gap around plug sockets

flashpants · 5 May 2008

I have a question I hope someone can help me with. I've has some sockets fitted and a couple of them are not very flush with the wall leaving a few mm gap around. I wouldn't be so concerned only they are going to be behind my bed and I'm concerned that say I knocked a drink over liquid could get into the socket.

As the gaps are not very large I was thinking of using some kind of translucent sealant but I'm not sure what I could use being around an electrical socket. Silicone? Any one have any ideas?

Thanks

daytona · 5 May 2008

you could use silicone but then the connections arent readily accesible.
its a bit rough to be honest.cant you unscrew the 3.5 screws and stick some plaster in there?

if its worth doing,at least do it properly

daytona · 5 May 2008

actually,i think i may have misunderstood.are you saying the backboxes havent been flushed in properly?

if this is the case,again you could use silicone but still no substitute for taking out the backboxes and flushing in properly

GaryMo · 5 May 2008

daytona said:
you could use silicone but then the connections arent readily accesible.

I'd love to see that on a PIR

Meanwhile, back in the real world.......

daytona · 5 May 2008

lol mate

would be a little pedantic on a PIR,just trying to say do it properly

flashpants · 5 May 2008

The problem is the plastering is off which is causing the socket not to be flush. I would have tried fixing but now my decorator has just paper the walls so I'm left with a situation where I'd have to strip back the paper to re-plaster/flush the socket.

I agree it's a bit rough but it's just a few mill and it's more a precaution on my part. So if I used silicone can you recommend one, I wanted to check with it beaing on an electrical socket.?.. Sorry new to DIY..can you guess..

:

Click-Sure · 5 May 2008

Decorators caulk will work better than silicone, which is messy stuff!

Click-Sure · 5 May 2008

As long as you don't squeeze a whole tube down the back of it!

Cut nozzle to size, squeeze enough to fill the gap in, wet your finger and run it around.

flashpants · 6 May 2008

ok will do thanks for the help....

oharaf · 6 May 2008

Click- sure has the right answer, if you choose to disregard the flushing of the boxes that is.

A nice thin bead of decoraters caulk finishes it beautifully, as your decorator is about ask him to do it, they have nice steady artistic hands

Click-Sure · 8 May 2008

Yep, sparks tend to have the terrible accidental habit of smoothing the caulk with a dirty finger, well, I do at least

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gap around plug sockets

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