Gaps round sockets

[Rafting2022]

How easy would it be to fill the gaps round these ready for painting later so that it looks normal afterwards?

Probably around half a dozen altogether in various locations around the house.

For me it would be doable.
For my DH it would end up a lumpy, overfilled mess.

It depends on your capabilities. It’s better to fill a bit, smooth as much as possible then, when it’s dry, fill a bit more and smooth and repeat until done. I’ve always found it easy too fill and smooth to wall level because I’m cautious. DH over fills, spends ages sanding yet still has a mound in the wall. No clue how he does it tbh.

Thanks - I would get a professional to do it as I have zero skills in this area. I just want to make sure it’s fixable - tradesperson just done a job not to the standard expected.

How easy to fill depends on how stable the walk is behind it, it’s liable to crack if there’s any wobble, but otherwise should be fine.

your walls look fine but if it’s wobbly you can fill with a glue gun and cut back with a hot knife. It won’t be as neat but filler is tricky if the wall is fragile.

You could just get larger face plates, I know those are fancy but I’m pretty sure the old style are a couple mm bigger, and there are probably other options that would cover it.

You might struggle to find a professional to do such a small job to a decent standard. It really is a job where you can substitute skill for patience though.

You can buy frames.
Socket surrounds on aamzon. We used them and the look good

I think socket surrounds might not be a bad idea - I’m concerned it’s such a fiddly area I’d just be chucking money at a problem that’s not easy to fix if I pay for a plasterer. Thank you to whoever suggested them as I hadn’t thought of that.

How easy they to fit? The sockets and switches are all screwless.

The double socket pic looks like a tiny squirt of caulk would probably do it but I can’t see the other sides so may be wrong. The second pic you could possibly get away with caulk but the gap is bigger so pollyfilla would be the better option, as long as there isn’t a void behind the plaster. Smooth it before it dries. Sand lightly afterwards then paint. I’d mask the sockets before doing either.

Socket surrounds is the easiest way though.

For socket surrounds would I just need to flip off the front of the socket or switch? They are screwless. I might pop into Screwfix to have a look at some and try one before fitting the rest.

Also as an aside - there’s about a dozen that need attention - they have only just been fitted. Am I being unrealistic that the fitter should have addressed this? He’s just offered me a small cost reduction. (Have got a separate thread on this but no replies yet.)

Feeling a lot better now though as I love the idea of the surrounds which I wouldn’t have thought about otherwise.

Super easy to fit.
I just realise yors are screwless so i would get 1 to see if it holds well

Thanks. I guess I can hold them in place with a bit of adhesive if not?

Maybe. They go bit under so I would try one and see. 🤞 Crossed it works

The faceplate just levers off, use a small screwdriver at one edge.

If all fails you can change the whole thing😂
(I just search funny switch surrounds and this came up)

Did the electrician cut out the gaps for the sockets, or just replace old ones?

Yes thats poor work by the fitter and I'd be asking for them to come back or a reduction.

You don't need a plasterer. Turn off applicable electric circuit, pop off face plates, fill well, smooth with a putty knife, refit face plate.

Like others have said turn off the circuit and pop the front off.

Buy one of these and a pot of filler ….. job done

www.toolstation.com/ragni-small-tool/p24220?store=GH&utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=googleshoppingfeed&mkwid=_dc&pcrid=&pkw=&pmt=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3azI49TF_QIVWeDtCh2tKgkzEAQYBSABEgIGefD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#full-desc

He replaced old ones (the traditional white plastic type).

I’ve ordered two surrounds to test so will see how they look.

Ha ha great suggestion @IHaveaSetOfVeryParticularSkills

If the fitter had cut the holes I’d be kicking up a fuss. As you only paid to replace the plates I’d expect calk around the edges but not a proper filler job.

Ok fair enough - in that case perhaps a warning at the start to say the end result may not be as neat as it was before he did the work. Manage expectations and all that.

Same.