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Residential Electrical Wiring, Electric Codes, Smart Homes, Low Voltage & Network Wiring
As you prepare to wire your new house, addition, or basement office, be sure to think about the "standard" height at which light switches are typically placed. Most wall switch boxes are roughed-in at about 50 inches above the finished floor to the bottom of the box. However, at that height, the boxes are in the path of a typical 4 foot high drywall tape-joint. Not only does that mean that the switch boxes will be in the way of the drywall finishers, but they will also be located just about "picture level" on most walls. Do you really want your light switches to be a more prominent focal point than your prized Picasso? Perhaps most significantly, however, a light switch placed at "standard" height will be located just above the reach of most toddlers, who would otherwise be able to turn on the lights - all by themselves - in their big, dark, scary bedrooms;-) So, why not consider roughing-in your light switches so that they are located about 36 inches above the finished floor. This lower height is the "standard" height at which switches are located in many handicapped accessible homes, but unless you are an NBA basketball player, this lower height makes sense for almost all homes. Since you won't know where any of the light switches are when you first move into your new house anyway, you might as well get used to the new height while you are trying to figure out which switch, in that group of six, operates the front porch light. Try it! Use "sticky notes" placed about 36 inches off the floor at the proposed light switch locations to see if this is a realistic option for you and your family.
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