Moved sockets off skirting boards - what next?

josh100_2

Hi all,

First time novice DIYer here so forgive my ignorance.

I've just had some electrical work done to my house which included moving some very low sockets from off the skirting boards and onto the walls above.

This has obviously left gaps in the skirting boards were the sockets were originally, and spaces in the walls underneath the new sockets where the electrician was sorting out the wiring.

What would be the easiest/cheapest ways to fill in the spaces in the walls and skirting boards? Cheers in advance.

latecomer

You can fill the gaps in the skirting boards by cutting a piece of wood to fit and then screw this in place (presuming you have wood behind the skirting board that its attached to) very slightly below the surface and then fill over. Then sand and paint when dry.

Channels in the wall can be simply filled then sanded and painted.

BargainGalore

Or just glue the wood with no nail type product and of course fill any holes and sand down

olias

Or just replace the whole length of skirting - not a very difficult job. Even easier if you use a slightly taller skirting to cover any damage to the walls where you pry the old skirting off.

Olias

27col

Why didn't the electrician make good the chases in the walls up to the new socket positions. If I had been doing the job it would have been included in the quote. I would have used a mortar mix(comes in small bags nowadays) almost to the finished surface and then skimmed it with a little filler. Unless the skirtings had large pieces missing I would have thought that ordinary Polyfilla type products would be enough to make good.

Horlock

Depends on how easy you want it. Given that you got an electrician to move the plug socket in the first place possibly the easiest solution is a plank plate the size of the original socket. The one below is from screwfix they tend to have shops all over the country, and it only costs you £0.48.

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/products.jsp?id=20791&ts=25152

Obviously you can get different colour versions etc.



For the record - (1) I don't work for screwfix (2) I don't recommend playing with electicity unless qualified to do so - or flying kites next to pylons in storms