Straw filled stud wall, fixing!?

[Munzz]

What started as an easy job has turned into a nightmare. Moving a socket from one corner of the room to another (to stud wall) but appears this wall is full of compressed straw!?

Any ideas on how I can get a fixing!?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Make the hole bigger than the socket box and push finish plaster into the straw, then finally the box into the plaster.

 

[JM2]

Use a dry lined backbox ?
You'll have to dig more staw out to get the tabs to turn nicely but doable.

How you cable it is a different matter.

 

[JM2]

Like one of these:-

 

[Munzz]

I thought about that but getting the clips to lock in place seems a nightmare. I think I may have struck lucky as on the right hand side is a stud, so hopefully I can stick a screw into the stud and I’ll have to, dare I say it, grip fill the rest.

What a nightmare, never heard of straw in walls before.

 

[Lower]

Dry line back boxes are what you need. Getting the clips in place is quite straightforward.

 

[sparkwright]

Another vote for dryline box.

If you remove the straw where the clips go, it should stay.

Only use Appleby dryline boxes - most of the other brands ARE a struggle to use.

 

[Munzz]

Thanks all, will give a dry line box a go tomorrow.

I’ll chase the cable via conduit, I take it there are no complications / hazards with the wall being filled with straw? The cable shouldn’t come into contact.

 

[sparkwright]

How are you going to chase the wall?

Being plasterboard, if do a long chase you will weaken the plasterboard.

You could try a series of holes and fish the cable behind, if you can hack some straw away. Otherwise you will wreck the plasterboard too much.

 

[Munzz]

How are you going to chase the wall?

Being plasterboard, if do a long chase you will weaken the plasterboard.

You could try a series of holes and fish the cable behind, if you can hack some straw away. Otherwise you will wreck the plasterboard too much.

It’s a chase of around 18cm downwards into skirting, can’t see that interfering with the integrity of the plasterboard?

 

[sparkymarka]

There are normally premade holes in these

 

[sparkwright]

It’s a chase of around 18cm downwards into skirting, can’t see that interfering with the integrity of the plasterboard?

I wouldn't cut a slot that long in plasterboard personally, how would you fill it so it doesn't crack?

 

[sparkwright]

If it were me, I would use a long thin metal rod to make a hole through the straw most of the 18 inch run.

But work fast, as the straw will expand before you know it.

 

[studentspark]

Possibly something like this ?

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Produc...XCLFDapaYN2rXjR8XG1LCnWwG7xq6nHIaAtMQEALw_wcB

 

[JohnW2]

If it were me, I would use a long thin metal rod to make a hole through the straw most of the 18 inch run.

So probably would I (I certainly would not 'chase' plasterboard) - but, for the record, note that the OP said 18 cm, not 18 inches.

Kind Regards, John