Plasterers Strike Again

[chloebear]

Hi All,
Looks like the mad plasterers have struck again - I went to site today to start 2nd fix and found that I am 1x socket missing -checked the plans and tested end to end on the new ring cct just to make sure I wasn't going crazy and sure enough we have a missing socket along a wall that is now as smooth as a babies bot and shining with new plaster.
So anyone know of a wizzard peice of kit that can locate a cable through 12mm of plaster? I tried with an old BT occilator, but looks like the cables buried too deep for it to trace it.
So anyone got any good ideas that dont involve the use of a large sledge hammer or plasterers head how I can locate the missing socket outlet?

 

[boatnik1]

Have a look at the feed from top/bottom and the socket must be on a fairly vertical line from that, height should be similar to other outlets.
Same heros pulled a stunt on me years ago, cut off all first fix tails where they exited the conduits and filled the boxes.
Rewire required, Plasteres sacked and didn't get paid for the four houses they had just finished.

 

[jparker3007]

hammer lol works every time

 

[chloebear]

Hi boatnik1,
Thanks for the reply - bit more tricky than that as unable to get to view the top feed of the cables as the upstairs floor has been tiled over now and the cieling is also plastered etc - I know where it should be within about 3 or 4ft and the height is no problem, but need to locate the backbox - so it looks like the old bolster and hammer might have to come out of the tool bag.

 

[boatnik1]

An old small screwdriver knocked into the plaster along the height line every few inches should find it as hitting the wrong place will have less plaster depth. Or alternatively trash the wall and make the plasterer fix it as a freebe.
You could always go over to the plasterers forum and tell them they're a bunch of dingbats(oryour own interpretation.)
Plastering Forum | A Forum for Professional and DIY Plasterers in the UK

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Had this a few times....make sure you explain situation to the client....make sure they understand that plasterer will have to come back to make good any damage done finding the socket and then hack away,make sure you do as much damage as you can get away with........

 

[hotXbun]

Darn it ... I'm donning hat! How come you set your boxes so far back? Assuming that (maybe) you set them perhaps just a few mm back from the surface Mr Plasterer would have no problem setting his plaster to suit your box ....... Have to admit that if I was the plasterer and your box was gunho way back in wall I'd have NO PROBLEM plastering straight over it and "Serves you right!"

Why should the blame always be the plasterers fault? Maybe you could see the lighter side of it and learn something useful like 'try to understand what the plasterers needs are...'

As for the whereabouts of the where your box is I reckon you just having a rant I can hardly believe you didn't take a photo with trusty digital camera to remind your faded brain where everything is!

OK .. rant over .... ... enjoy PS .... if box located just below surface, the outline would show up within a few hours....

 

[Gravid]

I got done as well this week, straight live to earth fault on a flat roof job I went to 2nd fix, pretty sure its been done delibrately to!! Had a fall out with the same bunch a couple years back, they'd pulled one of our D/L cables back through a few joists and boarded it up, I told them next time they rearrange the cables to take a plan to make our life easy. They wanted to fight me over that !!

Done 3 jobs with them since and everyone somethings wrong come 2nd fix missing skts/ low IR readings ( which i put down to hammered cables )/ plasterboard scews through wires. Morale of the story don't fall out with spreads its not worth it.

 

[ian.settle1]

hammer lol works every time

Hammer and chisel the plaster off until you find it will teach the b******* in future

 

[empress]

if its a metal back box a little cheapie £20quid metal detector should do the trick as they pick up any metal including the copper ,you should be able to follow it down the wall till it stops at the box if its a vertical drop.
had it meself the other month ,think the room was plastered by stevie wonders dog
elfyn

 

[monkeyelectric]

Hi All,
Looks like the mad plasterers have struck again - I went to site today to start 2nd fix and found that I am 1x socket missing -checked the plans and tested end to end on the new ring cct just to make sure I wasn't going crazy and sure enough we have a missing socket along a wall that is now as smooth as a babies bot and shining with new plaster.
So anyone know of a wizzard peice of kit that can locate a cable through 12mm of plaster? I tried with an old BT occilator, but looks like the cables buried too deep for it to trace it.
So anyone got any good ideas that dont involve the use of a large sledge hammer or plasterers head how I can locate the missing socket outlet?

How about a metal detector, like the one you'd use to find buried treasure

 

[Notsosmart]

I told them next time they rearrange the cables to take a plan to make our life easy. They wanted to fight me over that !!

Yeh what is it with idiot plasterers? I had a similar experience a few years back on a new Tesco site, the spread wanted a rumble; my heanous crime? I was first fixing in the room he wanted to plaster & he couldn't wait an hour

 

[lister]

I found that a shovel was the best tool in relocating my missing sockets and i also lost a hand full of t/e nail clips as well........... funny that the plasterer found them in two piles after he ran over them in his van.

 

[Notsosmart]

Darn it ... I'm donning hat! How come you set your boxes so far back? Assuming that (maybe) you set them perhaps just a few mm back from the surface Mr Plasterer would have no problem setting his plaster to suit your box ....... Have to admit that if I was the plasterer and your box was gunho way back in wall I'd have NO PROBLEM plastering straight over it and "Serves you right!"

Why should the blame always be the plasterers fault? Maybe you could see the lighter side of it and learn something useful like 'try to understand what the plasterers needs are...'

As for the whereabouts of the where your box is I reckon you just having a rant I can hardly believe you didn't take a photo with trusty digital camera to remind your faded brain where everything is!

OK .. rant over .... ... enjoy PS .... if box located just below surface, the outline would show up within a few hours....

Wow a little harsh if feel Hotbuns, how do you know that the spread didn't have to build the depth?

I think you must be missing the life on the open Canal Is your boat in dry dock or something.

 

[Dave]

Darn it ... I'm donning hat! How come you set your boxes so far back? Assuming that (maybe) you set them perhaps just a few mm back from the surface Mr Plasterer would have no problem setting his plaster to suit your box ....... Have to admit that if I was the plasterer and your box was gunho way back in wall I'd have NO PROBLEM plastering straight over it and "Serves you right!"

Why should the blame always be the plasterers fault? Maybe you could see the lighter side of it and learn something useful like 'try to understand what the plasterers needs are...'

As for the whereabouts of the where your box is I reckon you just having a rant I can hardly believe you didn't take a photo with trusty digital camera to remind your faded brain where everything is!

OK .. rant over .... ... enjoy PS .... if box located just below surface, the outline would show up within a few hours....

I suggest you be a bit more cival in your replies on this forum....Read the forum rules and if you cannot adhere to them, then i can remove your account for you....adding little smiles at the end does not make up for that uncalled for rant at another member.