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Electrical

Is it possible to chisel walls to embed light switches and electrical sockets and after decorating

Anonymous user 23/02/2024 - 3.38 PM

Hello, Basically it's been over a year since we bought our flat and repainted every room. However the flat is slightly older and the light switches and plug sockets are not embedded into the wall. The wiring is embedded, just not the switches or sockets. The pattress boxes are mounted on to the walls so they stick out a lot. It's not that bad but I'd prefer to have them changed over to be pushed back further into the wall to look more modern. I have a couple questions about this though: 1) As all the rooms have been decorated and are still in a relatively good condition. Is there any possibility of somehow completing this work without making a mess that requires the walls to be repainted? 2) The flat was built in the 1930s and uses concrete in various places throughout the flat. Will that be an issue to chisel away at the wall and push everything further back? We've not had too much of a problem putting up blinds, mounting a TV, putting up a coat rack etc so I'm hopeful it wouldn't be an issue? Thanks very much!

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2 Answers

Anonymous user

There is a reason that the electrics are surface mounted. You would probably find the original wiring was carried out in conduit embedded in the concrete walls. Rewiring through embedded conduit is a difficult job so it is common practice to surface mount it in trunking. I would not recommend you try channeling concrete walls! Very very difficult to do and extremely messy. You have gone about this the wrong way I'm afraid you would have been better sorting out the wiring first then decorating. Its virtually impossible to do any electrical work without some damage to decoration, even the most careful electrician would find it a real challenge. Not what you want to hear I expect but thats how it is.

Answered4 January 2021

Anonymous user

I'd agree with all said by Elec-craft, but would just add a common upgrade to concrete post-war houses is to line the whole inside walls with dot and dab plasterboard which allows the depth for back boxes but more importantly adds another layer of insulation. However, again not something you will want to hear I expect.

Answered4 January 2021