We've always known Johnathan Scott to be pretty even-keeled, but when he sees someone painting over a socket plate, he might get a little grumpy.
The TV personality posted a video about the painting mistake with the caption 'Please don’t be this lazy guys.' In the clip, a person uses a brush to paint over a wall plate over two plugs. The video then switches to a video of Scott. He says to the camera, 'No that is one of my biggest pet peeves, you do not just paint right over plates, whether it's a switch or a receptacle, does not happen. Take the plates off. He continues, 'Do not just roller brush right over, that's just...no.'
For those who are also just learning how to paint, this might come as a surprise. What's so bad about a little bit of paint on a plate? According to the experts, a lot.
First, in rare cases, painting over a plate can be a safety concern. Jennifer Ebert, digital editor and design expert at Homes & Gardens, says: 'If you paint over the plate including the electrical outlets, it can allow paint to seep into the outlets and behind the plate. If this wet paint gets into the wiring behind, it can cause electrical shocks and faults. Unless you have a very steady hand, this is difficult to avoid, especially if using a large brush like shown in the video.' It's much easier to take off plates and replace them than rewiring a house.
Aside from the potential grave dangers, this technique can be very unattractive. Many plastic finishes used on plates do not take well to paint, which can cause the paint to flake or bead off, creating a shabby and unfinished look. Further, paint chips that fall off can be dangerous to children or pets.
It also can be quite inconvenient, especially if you hope to change your color scheme. Ebert states: 'If paint seeps into the space between the plate and the wall, which is pretty much inevitable when painting this way, it can seal the plate to the wall. This can cause major problems if you are hoping to replace the plate to change colors or if there is an electrical issue for which you need to remove the plates.
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There are rare cases where painting over a plate is unavoidable. In these instances, Scott advises: 'If you do need to paint a plate, because it can happen, you want to spray it, and you want to use something that's kind of like a semi-gloss or a high gloss because it's going to give you a nicer finish. You can also actually apply wallpaper to a plate and blend it perfectly with your wallpaper if you want to make it just disappear.'
Though it might seem easier in the moment, mindlessly painting over a socket is bad for the long-term aesthetics and safety of your home. Painting can be a slow process, but it's worth trying to get the little things right.
