That'll make it safer than just filling the hole, but what is that tape, and what's under it?
Wall socket moved, is it ok to plaster?
- Thread starter Laz1
- Start date
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Yes, that's exactly what it would do.
However, the box still wouldn't be earthed.
The blank plate looks a bit unsightly.
We don't know how good the joint is.
The cable between the two boxes is taped. If there's no outer sheath over these wires, that bit can't be plastered over either.
Keep finding problems.
The electrician you used was lazy, and it would have been just as easy to do it properly.
Looks like I need to get someone else to this job properly then. As all I would be able to do is put on the blank plate.
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Even that could be difficult - if it's an old imperial box the screw holes threads would need re-tapping to get the new screws in!
I guess what I'm wondering is, is it a fire hazard etc if I put a blank plate on top and fill around the edges?
As I would rather not have to pay another spark to do the job again.
As I would rather not have to pay another spark to do the job again.
And to my eyes there's no "if" about what's under the tape - doesn't look like a sheathed cable at all.
I suspect that if you'd paid an electrician in the first place you wouldn't have to pay again. Don't know who you got to do the job, but he was no electrician.
Well I got an electrician from check a trade with 100s of positive reviews. Believe it or not
I think you've probably just discovered something which many of us already knew!
Kind Regards, John
You pay a competent electrician to do the job properly and sue the cowboy for your costs in doing so.
No, it is not ok to plaster. I can see the following thing wrong.
1) No grommet protecting cable coming into metal back box.
2) Cables joined together and wrapped together with what may or may not be insulation tape.
3) Plastering over metal back box would take socket out of the safe zone.
4) Metal back box not earthed.
5) Quality of wiring looks poor.
I would change the double metal back box for a single metal one (making sure to earth it and use grommets where cables run through) and then redo the cable joints in normal connector strips as well as run new T&E to the socket and back. I would then cover the single back box with a blanking plate.
1) No grommet protecting cable coming into metal back box.
2) Cables joined together and wrapped together with what may or may not be insulation tape.
3) Plastering over metal back box would take socket out of the safe zone.
4) Metal back box not earthed.
5) Quality of wiring looks poor.
I would change the double metal back box for a single metal one (making sure to earth it and use grommets where cables run through) and then redo the cable joints in normal connector strips as well as run new T&E to the socket and back. I would then cover the single back box with a blanking plate.
That word work, and would satisfy the regs. However, it would clearly be better to get the floorboards up, do it properly (extending the cables with MF JBs if really necessary) and get rid of (or plaster over) that (then 'empty') old box.
Kind Regards, John
Personally I'd rather see a screwed joint behind a blank plate than an MF joint shoved under a floor.
1. 4BA screws are still available.
2. You can't re-tap a thread to a smaller size.
3. M3.5 screws will go into 4BA threads. A bit floppy but will hold a blanking plate securely.
M3.5 screws will not go into 4BA threaded lugs 
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