Filling in the gaps...

Dave Rudderham · Nov 10, 2017

I'm not sure if this is the right section for this, so apologies if it's not.

At college (current Level 3 mature student) we've been taught how to chase and knock out a hole for a back box in new plaster, but we've not been told how to fill it back in.

Would that be normally out side the remit of a domestic electrician or is there a specific product for doing it. I know the can of expanding foam I used to plug the holes in my shed showed someone filling in a chase, but surely that can't be the correct way of doing it. What about if a chunk falls off when you're making a 1 gang into a 2 gang back box.

(I do have some random thoughts I know lol)

telectrix · Nov 10, 2017

you'd normally use bonding plaster followed by a skim of finish. alternative is a product called one coat. or get a plasterer to do it , preferably before socket is 2nd fixed.

Andy78 · Nov 10, 2017

I never quote to provide a finished surface. That's either for a plasterer or decorator to sort out.
On a rewire I would usually fill all chases and boxes with a bonding coat and leave a few mm shy of the finished surface. For smaller jobs I will usually use a ready mix deep filler, again finishing shy of the surface so that can be given a smooth coat at a later date.

Leesparkykent · Nov 10, 2017

Dave Rudderham said:
I'm not sure if this is the right section for this, so apologies if it's not.

At college (current Level 3 mature student) we've been taught how to chase and knock out a hole for a back box in new plaster, but we've not been told how to fill it back in.

Would that be normally out side the remit of a domestic electrician or is there a specific product for doing it. I know the can of expanding foam I used to plug the holes in my shed showed someone filling in a chase, but surely that can't be the correct way of doing it. What about if a chunk falls off when you're making a 1 gang into a 2 gang back box.

(I do have some random thoughts I know lol)

If we take on a rewire where a builder isn't involved then sometimes we are asked to make good any chases/damage . I don't mind quoting for this and allow 2 days extra for a standard rewire. We use easifill to make good, mix it up In a gorilla bucket with a plasters whisk, lay it on with a jointing knife so it sits proud and when dry rub it down with a bit of 120 grit sand paper and finish it off with a very fine sanding block. Once painted you would never know it's been chased as the finish is perfect. If filling in on lath and plaster wall where the plaster is crumbly then usually apply PVA, let it go tacky then fill with easifill.
The key is not to mix up too much in one go as goes off quick, if you have lots of filling to do.

[ElectriciansForums.net] Filling in the gaps...

Andy78 · Nov 10, 2017

Looks good that Lee. I'll have to look that product up, not seen it before.

Octopus · Nov 10, 2017

"excludes making good"

Is often written on my estimates

and for outside work

"excudes groundworks"

as I hate digging

Leesparkykent · Nov 10, 2017

Andy78 said:
Looks good that Lee. I'll have to look that product up, not seen it before.

Really good stuff mate, easy to work with. Normally pay about £11 for a bag from travis Perkins. Gyproc Easi Fill 45 Compound 10kg | Wickes.co.uk - http://www.wickes.co.uk/Gyproc-Easi-Fill-45-Compound-10kg/p/138960

Dave Rudderham · Nov 10, 2017

Leesparkykent said:
If we take on a rewire where a builder isn't involved then sometimes we are asked to make good any chases/damage . I don't mind quoting for this and allow 2 days extra for a standard rewire. We use easifill to make good, mix it up In a gorilla bucket with a plasters whisk, lay it on with a jointing knife so it sits proud and when dry rub it down with a bit of 120 grit sand paper and finish it off with a very fine sanding block. Once painted you would never know it's been chased as the finish is perfect. If filling in on lath and plaster wall where the plaster is crumbly then usually apply PVA, let it go tacky then fill with easifill.
The key is not to mix up too much in one go as goes off quick, if you have lots of filling to do.

View attachment 39236

that looks good. One of the guys on my Level 3 is a plasterer so anything big I'll be bringing him on and letting him do the messy stuff lol. I was enlarging a socket at home and the thought popped into my head what would I use if a lump of plaster fell off.

Dave Rudderham · Nov 10, 2017

Murdoch said:
"excludes making good"

Is often written on my estimates

and for outside work

"excudes groundworks"

as I hate digging

I'm not a fan of digging myself, I'll be making an alteration to my terms and conditions lol

kingeri · Nov 10, 2017

Just use superglue!

Leesparkykent · Nov 10, 2017

Dave Rudderham said:
that looks good. One of the guys on my Level 3 is a plasterer so anything big I'll be bringing him on and letting him do the messy stuff lol. I was enlarging a socket at home and the thought popped into my head what would I use if a lump of plaster fell off.

. Another good one for small filling work is toupret interior filler.
Toupret Powdered Interior Filler 2kg - https://www.screwfix.com/p/toupret-powdered-interior-filler-2kg/4911H?tc=UA4&ds_rl=1245250&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvffH_ea01wIVhgrTCh1WQgRBEAQYAiABEgKv2vD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CLH5kbjntNcCFUGK7QodzsQD3A

rolyberkin · Nov 10, 2017

I use plasterboard adhesive, probably similar to easy fill, rubs down very easily, also bought one of these which is the mutts nuts!
Mirka Handy Sander 80 x 230mm - Toolstation - https://www.toolstation.com/shop/p86220?r=googleshopping&rr=marin&utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=googleshoppingfeed&mkwid=sfmkrW50F_dc&pcrid=142478673562&pkw=&pmt=&product=86220&gclid=Cj0KCQiAuZXQBRDKARIsAMwpUeTLahdtJ3FtENVOlMvn5ggwWeoXzVJH4nEY_s0DRheGhkmmYlUqqaIaAknbEALw_wcB

Lip.82 · Nov 10, 2017

Leesparkykent said:
If we take on a rewire where a builder isn't involved then sometimes we are asked to make good any chases/damage . I don't mind quoting for this and allow 2 days extra for a standard rewire. We use easifill to make good, mix it up In a gorilla bucket with a plasters whisk, lay it on with a jointing knife so it sits proud and when dry rub it down with a bit of 120 grit sand paper and finish it off with a very fine sanding block. Once painted you would never know it's been chased as the finish is perfect. If filling in on lath and plaster wall where the plaster is crumbly then usually apply PVA, let it go tacky then fill with easifill.
The key is not to mix up too much in one go as goes off quick, if you have lots of filling to do.

View attachment 39236

We use this mate, once you have filled in the chase with this, leave it start to dry abit and then use a metal flexible scrapper to take off any excess. Run the scrapper over a few times and you get a perfect finish without having to sand the walls. If it's to dry when you first start to scrap it, spray abit of water on

123 · Nov 10, 2017

I must be old fashioned, I just get a plasterer to do it.

Des 56 · Nov 10, 2017

What about if a chunk falls off when you're making a 1 gang into a 2 gang back box

Dave,you should be aiming to do this task without ever having to patch the wall,it can be done without the need for filling of any sort

Filling in the gaps...

Dave Rudderham

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telectrix

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Andy78

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Leesparkykent

Andy78

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Octopus

Leesparkykent

Dave Rudderham

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Dave Rudderham

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kingeri

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Leesparkykent

rolyberkin

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Lip.82

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123

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Des 56

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