Does this look right?

[ChiTao]

Electrician fitted these supposedly brand new sockets and switches waiting to be tiled around.

Are they not meant to have some distance so a strip of tile can be put between the units instead of this awful toothpaste blob of mastic to fill the gap?

Are they meant to be this close? What should the correct distance be?

 

[EFLImpudence]

The closeness does not matter.
I would say they are not close enough - the sealant between is crap.

On the other hand, they are too close to be able to tile between them.
They definitely should not be "tiled around"; they should be removed and the tiles fitted under them.

 

[ChiTao]

Ah ok.. so either right up close touching or with a gap big enough to get a slither of tile in there.

Thank you.. will tell them to correct them.

Oh, that will mean they have to remove the white covers, take put the metal box frames and chase out the wall to reposition them right?

 

[bernardgreen]

He could use these triple back boxes and two single sockets instead on one double socket.

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/AP335.html

Not ideal but if restricted by cable already installed it might be an option to get them looking tidy.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Or - not so common:

https://quickbit.co.uk/Triple-metal-back-box-35mm

 

[JohnW2]

He could use these triple back boxes and two single sockets instead on one double socket.

Or he could even keep the double socket (plus one single-width FCU) by using one of these:

Kind Regards, John

 

[Hot&Cold]

looks like a council/ha job

 

[ChiTao]

Thanks folks.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Don't let them tile around the sockets:

 

[ChiTao]

Thank you ELF.. the tiling was already done actually but they screwed it up and it all had to be chipped off. The sockets are what remain. New white covers will be used but they need to
reposition the boxes behind first.

Much appreciated.

 

[Iggifer]

I wouldn't go closer together. If you decide in the future you want a different finish of socket, you may well find the boxes are too close together.

We do boxes 50mm apart, occasionally more if the wall is to be tiled, but a good tiler can tile a 50mm gap - most can't!!

 

[ChiTao]

I wouldn't go closer together. If you decide in the future you want a different finish of socket, you may well find the boxes are too close together.

We do boxes 50mm apart, occasionally more if the wall is to be tiled, but a good tiler can tile a 50mm gap - most can't!!

Agreed Iggifer, Thank you, I'm going to ask for 50mm gaps, looks neater.

 

[sparkwright]

If you ARE happy for the faceplates to butt up together, the fixing holes on the back boxes need to be 25mm apart.

Sometimes when faceplates are carelessly screwed to the back boxes, a gap can appear.

Check and see if the faceplates will butt together first (remove that sealant first).

Also check and see if the the fixing holes on the back boxes are 25mm apart.

Might save a load of unnecessary work.

 

[ILikeDIYS]

lol ugly electrics AND messed up tiles you're not having much luck? Time to hire someone reputable.

 

[John D v2.0]

I prefer about 50mm then it looks like they are separately on the wall rather then one unit which doesn't quite match up.