Best type of filler for a big hole?

[banjo67xxx]

I've got a tall deep hole between 2 pattresses and my experience with polyfiller is that I can only get it to work for small dents or screw holes.

Not only is the hole quite deep there are many bits of loose masonry going back along the path of an old gas pipe that used to run through the wall, which now contains an electric cable inside a conduit which I installed.

Here is a picture so you can see what I mean.

I'm not going to fill the entire length of the hole where the gas pipe was, as that goes back 2ft through the wall of the chimney. So do I need to block the hole with something like plasterboard or wire mesh first?

Can I use this mesh with polyfiller?
http://www.wickes.co.uk/patch+repair-mesh/invt/221808/

 

[Chri5]

Bonding, or sand cement and skim over when dry.

 

[emilybronte]

I think you need to remove the socket covers first, fill the gap then replace.

It's hardly a thing of beauty, is it?

 

[sparkwright]

As said, a bonding plaster coat is best, then a final skim - ordinary filler will do for this.

Don't bother with the ready mixed one coat tubs of plaster - in my experience it doesn't set hard enough, quick enough - if you see what I mean.

Before you start filling, can you move the righthand box up a bit? Not quite in line, and enough to drive some people up the wall!