Wife doesn't like the look of the screw behind new doorbell camera

[Don Morris]

Had a doorbell camera installed. Wife not happy about the sight of the screw coming out the rear of the unit. Can't say I blame her. Fortunately I didn't instsall it. Best way to cover it? Was thinking of placing some expanding foam in there. shape it then paint it. Or could a triangular piece of custom fitted wood be slippe d in there and glued to place? Whar would you do? Might be a reason to buy one of those shape duplicating guides. Any advice which will help me do something a wife would accept will be greatly appreciated.

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[Ron Selzer]

Foam backing rod with 1/8" of white Silicone caulking.
Ron

[Doug Garson]

Whatever you do, keep in mind that you may need to remove the camera at some time in the future if it malfunctions. What height is it at? I would expect it to be above head height so you would never see the screw. How about a little rubber ducky sitting on top?

[Zachary Hoyt]

I like both those ideas, or for the more classic look I would suggest a small but tasteful artificial flower.

[Richard Coers]

Cut a piece of wood to fill the gap and just wedge it in. Second option is to raise it up so she can't see behind it. You don't want kids ringing it anyway!

[Dave Lynch]

Yup, looks like crap. You need to remove and mount a block behind. Paint or use a piece of PVC to match trim and say ‘honey you’re right’.

[Bill Dufour]

Rubber spider, baby duck,
BillD

[Patty Hann]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle or Transformer Action figure.

[Lee Schierer]

Cut a piece of wood to fill the gap and just wedge it in.

This what I would do. Make sure the block goes full length or you will likely make a home for spiders behind your camera which then they may give you false activations of your camera.

[Rich Engelhardt]

I think I'd just try some white paint on the screw and see if that made it blend in better.

[John Kananis]

You could just flood it with caulk. Twice. It's going to sink in because it's a large area so hit it a second time the next day or day after...

That said, I installed a ring not too long ago and some kid that was soliciting landscape work pressed it so hard that it smashed the button... this was day 2 after install. I should have grabbed a business card or something but I had no need so I just said no thanks. It wasn't until later in the afternoon that I noticed.

[Curt Harms]

Cut a piece of wood to fill the gap and just wedge it in. Second option is to raise it up so she can't see behind it. You don't want kids ringing it anyway!

The first option would be my choice I think. Remove the door bell, cut and shape a triangular piece of wood. Mount the door bell to the triangular piece of wood but make it as small as practical so it looks like part of the door bell assembly.

[Rich Engelhardt]

You could just flood it with caulk. Twice. It's going to sink in because it's a large area so hit it a second time the next day or day after...

That said, I installed a ring not too long ago and some kid that was soliciting landscape work pressed it so hard that it smashed the button... this was day 2 after install. I should have grabbed a business card or something but I had no need so I just said no thanks. It wasn't until later in the afternoon that I noticed.
As mentioned above by Ron Selzer - they make foam backing rods that you stuff into wide cracks to give the caulk some added support.

[John Kananis]

Oh, not knocking it, just perspicacity wouldn't go out of my way to buy something else when I have a perfectly good tube of caulk (or 5) just sitting in a bin that'll work just fine.


As mentioned above by Ron Selzer - they make foam backing rods that you stuff into wide cracks to give the caulk some added support.

[Rich Engelhardt]

Oh, not knocking it, just perspicacity wouldn't go out of my way to buy something else when I have a perfectly good tube of caulk (or 5) just sitting in a bin that'll work just fine.Caulk is only supposed to span a 1/4" wide space.
I've tried to plug a hole about an inch in diameter.
The caulk just fell out after about a month.

[John Kananis]

"Flood" the first day and come back and refill the second day after it shrinks. Should hold up fine.


Caulk is only supposed to span a 1/4" wide space.
I've tried to plug a hole about an inch in diameter.
The caulk just fell out after about a month.

[Jimmy Harris]

I'd just build a mount out of wood or whatever and paint it to match. It shouldn't take that long to do. It doesn't have to be anything ornate or fancy.

What you don't want to do is anything that makes replacing the camera harder. Electronics like that tend to fail pretty regularly. If you get 5 years out of it, you're doing good. So I'd build it with future failure in mind.

[Rob Sack]

Why not cut and fit a piece of tubing with an i.d. just large enough to accomodate the screw. Paint it white. That way you can easily remove and service the camera and cover the screw without making any more holes in the wall.