Is this normal, Plasterer covered over sockets

[Byker28i]

So first fix electrics went in, double sockets in the wall, light switch and downlighters.

The plasterer has been in, plasterboarded, then covered the sockets over.

Is this normal, does the electrician expect this? Seems a strange thing to do? Just want to check before I get told possibly more lies by the project manager

[andy43]

Please tell me he’s cut the boards out where the sockets are?
If he hasn’t he’s an utter #&£*@
I’ve had wet plastering done over metal back boxes before and getting the threads clean is an utter pita - but at least I could see where the sockets were…

[Abc321]

I hope there aren't supposed to be sockets on them pictures!

[Chris Type R]

My last plastering experience was that they plastered over and then removed the plaster around the socket before it started going off.

Of course they forgot to do one (maybe two), and the cable was subsequently drilled through - requiring an awkward and time consuming repair.

ETA: They were plastered over - not plasterboarded over.

You should be able to use a magnet to find the boxes and carefully evacuate.

Edited by Chris Type R on Thursday 20th November 08:31

[Chris Type R]

andy43 said:

I ve had wet plastering done over metal back boxes before and getting the threads clean is an utter pita - but at least I could see where the sockets were

I'd like to think I've learnt a lesson and I try to duct tape over the boxes to keep the cables and threads clear.

[Byker28i]

Plasterboard went on one day, plaster went on the next.

Somewhere under those are 3 double sockets. I was away working so have no idea if he cut the holes.

Also there are 8 downlighters going in and thats the same. I hope the electrician measured where his first fix went

Oh, also noticed he's plastered over the fused junction box where the power came in...so there's no way to enable the power until thats found

Edited by Byker28i on Thursday 20th November 08:37

[Byker28i]

Chris Type R said:

My last plastering experience was that they plastered over and then removed the plaster around the socket before it started going off.

Of course they forgot to do one (maybe two), and the cable was subsequently drilled through - requiring an awkward and time consuming repair.

ETA: They were plastered over - not plasterboarded over.

You should be able to use a magnet to find the boxes and carefully evacuate.

Edited by Chris Type R on Thursday 20th November 08:31

Strictly speaking not my problem, but the poor electrician coming Monday to finish off.

[Chris Type R]

Is it the camera/photo - but is the inside join on the third photo quite out of plumb ?

[Byker28i]

Chris Type R said:

Is it the camera/photo - but is the inside join on the third photo quite out of plumb ?

Just the photo. Same width all the way down, but you made me look

[Jeremy-75qq8]

Ceiling is usually wired then board with known measurements then drilled at the end. That is how my guy does it anyway.

Sockets were cut in plasterboard. Plasterer then did walls and the holes were then cleaned up and the box put in.

Covering them all over seems the hard way but as long as they know where it all is .....

[Chris Type R]

Jeremy-75qq8 said:

Covering them all over seems the hard way but as long as they know where it all is .....

It's the easy way for the plasterer - cue trades blaming each other all the way to completion.

[GasEngineer]

It's the plasterer's job tov have cut the holes in the plasterboard - not the sparky. Plasterer was just doing whatever was easiest for him. get the plasterer back and tell him to sort it ideally with the sparky there.

That's the problem when the trades don't know each other and don't cooperate.

I was on a job once where a tiler had just gone over some wiring like your plasterer has, The customer said the tiler had told him that it was the sparky's job to find the wires and cut out so the sparky just got a hammer and smashed the tiles. He told the customer now that's the tilers job to sort it. They actually came to blows. Very entertaining but didn't help the customer.

[Byker28i]

I've informed the project manager, along with the photos.
Be interesting to see what he says, if it's anything like before its fk fk fk "oh no thats perfectly normal"...

[dingg]

Your plasterer is a moron

[wolfracesonic]

Chris Type R said:

I'd like to think I've learnt a lesson and I try to duct tape over the boxes to keep the cables and threads clear.

This is the best way, coil up the cable within the box and tape over, a lot easier than having the cables stuck out and having to work round them. I always removed the tape/plaster carefully afterwards myself with a Stanley knife, rather than let the sparky at them with a claw hammer; though you always had some sparkles who left enough cable sticking out to rewire a house…

[andy43]

Ring main. The clues in the name. Unless someone’s measured and noted where the cables are I can see more plasterboarding on the horizon.
Yes, your plaster is a moron

[andy43]

wolfracesonic said:

Chris Type R said:

I'd like to think I've learnt a lesson and I try to duct tape over the boxes to keep the cables and threads clear.

This is the best way, coil up the cable within the box and tape over, a lot easier than having the cables stuck out and having to work round them. I always removed the tape/plaster carefully afterwards myself with a Stanley knife, rather than let the sparky at them with a claw hammer; though you always had some sparkles who left enough cable sticking out to rewire a house

It’s always been me doing the electrics so it’s always been me on my hands and knees cleaning the threads out and marvelling at the way the plasterers always do a little flick out just where the skirting boards supposed to go. I think it’s because they can’t be arsed bending down quite far enough to float right down to an inch or so off the floor. Shadow gaps. They’re the future.
Duct tape is a good idea

[Byker28i]

Project manager has said the plasterer written down the measurements of where the boxes are for the electrician, so he can cut them out 'so it minimises any corrective work to the plaster.'

Not sure any would have been needed if the boxes were left exposed.

[Yabu]

wolfracesonic said:

Chris Type R said:

I'd like to think I've learnt a lesson and I try to duct tape over the boxes to keep the cables and threads clear.

This is the best way, coil up the cable within the box and tape over, a lot easier than having the cables stuck out and having to work round them. I always removed the tape/plaster carefully afterwards myself with a Stanley knife, rather than let the sparky at them with a claw hammer; though you always had some sparkles who left enough cable sticking out to rewire a house

M3.5 rethreader to clean out the socket screw holes- if needed, best time to clean out the back boxes is whilst the plaster still has moisture in it, if they haven’t been cleared straight after plastering.

You sometimes have to use a hammer to break through the amount of plaster that’s gone into a back boxes, then carefully trim to the edges.

Op -if the sockets have been cut out they will appear as a damp patch on the wall as the plaster dries out due to the plaster being much thicker in the back box, should be enough to locate them, then carefully make a hole

[The Three D Mucketeer]

It's called "Concealed Lighting"