Photodisc/Getty
READ MORE ABOUT:
Remember when you were a kid and you'd flip the lights on and off really fast and your mom told you that it would start a fire? Apparently, that's mostly superstition. Although theoretically possible.
Light switches are a common and easily salvageable item. You can remove these light switches and put them in a new house, salvage the metal for recycling or sell the old light switches to refurbish. The choice is yours. I'm not going to tell you how to live.
For this project you will need a screwdriver and maybe a putty knife. The most important thing you'll need to do is shut off the electricity, whole-house or single-room shut off. Whatever works for you.
- Use the screwdriver to remove the switch plate. Set the plate down. Save it for reuse.
- There might be caulking holding the plate to the wall. Scrape that away with the putty knife.
- Remove foam insulating gaskets where applicable.
- Remove the screws that hold the switch to the wall.
- Pull the switch out of the wall. Use caution. Those wires may be old and fragile.
- Disconnect wires from the back of the switch.
- Put caps on the wires before leaving the premises.
More On Architectural Salvage:
How to Reclaim a Cupboard Door
How to Reclaim Gutters
How to Reclaim a Kitchen Sink
-
- {}
