I've just had some electrical work done, including having some sockets
taken out of the skirting boards.  This has left me with several single
& double socket sized holes.

What's the best way to fill them?  Someone suggested putting a rough
bit of 2x1 in the hole, attached to the plaster / brick work behind,
then MDF cut pretty much to size on top of that, with wood filler
around the edges.

I'm not sure which way is best in terms of being simple to fit & least
likely to show in the long term.

Thanks,

Michael

michaeld121@hotmail.com wrote:

> I've just had some electrical work done, including having some sockets
> taken out of the skirting boards.  This has left me with several
> single & double socket sized holes.
>
> What's the best way to fill them?  Someone suggested putting a rough
> bit of 2x1 in the hole, attached to the plaster / brick work behind,
> then MDF cut pretty much to size on top of that, with wood filler
> around the edges.
>
> I'm not sure which way is best in terms of being simple to fit & least
> likely to show in the long term.
>


It usually goes: rough stuff, better stuff, best stuff, so what was 
suggested to you sounds ok to me, though I personally wouldn't use MDF as it 
doesn't like moisture - just in case you get a bit of damp and all your old 
sockets start re-appearing :)

A bit of plasterboard skimmed over with a decent filler might be better.

Si

On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 10:49:21 +0100, "Mungo \"two sheds\" Toadfoot"
 wrote:


>michaeld121@hotmail.com wrote:
>> I've just had some electrical work done, including having some sockets
>> taken out of the skirting boards.  This has left me with several
>> single & double socket sized holes.
>>
>> What's the best way to fill them?  Someone suggested putting a rough
>> bit of 2x1 in the hole, attached to the plaster / brick work behind,
>> then MDF cut pretty much to size on top of that, with wood filler
>> around the edges.
>>
>> I'm not sure which way is best in terms of being simple to fit & least
>> likely to show in the long term.
>>
>
>It usually goes: rough stuff, better stuff, best stuff, so what was 
>suggested to you sounds ok to me, though I personally wouldn't use MDF as it 
>doesn't like moisture - just in case you get a bit of damp and all your old 
>sockets start re-appearing :)


Silly as it may sound, I have always used shredded toilet paper mixed
with PVA and water to form a sticky papier mache works really well.

Fill the hole to about 1/8" below the surface, packing it really tight
and allow to set. Then plaster over the top.

sponix

michaeld121@hotmail.com wrote:

> I've just had some electrical work done, including having some sockets
> taken out of the skirting boards.  This has left me with several single
> & double socket sized holes.
> 
> What's the best way to fill them?  Someone suggested putting a rough
> bit of 2x1 in the hole, attached to the plaster / brick work behind,
> then MDF cut pretty much to size on top of that, with wood filler
> around the edges.


I'd do pretty much that; but I'd make the top surface of the scarp 
timber you use to fill the bulk of the hole come to a few mm below the 
existing surface of the skirting. (ie, don't try and replicate the level 
of the skirting with new wood.)  Then fill up to just above level with 
Polyfilla, then sand it down level, using decreasing grades of sandpaper 
and with your sandpaper backed by a flat bit of wood etc (ie, not your 
fingertips).  That should give you a completely invisible repair: I've 
done this to get rid of a letterbox opening in a front door; being an 
eye-level hole it obviously had to be done right, and after a couple of 
coats of paint you couldn't even tell where it had been.

David

In article ,
    wrote:

> I've just had some electrical work done, including having some sockets
> taken out of the skirting boards.  This has left me with several single
> & double socket sized holes.

> What's the best way to fill them?  Someone suggested putting a rough
> bit of 2x1 in the hole, attached to the plaster / brick work behind,
> then MDF cut pretty much to size on top of that, with wood filler
> around the edges.

> I'm not sure which way is best in terms of being simple to fit & least
> likely to show in the long term.


I'd use wood rather than MDF, as different materials will likely show
through any paint.

I'd true up the hole and slightly chamfer the edges. Make the insert the
same and a reasonably tight fit but to stand slightly proud when tapped in
place. But make sure it's not too tight at top and bottom as it's all too
easy to split the skirting along the grain. Glue with wood glue and leave
to set. Then plane flush. With care you'll get a near invisible repair.

-- 
*Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.

