wall crumbled behind socket backbox

[yorkshirelad]

Hi everyone. I have recently moved into a new (to me) house. I was replacing a damaged socket front and noticed the backbox was loose. It was nailed in place and not really soundly fixed as there was a large void( 1 inch or so) deep. So although my query isnt strictly electrical, i thought it may a be a good palce to get an answer to my question " What should i fill the void with to enable me to fix it securely?". I was thinking polyfiller, but i also have some plaster and cement knocking around. Is expanding foam suitable? Any advice would be gratefully received.

 

[stem]

You don't say what the wall is constructed of. ie Brick, thermal block, lath & plaster, plasterboard etc.,

I assume from your comments that it is a solid wall, If so, I find the quickest (as you don't have to wait for anything to set) and easiest way is to get rid of the loose material untill you reach something sound. Screw a a piece of timber to that and then screw the backbox to the timber.

 

[yorkshirelad]

appologies, it is a brick wall faced with thick plaster. That sounds like a very simple plan...the best ones usually are, much better than hanging around waiting for plaster to dry. Thanks

 

[Click-Sure]

I've used no-more-nails type stuff when I was in a hurry before now.

Depends if there's lots in the site container at the time

 

[nozspark]

I find that a mix of bonding and cement goes off in 20mins or so

 

[mattylad]

OR use some old bonding plaster, that will go off in 5 mins :S

 

[Steve]

I used some "sticks like sh1t" before - I stuck some of that in the hole, pressed the backbox in, and put a screw through the back of it.

Thermalite walls - cant beat em.