way.
The black wires go into the holes, and the white wires were connected via a cap.
Next, I did the sign of the cross and started removing the wires. Once the wires were out, I removed the box, which was attached by 2 very large nails, relocated the box to the other side of the stud, and shoved the wires into the box through the teeny, tiny hole at the top. Finally, I followed the instructions from the new light switch box and put it back together.
One down and still alive! I call this a win. Now to the tricky part.
The outlet
I’m not talking Gap, Banana Republic, and Harry and Davids… I wish I were. Remember the ugly Jacuzzi tub? We still had the control on the wall as well as a random outlet by the shower. I contemplated just getting rid of it, but it was far easier to use the wiring as it was, so I had to get creative.
The control was already inactive, but the outlet was not.
Now I had to figure out what to do with a random outlet.
Our master closet is directly behind that wall which made me think, “Who doesn’t need an extra outlet in their closet”, right?
So I replaced the box with a single box and bought a new outlet, removed the wires and box just like the switch, cut yet another hole in the wall, and turned it around.
I then repeated the process I used with connecting the light switch and now I have an outlet in my closet!
So I did it, I’m alive, and I am proud of myself. Definitely a win! Next week repairing drywall…