Electrical socket cover won't stay flat on wall

t45

Hello,
I have taken off electrical socket covers/plates for decorating and i’m trying to screen them back in – the problem is that they won’t sit flat on the wall. Not sure if the electrician who fitted them last year used an adhesive on the back to make them flat/flush on wall.
Would anyone know if there is a method I can use to make them flat on the wall? Perhaps an adhesive. They looked so tidy and flat when they were put on but obviously had to come off for paintwork and now they won’t screen in flat!
Also, is there anything I can use to clean splashes of paint off the covers/plates?
Many thanks!

Le_Kirk

It is likely that a cable has become trapped behind the internal socket connection block. Be very careful when working with sockets; turn off the power/drop the breaker for that ring if you intend to take then fully off.

stator

Is there a lip around the space where the sockets were?
You might have to sand this off, if it's made of paint or artex or whatever that was put up after the sockets were fitting, it can made it difficult to get the sockets back flush.

Risteard

Don't put an adhesive behind them. It would defeat the purpose of having screws on them for access.

chappers

t45 wrote: »

Hello,
I have taken off electrical socket covers/plates for decorating and i’m trying to screen them back in – the problem is that they won’t sit flat on the wall. Not sure if the electrician who fitted them last year used an adhesive on the back to make them flat/flush on wall.
Would anyone know if there is a method I can use to make them flat on the wall? Perhaps an adhesive. They looked so tidy and flat when they were put on but obviously had to come off for paintwork and now they won’t screen in flat!
Also, is there anything I can use to clean splashes of paint off the covers/plates?
Many thanks!

what was the point of taking them off if they've got paint on them?
use one of those green scourers if its emulsion or a Stanley knife blade for gloss.
Have you changed the screws, could it be they are too long and hitting the back of the box before tightening the faceplate in