Making plug sockets safer during plastering/decorating

Pinkangel

Hi

We're having the living room plastered and decorated in a few weeks, and while this is being done we'll leave the plug sockets loosened from the wall so the finish will be neater once they're screwed back on. The problem is it's not ideal when there's a young child milling around. Is there any way of making the sockets safe while they're not screwed to the wall?

Many thanks.

YBR

Keep the child out of the living room - A stairgate may be the easiest way. Your plasters/decorators will not want your child there anyway.
Also turn that socket ring off at the consumer unit, but you'll have to be aware of the consequences in terms of what else is on the same fuse.

Owain_Moneysaver

Sockitz Safetyshield (disposable or reusable) or Yoozybox Plasterguards

Safer for the plasterers too. 

neilmcl

Owain_Moneysaver said:

Sockitz Safetyshield (disposable or reusable) or Yoozybox Plasterguards

Safer for the plasterers too. 

What a cracking little invention.

Pinkangel

neilmcl said:

Owain_Moneysaver said:

Sockitz Safetyshield (disposable or reusable) or Yoozybox Plasterguards

Safer for the plasterers too. 

What a cracking little invention.

Ah yes I remember seeing one of these on Dragons' Den a while ago and thinking they looked great! I assumed they had to be installed by an electrician but having looked at the website I'm thinking it might be fine to do ourselves, as the wiring doesn't get touched...

Pinkangel

YBR said:

Keep the child out of the living room - A stairgate may be the easiest way. Your plasters/decorators will not want your child there anyway.
Also turn that socket ring off at the consumer unit, but you'll have to be aware of the consequences in terms of what else is on the same fuse.

Thanks, just checked the consumer unit but unfortunately we'd lose the use of other sockets downstairs too. I'll be able to keep my son out of the room most of the time. But unfortunately we'll need to use the room for eating in the evening (thanks to our through lounge layout and tiny kitchen it's either that or eat tea in a bedroom).

theonlywayisup

Pinkangel said:

YBR said:

Keep the child out of the living room - A stairgate may be the easiest way. Your plasters/decorators will not want your child there anyway.
Also turn that socket ring off at the consumer unit, but you'll have to be aware of the consequences in terms of what else is on the same fuse.

I'll be able to keep my son out of the room most of the time. But unfortunately we'll need to use the room for eating in the evening 

As you are eating, presumably he will be sat down.  Hopefully supervised by you. 

fenwick458

loosening the sockets and switches still doesn't get the job done perfectly. expecting a plasterer to run a wet, sharp tool close to live wires is asking a bit to be fair, I can see why the majority still tend to give them a wide berth, and leave gaps or lumps around them.
best way to do it is have them removed, and then refitted afterwards. Using Wago lever connectors makes the job quick & easy, and tuck the cables right into the backbox, this means the plasterer can go right over the top and get it perfectly flat.

FreeBear

fenwick458 said: best way to do it is have them removed, and then refitted afterwards.

Had a small room plastered a few months back. Had removed all the switches & sockets, and made the electrics safe. Cut some card to be a snug fit in the back boxes and stop the plaster from clogging up the screw holes - Also gave a second layer of protection to any live wires.

Plaster came in, skimmed the walls & ceiling, then left me to find the wall boxes & cut out the still damp plaster. Those safety shields look like a good second option if there is enough slack in the cables and longer fixing screws are supplied.

rob7475

I've used both the sockitz and yoozy boxes. Both are great but you will need to get some longer screws (probably 40/50mm). These are picked up cheaply in screwfix etc though. If you need to make the socket safe because of children, they are ideal and do make it easier to plaster up to them with a fairly neat finish.
Now my child is older, if I'm skimming a wall I'll take the socket off, put the wires into a terminal block and push to back of socket before covering with card - this makes it simple to plaster over and get a perfect finish

Mutton_Geoff

FreeBear said:

stop the plaster from clogging up the screw holes

Always worth having one of these in your toolbox - https://amzn.to/3gjz9dO

I'd take all the wall plates off and wago the ring together, tape the wires up and push them back into the box. Put another strip of duct tape across the back box to keep most of the plaster out. Run the room on an extension lead until the job is done.

If you're not confident with electrics, get a spark in to disconnect and reconnect when you're done. White plates, even decent ones like MK are very cheap, less than £4 for a double switched socket, so it's worth replacing at the same time. And use a spirit level to line them up before tightening the screws, there's nothing worse that wonky sockets in a room!