How do I fill around these sockets?

[Gavlar5]

Hi.

I've recently bought a house and had some electrical work carried out. However, I am now left with these holes around my sockets.
How do I full these? If there was something behind I could plaster onto it but as there's not I am not sure what to to/use. Any help please? View media item 78377

 

[rjm2k]

A bit of plasterboard and polyfilla should do. Bit rough them leaving it like that. Is the back box empty? If so pack it out with wood or pb then a bit of pb on top and fill then sand. It may be easier to square off the gaps then pb and filler but watch for cables

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I've recently bought a house and had some electrical work carried out.

Was it the electrician who knocked the house over?

And was it part of the spec that he'd clumsily hack oversized holes in the walls, install accessories which are crooked and not lined up, and leave you to do the making good?

 

[JohnD]

If it is your own house and you can afford to spend some time on it, I believe you get a better job by packing sand and cement mortar around the box, and finishing off the surface with plaster.

You can get a plastic plastering aid which screws into the backbox and serves as a mould. I can't remember the trade name though. I have a set and they are fantastic.

To do it safely and properly you need to be competent to turn off all power and test for dead, and to remove, and later refit, the sockets and switches.

p.s.

do you mean it is a lath and plaster wall? Or is it plasterboard? Or brick or block? It makes a big difference.

 

[rjm2k]

Looking again is there a cable in the back box that goes vertical? If so you can't cover that box as it creates a safe zone thought its pretty much next to the double socket safe zone (at the moment)

 

[OwainDIYer]

I thought my box cutting was rough!

You/he could have put a box in and rerouted the TV and satellite cables to make them nice too.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Looking again is there a cable in the back box that goes vertical?

Looks like it's horizontal.

 

[mfarrow]

Looking again is there a cable in the back box that goes vertical?

Looks like it's horizontal.

I think you're both right

View media item 78399

 

[rjm2k]

What is the wall construction? If it's hollow you may need to screw some batten onto the back of the pb in the bigger holes and then pb on top of the batten, then filler. You should be able to make it pretty much invisible, but be careful of cables and that mystery cable in the back box is a potential issue.

Unscrew the sockets (carefully) and post a photo of what's inside. Did they leave any paperwork at all, a minor works form of something?