Ask The Trades - Print Page

Ask The Trades
https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Painting, Decorating & Tiling Questions >> tiling around electrical sockets https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1246278715 Message started by NewRenovator on Jun 29^th, 2009, 1:31pm

Title: tiling around electrical sockets
Post by NewRenovator on Jun 29^th, 2009, 1:31pm

Hi, I am a new member seeking advice. i am looking to tile a splashback around the kitchen walls but have various sockets in the way. Unfortunately (for me anyway), when the walls were plastered, the metal boxes were set so deep that i struggled to get face plate screws long enough to reach!
Now i am looking to tile the wall, i can see i might have a problem!
on one section of wall (near the cooker), there are three "sockets" side by side with no wall left between them too.
Any suggestions gratefully received, i want to try and get it right and not bodge the job, even tho i am an amateur!

Title: Re: tiling around electrical sockets
Post by Goodsparks on Jun 29^th, 2009, 2:46pm

3.5mm (socket) screws are readily available upto 75mm (I think) long, 50mm are very common and are available from most electrical wholesalers. If the boxes really have been set that deep, then depending on wall construction, you should be looking to fit extension rings to increase the depth of the box.

Paul

Title: Re: tiling around electrical sockets
Post by Zambezi on Jun 30^th, 2009, 9:56am

As Goodsparks said, you can get longer screws, 3.5mm machine screws.
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Fixings_Index/Plate_Screws_1/index.html

Title: Re: tiling around electrical sockets
Post by CWatters on Jul 2^nd, 2009, 3:45pm

If you can't find them locally ebay has lots just search for "electrical screws"

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m38.l1313&_nkw=electrical+screws&_sacat=See-All-Categories

While you are in the electrcal shops get yourself an 3M5 thread cutting tap for clearing the tile adhesive out of the threads. They sell them with a handle attached. Sometimes called a "rethreader".

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Halls-HB11-Rethreader-M3-5-x-0-6_W0QQitemZ370184194630QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM?hash=item5630b28a46&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1683%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50