How to make good around sockets

Slinky

We've had a lot of replastering done in our house and several of the sockets have gaps around them where the plasterer hasn't got quite close enough. How can I make a tidy job with the Polyfilla with nothing to back onto?

tacpot12

I think you might be overthinking the problem. If you wodge some Polyfilla into the hole we can see in the photo, it will have enough to grip onto to make a strong repair. You could try it with one socket just to give you confidence that it will work. Just don't over do it. Put just enough in to fill the hole and get it level with the original plaster. The wider the scraper you can use, the better a result you will get. 

I would stongly recommend turning the power off to the socket(s) while doing this sort of work.  

grumbler

Unscrew the socket and post a photo. What sort of wall is it? It doesn't look like a stud wall, so there has to be some cavity behind that you can fill.

Plaster (and sand) the wall with the socket unscrewed and slightly pulled out. Make sure that it's switched off at the CU, preferably with main switch (not MCB). And wrap the socket into a plastic bag.

Paint the wall and let the wall dry before screwing the socket back.

Ben1989

Yeah throw some polyfilla in it and it'll be fine. Tape the top of your socket. I've done it many times and looks clean and flat.

Slinky

grumbler said:

Unscrew the socket and post a photo. What sort of wall is it? It doesn't look like a stud wall, so there has to be some cavity behind that you can fill.

Plaster (and sand) the wall with the socket unscrewed and slightly pulled out. Make sure that it's switched off at the CU, preferably with main switch (not MCB). And wrap the socket into a plastic bag.

Paint the wall and let the wall dry before screwing the socket back.

It's on what was an external cavity wall. The box is set quite deep into the wall now as it's been plastered and replastered. I'm having to use 40mm screws. It's all a bit messy and I don't give much for my chances of trying to make anything stick to the underside of the top without it all falling into the box

grumbler

Slinky said:

grumbler said:

Unscrew the socket and post a photo. What sort of wall is it? It doesn't look like a stud wall, so there has to be some cavity behind that you can fill.

Plaster (and sand) the wall with the socket unscrewed and slightly pulled out. Make sure that it's switched off at the CU, preferably with main switch (not MCB). And wrap the socket into a plastic bag.

Paint the wall and let the wall dry before screwing the socket back.

It's on what was an external cavity wall. The box is set quite deep into the wall now as it's been plastered and replastered. I'm having to use 40mm screws. It's all a bit messy and I don't give much for my chances of trying to make anything stick to the underside of the top without it all falling into the box

It will - like plaster sticks to bricks or to ceiling and doesn't fall. Just clean the brick and wet it a little with diluted PVA. And, if needed, you can support the plaster for some time with something flat, e.g. a trowel covered with a bit of plastic film.

Reddleman79

I would use lightweight filler. it fills deep holes, doesn't shrink and dries quickly. It's lovely to work with and gives a smooth finish.

Slinky

Reddleman79 said:

I would use lightweight filler. it fills deep holes, doesn't shrink and dries quickly. It's lovely to work with and gives a smooth finish.

as in Polyfilla, or something else?

molerat

Turn off power.  Take socket off wall and put in plastic bag to stop it getting messy.  Use piece of cardboard / plywood in back box to extend surface out of wall.  Fill using the board to get a straight edge and stop the filler from falling into the hole.

Slinky

molerat said:

Turn off power.  Take socket off wall and put in plastic bag to stop it getting messy.  Use piece of cardboard / plywood in back box to extend surface out of wall.  Fill using the board to get a straight edge and stop the filler from falling into the hole.

That was the sort of idea I was looking for I think.

stuart45

grumbler said:

Slinky said:

grumbler said:

Unscrew the socket and post a photo. What sort of wall is it? It doesn't look like a stud wall, so there has to be some cavity behind that you can fill.

Plaster (and sand) the wall with the socket unscrewed and slightly pulled out. Make sure that it's switched off at the CU, preferably with main switch (not MCB). And wrap the socket into a plastic bag.

Paint the wall and let the wall dry before screwing the socket back.

It's on what was an external cavity wall. The box is set quite deep into the wall now as it's been plastered and replastered. I'm having to use 40mm screws. It's all a bit messy and I don't give much for my chances of trying to make anything stick to the underside of the top without it all falling into the box

It will - like plaster sticks to bricks or to ceiling and doesn't fall. Just clean the brick and wet it a little with diluted PVA. And, if needed, you can support the plaster for some time with something flat, e.g. a trowel covered with a bit of plastic film.

Like this. With the pointing trowel, I normally slide it sideways a bit first to break the bond. Take it outwards first and it pulls out the filler.
I've never tried it with a plastic film, but can see how it would work.