    Dave Plowman        dave@davenoise.co.uk           London SW
                  To e-mail, change noise into sound.

michaeld121@hotmail.com wrote:

> I've just had some electrical work done, including having some sockets
> taken out of the skirting boards.  This has left me with several single
> & double socket sized holes.
> 
> What's the best way to fill them?  Someone suggested putting a rough
> bit of 2x1 in the hole, attached to the plaster / brick work behind,
> then MDF cut pretty much to size on top of that, with wood filler
> around the edges.
> 
> I'm not sure which way is best in terms of being simple to fit & least
> likely to show in the long term.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Michael
> 


Get a piece of wood shaped to the dimensions of the hole but wedge 
shaped so it jams in.  Glue it and jam it in.  Plane it down level when 
the glue has set.  Use filler in the small gaps round the sides.  Sand 
it down.
Phil


-- 
Phil Brady
Information Services
University of Wales, Bangor
Adeilad Deiniol
Deiniol Rd
Bangor LL57 2UX

Tel +44 (0)1248 382960
Fax +44 (0)1248 383826

P.R.Brady@bangor.ac.uk

In article , 
michaeld121@hotmail.com says...

> I've just had some electrical work done, including having some sockets
> taken out of the skirting boards.  This has left me with several single
> & double socket sized holes.
> 
> What's the best way to fill them?  Someone suggested putting a rough
> bit of 2x1 in the hole, attached to the plaster / brick work behind,
> then MDF cut pretty much to size on top of that, with wood filler
> around the edges.
> 
> I'm not sure which way is best in terms of being simple to fit & least
> likely to show in the long term.
> 

Why were the sockets set into the skirting rather then mounted on it?  
Sounds strange to me.
If the skirting is wood then the best way to patch the holes is to glue 
in some accurately cut pieces of a similar wood (you'll probably need to 
tidy up the holes first) - MDF isn't a good idea unless the skirting is 
MDF.  The easiest way to fill the holes would be to whack in some 
filler, but it will probably crack around the edge in time.

In article ,
michaeld121@hotmail.com writes

>I've just had some electrical work done, including having some sockets
>taken out of the skirting boards.  This has left me with several single
>& double socket sized holes.
>
>What's the best way to fill them?  Someone suggested putting a rough
>bit of 2x1 in the hole, attached to the plaster / brick work behind,
>then MDF cut pretty much to size on top of that, with wood filler
>around the edges.
>
>I'm not sure which way is best in terms of being simple to fit & least
>likely to show in the long term.


Wooden fill for sure, filled and levelled with body filler as it's tough and
flexible, Polyfilla etc is likely to crack or flake.
-- 
fred

s--p--o--n--i--x wrote:

>
> Silly as it may sound, I have always used shredded toilet paper mixed
> with PVA and water to form a sticky papier mache works really well.
>
> Fill the hole to about 1/8" below the surface, packing it really tight
> and allow to set. Then plaster over the top.
>


Good idea - especially for holes wot are not "square". I'll remember that 
one.

Si

In article ,
   Rob Morley  wrote:

> Why were the sockets set into the skirting rather then mounted on it?  


You *like* surface mount sockets?


> Sounds strange to me.


I'd say you're the odd one.

-- 
*Plagiarism saves time *

    Dave Plowman        dave@davenoise.co.uk           London SW
                  To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On 19 Sep 2005 02:04:28 -0700, michaeld121@hotmail.com wrote:


>I've just had some electrical work done, including having some sockets
>taken out of the skirting boards.  This has left me with several single
>& double socket sized holes.
>
>What's the best way to fill them?  Someone suggested putting a rough
>bit of 2x1 in the hole, attached to the plaster / brick work behind,
>then MDF cut pretty much to size on top of that, with wood filler
>around the edges.
>
>I'm not sure which way is best in terms of being simple to fit & least
>likely to show in the long term.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Michael


I used papier mache and when it had hardened put on filler and sand
and paint.

In article , dave@davenoise.co.uk 
says...

> In article ,
>    Rob Morley  wrote:
> > Why were the sockets set into the skirting rather then mounted on it?  
> 
> You *like* surface mount sockets?
> 

No, I like sockets recessed into plaster, not skirting boards.


> > Sounds strange to me.
> 
> I'd say you're the odd one.
>  

Surface mount sockets on skirting boards was the standard for many 
years.  I tend to assume people are talking about renovating older 
buildings, probably because I've mostly lived in older buildings myself.

In article ,
   Rob Morley  wrote:

> > > Why were the sockets set into the skirting rather then mounted on it?  
> > 
> > You *like* surface mount sockets?
> > 
> No, I like sockets recessed into plaster, not skirting boards.


