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

[gness]

Think I need to know what's behind it now, Togo....before I cover it up...imagine if, down the line, I decide to hang a picture there......☻

[-Talbot-]

I doubt there is anything behind the formica and believe you will be wasting your money.

I can not see any reason why you don't just off the electric and bash out the formica.

[Togo]

There will be a nice big hole that will need filling in stages.

[gness]

Talbot....I don't understand why my decision to err on the side of caution is getting you in such a two and six....
My socket....my money.....

You can't surely be hoping I'll spend the night without electricity.....or blow myself up...can you....... ;-)

[gness]

Not as big as if I hit something with my hammer, Togo.....☺...x

[-Talbot-]

How on earth are you going to blow yourself up?

Isn't there a man next door that could help you out?

[Togo]

Ha ha I'm outa here. [+_+]

[gness]

Thanks all for your input.....I'm really happy I decided to take no chances with this.

The redundant socket was a mess....not formica....but a huge chunk of worktop left over hammered in.....no box behind it. Just a rough hole chiseled out of the breeze block and wires.....lots of wires.....rammed in....

This led at an angle to the socket I used. The channel wasn't actually a channel....they'd given up chopping out and squished the cable to the blocks and cemented a tile on top......

There were more redundant wires than you could shake a stick at....

I don't like cable running at an angle.....I do have a detector for decorating and picture hanging....but I like cables to run in straight lines....not wander all over the walsl like a drunk staggering home ....

So....I now have a safe and neat kitchen.....beautifully plastered....

Your advice and comments were much appreciated.....thanks.....Gx

[gness]

That should of course read...walls....not walsl......I haven't opened a bottle yet....☺

[Psybbo]

Ah good, I love to see updates but please tell us what the electrician said. Maybe like when our house was being rewired two years ago and he found a distribution box dated 1946! Not sure if that's the right terminology but a fire waiting to happen.

[-Talbot-]

So the wires were live or not?

[gness]

Live, Talbot.....all of them.

Hi, Psybs....seems the redundant one I uncovered was the original socket. Someone had decided to lower it and had done so really badly. I'm not surprised. On the surface this house was beautiful....but someone had done some really dodgy work in the past.
Think I have everything sorted and safe now....x

[-Talbot-]

All of them...how many is that?

[Psybbo]

nothing's safe when you're around

[tonyav]

You did the right thing getting a sparky to check it out, gness. Especially has it turns out they were live. Wouldn't have done you or your drill a lot of good !.

[-Talbot-]

Drill?

[Zacs-Master]

I'm loving Talbots indignation at being wrong but clutching at straws to regain some shred of righteousness. Ha.

[-Talbot-]

How am I wrong?

[gness]

Do you know...I wish I had photographed it now to ease Talbot's mind....

Talbot....I didn't count them.....I could see they were a mess...I didn't need the electrician to point it out....and before you change to......he was pulling the wool to up his price.......I made some calls last night......I got mates rates.....two lemon cakes and three cups of tea.
Not bad for peace of mind....x

My drill, Tony!! My lovely new drill......lord when I think what could have happened to it..... :-(