How would you fix the install of this 2 gang socket?

[cjc1867]

Hi
I noticed a 2 gang socket that was broken in half in one of my Landlord's properties that I was getting ready for the next tenants.

I bought a new one and wired it and then attempted to screw it to the back box. It was a tight fit and I couldn't get the front of the socket to sit flush with the wall.

I ended up leaving it and carried on with another job. I went back to it the other day and had another go. I unravelled the wires and was amazed how long they were so no wonder I had trouble fitting it.

I can't screw the back box in properly as you can see from the photo attached. It only had 1 screw in place and that was cockeyed.

Whoever has done this job has made a right botched job of this and I don't know what to do to repair it.

If you came face to face with this problem, what would you do to fix it?

Cheers

Colin

 

[Dartlec]

That wall looks like one of those nasty crumbly block ones that are very difficult to get a plug or fixing to hold in.

If you can get the back box in and flush to the wall, then some bonding or similar would likely hold it in place sufficiently.

If you or the landlord knows a plasterer they may be worth talking to as you likely only need a small bit.

Some years ago I had a similar issue and used some dry mix quick set cement type stuff, but I forget what product it was.

 

[catdog1121]

Few options..

• Take the floor up, put a maintenance free box under the floor to extend the cable, then move the socket up, cutting in a new box.
• Dig out the current hole so it will fit a 35mm back box, if you cant get fixings then use some some bonding plaster, putting wall plugs into the bonding plaster and screwing in the back box while wet, squeezing the plaster round the back box, should not move once dry..
• Drill new holes in the back box so you can get a fixing point elsewhere

What ever you do I would fit a 35mm back box as much easier to put the faceplate back than the current 25mm back box.. If you ever struggle with a 25mm back box they do I think like 8mm spacers which can help..

 

[westward10]

Few options..

• Take the floor up, put a maintenance free box under the floor to extend the cable, then move the socket up, cutting in a new box.
• Dig out the current hole so it will fit a 35mm back box, if you cant get fixings then use some some bonding plaster, putting wall plugs into the bonding plaster and screwing in the back box while wet, squeezing the plaster round the back box, should not move once dry..
• Drill new holes in the back box so you can get a fixing point elsewhere

What ever you do I would fit a 35mm back box as much easier to put the faceplate back than the current 25mm back box.. If you ever struggle with a 25mm back box they do I think like 8mm spacers which can help..

Why on earth would a single 2.5 cable not readily fit to a 25mm back box.

 

[ipf]

There's evidence of a short of some kind....blackened earth sleeving which also looks like it's been trapped and that looks like it might be a blackened nick on the brown.

 

[SparkySy]

As above that looks like there is a Nick in the live that has shorted and caused the black marks on the earth sleeving. It may well snap off if bent around too much as it will be have been weakened by the short! It needs fixing before either bonding a new box in or moving the socket over and fill the old hole. I have used gyproc easyfill for patching up holes in the past, 20min set 5kg bag from wicks. Easy to use and finish once set.
Sy

 

[littlespark]

That’s had gripfill or plaster trying to hold it before…. You can see the indentations of the rear knockouts on the back of the hole.

 

[timhoward]

I’d be asking if the socket is used and if so if it’s in a good place for its use, with a view to disconnecting the other end and starting again somewhere else!

If it needs to stay there then having sorted any cable faults as per advice above, first anything very loose needs to come out and then I’d try and make some small 4mm holes (without hammer) into anything that was reasonably solid and wall-dog screws (by hand). I wouldn’t go anywhere near it with a 6mm sds drill and and impact driver unless I found something really solid to work with.

Then fill around the box. Certainly not an easy job.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Under ream the blockwork and fix the box in with a Polyester resin, obtainable from Screwfix and many other place's.

 

[LukeD]

Hi
I noticed a 2 gang socket that was broken in half in one of my Landlord's properties that I was getting ready for the next tenants.

I bought a new one and wired it and then attempted to screw it to the back box. It was a tight fit and I couldn't get the front of the socket to sit flush with the wall.

I ended up leaving it and carried on with another job. I went back to it the other day and had another go. I unravelled the wires and was amazed how long they were so no wonder I had trouble fitting it.

I can't screw the back box in properly as you can see from the photo attached. It only had 1 screw in place and that was cockeyed.

Whoever has done this job has made a right botched job of this and I don't know what to do to repair it.

If you came face to face with this problem, what would you do to fix it?

Cheers

Colin

First ..let the customer know whats going on and make sure you charge the right money .landlords all seem to expect cheap work

 

[DPG]

First ..let the customer know whats going on and make sure you charge the right money .landlords all seem to expect cheap work

Not all of them. I don't for one.

 

[LukeD]

Not all of them. I don't for one.

You are in the tiny % that do....

 

[nicebutdim]

You are in the tiny % that do....

By what measure do you arrive at this conclusion? Personal experience is hardly representative of tens of thousands of landlords across the country.

 

[DPG]

You are in the tiny % that do....

Give me the percentages of bad/good landlords, and then the same for bad/good tenants. Please quote sources.

 

[littlespark]

calm down, lads... itsd only a discussion... Lets just say "some" landlords, "some" tenants.....etc etc

Think of it the same as "some" plumbers are idiots.... "some" kitchen fitters are dangerous around electricity....