Recessing a light pull switch into plaster coving

[Alexnh]

In our downstairs bathroom the pull switches for the light and extractor fan are set out from the wall around 90 to 100mm due to the width of the plaster coving. This mean that the pulls hit the door unless hooked behind little plastic clips on the wall.

I thought it would be a neater job if they were recessed into the coving instead but it means cutting two holes into the coving.

Two questions,

Should I recess them or just make a better job of guiding the cords tight to the wall with pulleys or similar.

If recessing, how do I neatly cut the coving? I thought using a holesaw but it might be tricky due to the curved surface of the coving. Drill a series of smaller holes or use a pad saw?

 

[just pumps]

Get a couple of the closed eye type and screw them to the side wall.


https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai...jw0t3ChLXvAhWCUMAKHci0CjUQ9aACegQIAhBX&adurl=

 

[Alexnh]

Too easy! Yes, the obvious alternative to moving the switches is to use a better guide as a more robust version of the plastic clips. Still looks like a bit of bodge to me TBH.

 

[Bodgedbuild]

This was my solution, yet to be caulked, first is just short internal corner mitre followed by an external and 2nd is just to finish the coving before the obstacle and start it again after. This is done by cutting a very short external corner mitre and fitting it to the end of a piece of cove with an external corner already cut....

Doh, I read that wrong, I thought the coving was the issue!

 

[just pumps]

Too easy! Yes, the obvious alternative to moving the switches is to use a better guide as a more robust version of the plastic clips. Still looks like a bit of bodge to me TBH.

Have you checked as to why it was sited where it was, can it be moved?

 

[Alexnh]

You mean I shouldn't assume it was laziness?

 

[Alexnh]

There looks to me to be enough wire tucked inside the switch to move them over 50mm so I think it was simply to avoid cutting the coving. So, either a misguided aesthetic decision or pure laziness on the part of the builder/electrician but they're not around to ask as the house was built in 2005...

I had thought about doing two mitred ends but it. would leave me the conundrum of what to do behind the switches.

 

[Alexnh]

Here's a picture

 

[just pumps]

Well it is your house not mine but I prefer it where it is, not recessed into that big coving.

 

[Alexnh]

Thanks. It seems a shoddy job to me leaving a cord to hang in the line of an opening door but I suppose we can find a common ground in thinking our own opinion smells of roses.

Now, so I can decide if it's worth the hassle or not, if I did decide to recess it how would I cut the coving, will a hole saw work or a padsaw?

 

[just pumps]

Sharp craft knife? Like a scalpel.

 

[Alexnh]

OK, I was thinking more of a fine toothed saw but maybe that would work.

 

[just pumps]

OK, I was thinking more of a fine toothed saw but maybe that would work.

See what others suggest, I`ve never done it.

 

[Alexnh]

Well, sawing is complicated by the presence of the ceiling so it might have to knife or chisel. If the hole saw can be held steady and firm it could make a good job of it I think but only cutting on one side into a curved surface is not ideal and getting in a hilti dd 350 is probably overkill.

 

[sparkwright]

Can't you have wall switches?

Typically outside the bathroom.