Depends on the height of them. But even then it makes no difference. On a
small skirting board a surface mount socket is more likely to be damaged
by a Hoover, etc. As well as looking crap. ;-)


> > > Sounds strange to me.
> > 
> > I'd say you're the odd one.
> >  
> Surface mount sockets on skirting boards was the standard for many 
> years.  I tend to assume people are talking about renovating older 
> buildings, probably because I've mostly lived in older buildings myself.


Yes - those horrid surface mounted all in one MK etc things. However, the
holes they left would be easier filled.

I've got flush sockets in some rooms in my Victorian house fitted in the
skirting where it's 18" high. Other rooms where it's nearer 'normal' - ie
6" or so they're in the plaster. I reckon you need about 9" or so to the
bottom of the socket to avoid strain on the cable. The present trend to
have all sockets at waist height fills me with terror. ;-)

-- 
*Stable Relationships Are For Horses.

    Dave Plowman        dave@davenoise.co.uk           London SW
                  To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 17:15:19 +0100, BeeJay <> wrote:


>On 19 Sep 2005 02:04:28 -0700, michaeld121@hotmail.com wrote:
>
>>I've just had some electrical work done, including having some sockets
>>taken out of the skirting boards.  This has left me with several single
>>& double socket sized holes.
>>
>>What's the best way to fill them?  Someone suggested putting a rough
>>bit of 2x1 in the hole, attached to the plaster / brick work behind,
>>then MDF cut pretty much to size on top of that, with wood filler
>>around the edges.
>>
>>I'm not sure which way is best in terms of being simple to fit & least
>>likely to show in the long term.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Michael
>
>I used papier mache and when it had hardened put on filler and sand
>and paint. 


Now why has no-one mentioned car body filler? The DIYers friend

Anna


             ~~            Anna Kettle, Suffolk, England   
 |""""|    ~                   Lime plaster repairs
 / ^^ \ //    Freehand modelling in lime: overmantels, pargeting etc
 |____|                 www.kettlenet.co.uk   01359 230642

It is an old-ish house, about 1912, and I think the electrics have been
bodged continually while the last occupant was here (about 40 years).
I've got pretty much every kind of socket you can think of: new-ish MK,
very old MK, switched, non-switched, singles, doubles, in skirting, in
walls, surface mounted, recessed etc etc.  That's pretty much why I'm
having the work done.

By the end I'll have all doubles recessed into the wall (as well as a
bunch of other things).

Michael

Thanks for all of the advice.  One thing I'm not too sure about is what
kind of filler to use.  Sponix (#3) mentioned plaster, a couple of
people have mentioned 'filler'  & fred recommended 'body filler'.

What kind of plaster would you use?  Also is body filler as in car body
filler or is it something else?

Regards,

Michael

michaeld121@hotmail.com wrote:

> Thanks for all of the advice.  One thing I'm not too sure about is what
> kind of filler to use.  Sponix (#3) mentioned plaster, a couple of
> people have mentioned 'filler'  & fred recommended 'body filler'.
> 
> What kind of plaster would you use?  Also is body filler as in car body
> filler or is it something else?


What I've done before is to cut an oblong hole with chisels/stanley
knife (SK across grain using set square), push/glue in a piece of
timber, plane down flush, use car body filler, rub down, paint. If
you use something dis-similar (e.g. MDF, all car body filler) it
will show up after a year or so, but OK if it's not in full view.

In article ,
    wrote:

> Also is body filler as in car body filler or is it something else?


Yes - car body filler. If you intend using a lot of this, go to a car
paint supplier and buy a large tin - it's way cheaper in bulk.

-- 
*Bigamy is having one wife too many - monogamy is the same

    Dave Plowman        dave@davenoise.co.uk           London SW
                  To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article ,
michaeld121@hotmail.com writes

>
>Thanks for all of the advice.  One thing I'm not too sure about is what
>kind of filler to use.  Sponix (#3) mentioned plaster, a couple of
>people have mentioned 'filler'  & fred recommended 'body filler'.
>
>What kind of plaster would you use?  Also is body filler as in car body
>filler or is it something else?


As others have confirmed, I was talking about car body filler, that as
opposed to the silicone or polyurethane kind used for booby jobs or butt
lifts ;-).

The old favourite brand name is Isopon P38 but plain old polyester filler
sold unbranded by any motor accessory shop (or factor) is just as good for
this purpose. You're not looking for the glass reinforced kind eg. Isopon
P40.

Plaster is really a no no for this sort of thing as it won't take the
punishment that a skirting board is designed to take and is likely to crack.
-- 
fred