Filling around electrical boxes help required.

[amjmfareham]

Hi all,

I thought this would be a more appropriate place to post than the Electrical Forum.

I am currently renovating my bedroom and required to replace the mounting box for the switch in the room to a deeper one, however, the filler used to 'make good' has not set on the left-hand side:

I have used some regular filler and some finishing plaster left over from another project, however, both had failed to set.

I have thought about using some 'Lightweight filler' or if that fails, then Sand-and-cement.

What advice would you give to me to get this completed easier and ready-to-decorate at the end of the week?

Thanks in advance.

Kind Regards,
Andrew

 

[Tigercubrider]

You’ve probably shoved too much in and it has dried on top, sealing in the moisture.
In the past I have used a small bag of quick set mortar, followed by some filler

 

[Tigercubrider]

https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Qui...nRwuIawjpyII6jv59tBoCsqAQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Mottie]

Rather than trying to work filler down the sides of a back box, whenever I have fitted back boxes, I usually chuck a dollop of cement or plaster in the hole and then push the box in to the correct depth and orientation. Leave to set overnight and then put one screw in the following day when it's gone off.

 

[opps]

As suggested earlier, the filler had dried on the surface but as you applied it too deeply, the stuff closer to the brickwork is still wet. I would rake out the soft stuff and use Toupret TX110

https://www.toupret.co.uk/business-...or-surfaces/quick-dry-filler-TTREB9051GB.html

The lightweight fillers in a tub would take a week to cure. IMO the non light weight fillers in a tub are useless. The powder based fillers usch as TX110 have cement in them to speed up the curing times.

When filling deep holes around sockets that need to we worked on ASAP, I occasionally use 2 pack (car type) filler. A 35mm deep hole will set in about 10 mins in the summer. If you leave it slightly bellow the surface you can then use TX110 and sand things flush a couple of hours later.

Ideally, one would seal the bare plaster with SBR before using the two pack filler but in the above scenario, it isn't always (safe or) possible to brush it in.