Installation Guide

We fit every Rio Salto plate in our own home before it joins the collection, and we live with it day to day, switching lights and plugging in lamps. Changing a wall plate usually takes a few minutes and a screwdriver, with no rewiring. Here's how to do it.

An ivory Ornate toggle switch plate on a warm plaster wall in a sunlit kitchen

What's In The Box

  • Your Rio Salto wall plate
  • Color-matched mounting screws (Forge Black and Warm Ivory plates also include Gold screws)

Our plates fasten with visible, color-matched screws that line up with the usual screw positions on standard U.S. switches and outlets. If any screws are missing from your order, email us at contact@riosalto.com with your order number and we'll help.

Tools You Need

  • A hand screwdriver. It gives you more control than a drill and helps protect the finish.
  • Access to your breaker panel

Switches: Toggle and Rocker

  1. Turn off the power to the switch at the breaker. The screw terminals on a switch are live while the power is on, and a metal plate or screwdriver should never touch them.
  2. Remove the screws and the old plate.
  3. Check that the switch sits straight and level with the wall.
  4. Hold the new plate in place and start each screw by hand.
  5. Tighten until snug. Don't overtighten.
  6. Turn the power back on.

Duplex Outlets

A Nouveau duplex outlet cover in a gold finish on a cream wall
  1. Turn off the power to the outlet at the breaker.
  2. Remove the screw and the old plate.
  3. Check that the outlet sits straight and level with the wall.
  4. Hold the new plate in place and start the screw by hand.
  5. Tighten until snug. Don't overtighten.
  6. Turn the power back on.

Measure Before You Order

Measure the width and height of your current plate and compare them with our dimensions. If the old plate is already off, measure the wall opening and any paint marks around it. The new plate should cover all of it. Midsize plates are a little larger than Standard on every side and help hide paint lines, wallpaper edges, uneven drywall cuts and the outline of a previous plate. See our Size Guide for every plate's dimensions.

Troubleshooting

The plate isn't sitting flush. Metal plates are rigid, so they rest on the highest points of the wall around the box. On uneven tile, stone or heavy texture, you may see a small gap at an edge. Tighten the screws only until the plate is snug, because overtightening won't flatten it and can mark the finish. If the switch or outlet sticks out, it can often be adjusted on its mounting screws. If it sits too deep, for example behind new tile, a box extender or spacers may be needed.

The opening is larger than the plate. Midsize is our largest size. If your opening is too large even for Midsize, a drywall repair around the box before installing will give you the cleanest result.

Paint lines or an old outline show. Choose Midsize, and measure the marks around your current plate to make sure the new one covers all of them. With wallpaper, hang the paper first and install the plate over it.

Your screws are too short. Wall plates in the U.S. use a standard #6-32 machine screw. If a recessed switch or outlet needs a longer screw, hardware stores carry #6-32 screws in longer lengths. They may not match the plate's finish as closely as the screws we include.

Call a licensed electrician if you see damaged, scorched or loose wires, if a switch or outlet is cracked, loose or warm, or if you aren't comfortable working near electrical devices.

Shop All Plates

More questions? Visit our FAQ.