Tracking wall for electrical socket (skirting board)

[Possom]

When you cut out a rectangle in a brick wall for a 2-gang electrical socket, then track down the wall to the skirting board, is there any alternative to removing the board in order to continue the tracking down behind it?

That is, there's a full wall long skirting board secured with very long 1930s nails, and the preference would be not to have to remove it.

For example, could a section of the board be cut out to continue the tracking behind, then glue the board section back afterwards? What type of saw would be used for this?

Thanks.

 

[flameport]

A long drill bit to remove the plaster behind the board, without removing or cutting it.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Also, you can get long cranked SDS chisels that look like this

You have to go deep in the wall with it, or it tends to push the skirting off the wall. Better than cutting the board.

 

[sparkwright]

There shouldn't ever be any need to remove skirting board, especially in an older house with crumbly plaster behind.

A long 10mm drill bit is best first, to make a 'pilot' hole. This can be opened up with a 20mm bit. If you have drills in-between these sizes, these could be useful too, as it may prevent damage to the skirting board.

Some of the very old, very large skirting board CAN have bits of wooden batten behind which you may have to negotiate - but you'll manage.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

If the board is long you may be able to prise it away from the wall enough to easily chase a channel. Bit of making good the filler over any nails that have to be re-driven afterwards and there you are.

Is it a suspended floor? Could you work upwards from below for the bit behind the skirting?


And on an electrical, rather than mechanical, note - is the circuit RCD protected?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Some of the very old, very large skirting board CAN have bits of wooden batten behind which you may have to negotiate - but you'll manage.

I remember my Dad being less than happy to find that some of the skirting "board" in the 30's build house we had at the time was actually a plaster moulding.