Tiling error :(

[Pinkstars2501]

Hi, my first time posting in this section.

My husband had re-tiled the kitchen, but intead of unscrewing the sockets first (he forgot apparently), he's tiles around them and now there are uneven gaps around them and they are at the same level to the tile instead of set out from them.

I wouldn't really care if the gaps were at least the same size all around, but they're not. He's also managed to get a fair bit of adhesive in the gaps, so I think is nervous of undoing it and pulling off incase he scratches or breaks the tiles.
I did look at socket surrounds just to cover which would be fine, but it seems you put these behind the socket.

My question is, is there a simple solution to this (do stick in surrounds exist, will my tiles snap if we try to take the socket off?).

Sorry for the ramble, hope it's clear. Any help would be great. As you can probably tell, we are completely new to DIY......however I did tell him to take of the sockets

[Pinkstars2501]

Ps it's black tiles with white grout so will be quite obvoius

[whatnoww]

Can you post a pic? I think I'm following but not sure

[GooodMythicalMorning]

Hmm. Im thinking it either stays like that or its a redo.

[Pinkstars2501]

I can't post a pic I'm out at the moment.
Please don't say redo, it's taken ages and honestly would otherwise have looked really good luckily it's only one wall not all three. So he's taken the rest off for the next walls. In fairness (I guess), the people before us did exactly the same thing so the old tiles were flush as well.....daft.

Do you think if I used a grout remover tool it'd work? Then I could at least put socket surrounds behind to hide the uneven edges.

[Pinkstars2501]

Ooo I've been updated by text to say he's managed to get the sockets off the wall now without cracking tiles. The only thing is that they do have a fair bit of stuff on them that's dry (adhesive and grout all in one stuff).
Does any clever person no of a way to get these clean? I was thinking of just wetting and sanding manually?

Neither of us feel confident to replace them unless it's really really easy.....

Next time any form of tiling or more than painting is needed i'm calling in the professionals for sure!

[MovingOnUpMovingOnOut]

Sockets cost about £3. Just buy new ones.

[MovingOnUpMovingOnOut]

Don't wet them with the power on!

[Pinkstars2501]

Yeh I'm not about to use water around live electrics, I'm new but not that new
It's not the cost, I just don't know how to do it and if it was simple enough to clean then that'd do me. I'll have a look on you tube.

[MovingOnUpMovingOnOut]

I've removed fairly new grouting with a damp scouring sponge before. A white one for non-stick pans because you don't want scratches on the sockets.

They're pretty simple to wire and will already be wired in so you know which switch goes where.

[Titsywoo]

Get a window scraper to get the adhesive off

[Pinkstars2501]

Thankyou all. I'm going with a scourer and gentle elbow grease for now. Failing that I shall get new ones.

When it's new bathroom time I think I'll pay someone

[MovingOnUpMovingOnOut]

If they don't go in entirely straight a bit of decorator's calk might help.