Flush wall sockets on plasterboard walls

pledgeX

I'm looking to replace my current surface mounted power sockets with those that sit flush on the walls.

I know for brickwork you install a back box and fix the face plate to that, but we have plasterboard walls. Do you need to have back box in this case (something like this) or can you just fix the plate directly to the wall and have the cables 'loose' at the back?

DevCoder

You should use dry lining back boxes, else (apart from other things) you're securing the faceplate just into the plasterboard. Not very secure when you're pulling plugs out etc.

EssexExile

You need the box.

stator

As said above you need a dry lining box:
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Products/Electrical+Lighting/Electrical/Junction-Boxes+Back-Boxes/Dry-Lining-Boxes/c/1000128

Unless there was a reason the original electrician used a surface mount pattress box instead of mounting it into the wall..

MX5huggy

As said you need a box and dry lining box is what you probably will use but because they have a frame that sits slightly over the plaster board you may not like the final appearance with the flush fittings. In that case you will have to use standard boxes and mount them on battens which will be a fiddle.

phill99

If you are asking this question, you should not contemplate doing this yourself.

pledgeX

phill99 wrote: »

If you are asking this question, you should not contemplate doing this yourself.

I'm not doing it myself but I am paying for it so need to cost it. Thanks for your concern .

googler

The trouble with the dry lining box you showed is that it's held by the yellow clips behind the plasterboard. For a secure installation, it needs to be screwed to either the studwork behind the plasterboard, or to the brickwork that the studwork is secured to.

Observe the screws in the rear of this one

http://kingfisher.scene7.com/is/image/Kingfisher/Electricity_Replacesocket_278_02?wid=260&hei=190

This is for a solid wall, but shows how the back box should be mounted.

http://www.diyfixit.co.uk/electrics/socket-outlets-fitting-flush-metal-box.html

Doozergirl

You sometimes need deeper backboxes with flush fittings. Check the specification for the flush fitting, in case.