Loosening off socket fronts

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Also water an electrics dont go together iv had a phone call 3 hrs after finishing a reskim water had got down back of a switch so had to go back an sort it not funny
 
i loosen them off and ducttape the back, i leave them loose , tell customer its best for the wall to dry out before screwing them back
 
I use to just loosen off but now I just take them off then use card to cover the boxes and skim away
 
madmonk said:
You can mate but when your making money out of it and somebody else property its a different matter
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Didn't mean from a making money point of view just like when boarding easier to take them off and re attach than work around them
 
madmonk said:
You can still put a break in the ring somewhere along the line if the wires separate
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Sorry if it appears ridiculously dumb, but what exactly does a break in the ring mean? I don’t mind if it’s a case of tripping or sockets not working etc. I was more worried in case it could lead to something more sinister, for example a fire.
That being said it’s a fairly new building house I’m talking about (last 10-15 years), so it’s not battered old wiring.
 
dogstail said:
Sorry if it appears ridiculously dumb, but what exactly does a break in the ring mean? I don’t mind if it’s a case of tripping or sockets not working etc. I was more worried in case it could lead to something more sinister, for example a fire.
That being said it’s a fairly new building house I’m talking about (last 10-15 years), so it’s not battered old wiring.
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In a ring main you have two reds and 2 blacks or brown wires if one of them separates and you don't know about it it puts a break to the next sockets in line
 
dogstail said:
Sorry if it appears ridiculously dumb, but what exactly does a break in the ring mean? I don’t mind if it’s a case of tripping or sockets not working etc. I was more worried in case it could lead to something more sinister, for example a fire.
That being said it’s a fairly new building house I’m talking about (last 10-15 years), so it’s not battered old wiring.
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Older wirings a different case, the red black stuff with the non insulated earth. The insulation on that stuff goes brittle and can cause problems not to mention the consumer units that can be of similar vintage.
 
madmonk said:
In a ring main you have two reds and 2 blacks or brown wires if one of them separates and you don't know about it it puts a break to the next sockets in line
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I get you. Thanks so much for explaining anyway. I think a sparky was actually replacing a few of the socket fronts on this wall at least, would his testing indicate any problems/loose connections on the sockets he wasn’t touching as well or just the ones he was replacing?
 
dogstail said:
I get you. Thanks so much for explaining anyway. I think a sparky was actually replacing a few of the socket fronts on this wall at least, would his testing indicate any problems/loose connections on the sockets he wasn’t touching as well or just the ones he was replacing?
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You been a spread for 12 years?
 
dogstail said:
Yeah. Mostly rendering these days though. Absolutely hopeless with anything electrical though!
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Next time you and spark are working round each other have a chat....basic knowledge of everything can't do any harm...not doing it just knowing a bit of what the other chap does
 
Lodan said:
Next time you and spark are working round each other have a chat....basic knowledge of everything can't do any harm...not doing it just knowing a bit of what the other chap does
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Yeah I totally agree mate. Obviously I’d know how to put a loose wire back in etc. If spotted, just never had any interest in learning any of it though as like I say I’ve never touched anything electrical.
 
dogstail said:
Yeah I totally agree mate. Obviously I’d know how to put a loose wire back in etc. If spotted, just never had any interest in learning any of it though as like I say I’ve never touched anything electrical.
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Sorry mate, didn't mean learn their job just have a chat, slip in the conversation if X happens are you ok to deal with it....I make small talk about other people's trades everytime I meet them and have picked up a lot of insights/tips
 
Ive come to the conclusion best to get customer to remove them completely taped up and tucked in the boxes. Just have to run an extension lead in from another room or the hall.
 
dogstail said:
Hi all,

Been plastering for over 12 year now and have only recently started worry profusely about removing socket fronts in order to plaster, and then replacing after the skim is complete.
Am I legally doing anything wrong in doing this? I Never ever touch electrics (change socket fronts etc.) however recently I’ve been worrying that if ever something went wrong, I.e some sort of fire weeks/months later, would I be held responsible in some way?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Sorry if this sounds crazy in any way!
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I think you worry too much mate .
 
I always unscrew the fronts, wrap in plastic food bags, plaster, then re fit them.. if a wire pops out, which it regularly does just screw it back in. If RCD trips, just flick the switch back, not rocket science is it!

Same with light fittings, although sometimes have to remove them completely, if there's multiple wires going in I'll take a picture of it and stick connector block on until jobs done.

I've lost count how many times I've been electrocuted though, had whole wall go live when skimming where elecrician hadn't buried cables correctly, that was fun!
 
McBentLegs said:
I always unscrew the fronts, wrap in plastic food bags, plaster, then re fit them.. if a wire pops out, which it regularly does just screw it back in. If RCD trips, just flick the switch back, not rocket science is it!

Same with light fittings, although sometimes have to remove them completely, if there's multiple wires going in I'll take a picture of it and stick connector block on until jobs done.

I've lost count how many times I've been electrocuted though, had whole wall go live when skimming where elecrician hadn't buried cables correctly, that was fun!
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Yeah I do/used to do exactly the same. I was just concerned about if there was a loose wire you hadn’t noticed and then re fitted? All the sockets on the loop were working after, so don’t think there could be a break, and also nothing tripped at all.
 
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