Builder Or Electrician Please.

[gness]

I'm spending a rainy day knocking tiles off a kitchen wall with the intention of re-plastering and papering.
A tile I've just knocked off has exposed an oblong of formica set back slightly. It's the same size as a double plug socket and about a foot higher and to the right of an existing socket.

I'm thinking a socket has been moved but when I've had this done in the past a metal plate has been put over the redundant socket.......but is this method acceptable?
Or am I right in suspecting this could be a rough diy job.....and may not be safe?

So....an electrician in do you think?

Gx

[-Talbot-]

Remove the formica and see what is behind it.

[Canary42]

Without removing the formica it's difficult to say whether what's behind it is safe or not. I would tend to let sleeping dogs lie, provided you don't encounter a problem with the new plaster not adhering to the formica.

P.S. Only a diyer myself, so not professionally qualified.

[gness]

I think I'm not inclined to start hacking at the formica....

The new plaster won't adhere, Canary.....but I can sort that.....

The more I look at it the more I think just going over it would worry me....looks like I may have to find a new electrician......x

[-Talbot-]

I think I'm not inclined to start hacking at the formica....


Why not?

[gness]

Because I don't trust what's behind it....but I have now exposed a channel leading from the existing socket so I will get a professional in......blowing my electrics on a Sunday would be silly....

Thanks...Gx

[-Talbot-]

So....an electrician in do you think?


no!
You must have money to burn.

[Zacs-Master]

Talbot. Guess is being sensibly cautious. If one doesn't have experience in dealing with electrics one should always,err on the side of caution.

Having said that, if you turn off the electric there is no real risk.

[gness]

Thanks, Zacs......I could turn off the electrics and have a look.....though the formica is sealed in with some fantastic cement!

But if I do start to investigate myself and something goes wrong I could be without electricity til tomorrow.....being a bit accident prone....so I've decided to play it safe.....x

[-Talbot-]

So the electrician comes...removes the formica.........sees there is nothing behind it.....ok....go for it.

[Togo]

Does the blank have screws in it gness? If so you need to remove them and inspect behind the plate. If no screws you should perhaps leave well alone but be careful not to get wet plaster or the such like behind the plate. It is probably a quick fill from a previous back box for electrics as you thought. I am not a builder t did 20 yrs in electronics and have and have done D.I.Y over the years. Sometimes the less done is the best solution unless you want a nice bill.

[gness]

Hi, Togo...no screws....and not a proper blank...just formica cemented in and a cemented channel leading to the existing socket.

It's in an odd place for a socket too....and like you say....wet plaster dripping into what's behind there might not be good.....so I shall leave this one to a professional......

Some of the electrics weren't great when I moved in......diy done badly...x

[Togo]

If the old channel has been cement filled there is no wiring there gness. The formica plate is just a quick fill for the old metal back box. To get new plaster or tile cement to stick use unibond on the formica.

[-Talbot-]

Why would you get an electrician in when you have no idea whether you need one or not?

Turn off the electric and remove the formica (a three to four minte job)

[gness]

Thanks for the Unibond tip, Togo.....it will be plaster as I'm not re-tiling....I'm just a bit wary because of the work done...or not done....by the previous owner.....x

[-Talbot-]

Have a look inside the existing socket to see if there is a spur coming off it.

[The Builder]

Sounds like an old, redundant cooker switch, Gness. I must admit, I would like to see what's in there if only for curiosity's sake.

Even if it's a live circuit that has been terminated, there will still be a barrier between you and whatever it is/was when it's tiled over again.

Most older kitchens will have things like this. Just left over from previous layouts. It's your call entirely, I'm afraid, but I would suggest that most electricians would want to get in there to satisfy themselves.

[gness]

Thanks, MrBuilder.....I did consider a cooker switch because of the position on the wall, but it's not somewhere in the kitchen where a cooker could ever have been.

I'm not tiling again.....plaster and wallpaper....just because I've found paper I love and need to use it somewhere.

I'm wary too because I have experienced, in my last house, a socket blanked off by a professional company being done incorrectly and years later wires came into contact and......whoosh!!!!

I've decided I have to have it looked at for my own peace of mind.....and I'd hate to set fire to this paper......xx

[-Talbot-]

I'm not sure why you are being ignorant, gness.

Why bother posting asking for advice if you are going to ignore it?

[gness]

Talbot.....when I posted my question I hadn't exposed the channel....I was curious about the use of formica.

I have told you why I am not confident about doing it myself.

[Togo]

Cover it up gness. You are not looking to make more work, Curiosity killed the cat. Satisfaction..................and all that