Installing sockets in a thin block wall.

[iamjon]

Hi guys, I have been asked to install some additional sockets for a family friend. However when I have been to look at the house (1950's built) I have found that the upstairs walls are really thin. They look like breeze but are much softer (I can pratically scrape them away with a screwdriver). They are wanting around 12 double sockets fitting flush but I really cannot see any way to do this.

Does anyone know of a backbox that goes right through so I could perhaps install back to back in adjoining rooms (if anything exists) or is it going to be surface mounting?

Thanks in advance

 

[davesparks]

Just chop them in very carefully, the blocks are 2" thick and a box 1" so it's doable

 

[NDG Elecs]

Just chop them in very carefully, the blocks are 2" thick and a box 1" so it's doable

As Dave says, but also make sure there are plenty of screw's in the back box to hold them well from future years of plugging/unplugging. I would fix a couple of screw's in and then with the back box in position I would maybe put a couple of plugs in at a slight angle to help reduce the chance of it loosening.

I personally would love all walls to be of this construction. You can chop it out with a spade bit!! Easy peasy!

 

[iamjon]

Cheers guys, sounds like a careful job which may npt be suited to my heavy hands

 

[7029 dave]

Plenty of muck in as well.

 

[Darkwood]

If you can get it chopped in without punching through then I would recommend a using a bonding agent like can be purchased in those silicone gun tubes to set it solid without the need for screwing it.

 

[uksparks]

I redid a kitchen for a kitchen fitter the other week and whilst carefully digging out a 47mm double back box, when I drilled the holes to fix it, I blew a rather large hole in their freshly decorated lounge wall. First time I've damaged someone's house.

 

[davesparks]

That's nothing, As an apprentice I chopped a 47mm box in for a shaver point then drilled the fixings straight through the back of the box and through the canvas of a massive old painting hanging on the wall the other side!

 

[Darkwood]

That's nothing, As an apprentice I chopped a 47mm box in for a shaver point then drilled the fixings straight through the back of the box and through the canvas of a massive old painting hanging on the wall the other side!

I think we all have done it but thats classic... lol

 

[Dave OCD]

In single skinned internal solid walls I always drill the fixings at an angle and preferably without hammer action to avoid the above scenarios. :smug:

 

[tomspark93]

Ahhh thermo****e blocks. it can feel like the wall will fall down when chopping one of them out, even by hand. I use a wood chisel now as they are sharper. I've screwed a 35mm back box in to one of them compressed straw internal walls once and went through to the other side. The customers had just had the room painted as well.

 

[shanky887614]

some of these blocks are that soft you dont need plugs lol.

honesty i was fixing capping and was screwing it straight to the block with 1'1/2 8's lol.

lightweight breezeblocks are very, very soft