Chased cables in wall for A/V can I plaster?

Magic_x_uk · 2 Jul 2010 at 21:24

HI my electrician came and chased some cable runs and sockets etc in lounge for me today. All ready for TV to go on wall.

Now my plasterer cannot get till next Thursday.

Just wondering how hard it is if I wanted to have a go at doing this myself or should I wait for plasterer.

This is a photo of how it looks at moment.

If I did it, what materials would I need etc?

My thoughts are just for eg: B&Q filler, put in to gaps, smooth of and leave a bit proud. When dry and set, sand then paint.

Many thanks.

Amp34 · 2 Jul 2010 at 21:28

Do it yourself. I'm suprised you didn't do the electrics as well actually. If I remember rightly my dad now uses sort of mix between plaster and filler for small holes like that. Easy and quick. You'll probably want to buy a float though.

Ricochet J · 2 Jul 2010 at 21:28

I'd be tempted to replace the entire plasterboard!

Beans on toast Dave · 2 Jul 2010 at 21:30

are you sure you have enough cables?? i would add another hdmi lead just incase you need it in the future

Magic_x_uk · 2 Jul 2010 at 21:35

AMP34.

Your not allowed are you. Thats why.

I am getting another 2 HDMI cables to put in. I have 3 HDMI cables at the moment and only one is long enough so will pop into town tomorrow and try and find a couple more 2 meter HDMI cables giving me 3 in total. Plenty enough. In fact when I get a better AV Amp I will actually only need one HDMI cable.

Picture may not show it that well, buy there is 2 runs. One for the single socket and one for AV wires which only need to be HDMI anyhow.

Shimmyhill · 2 Jul 2010 at 21:39

Ricochet J said:
I'd be tempted to replace the entire plasterboard!

Its not plasterboard !

Small bag of patch plaster and a trowel and you could do it yourself, may take some time and sanding to get a good finish but will be cheaper and more satisfying !

unknowndomain · 2 Jul 2010 at 22:05

Magic_x_uk said:
Your not allowed are you. Thats why.

That never stopped anyone.

Amp34 · 2 Jul 2010 at 22:22

unknowndomain said:
That never stopped anyone.

Exactly, it's basic electrics tbh.

unknowndomain · 2 Jul 2010 at 22:25

Amp34 said:
Exactly, it's basic electrics tbh.

I understand the reason though.

mit1 · 2 Jul 2010 at 22:29

Have a go at the plastering m8, if it looks ruff when have finished it let your plasterer do it next thursday, nothing ventured nothing gained.

JBod · 2 Jul 2010 at 23:28

If it is crumbling in there you need something that has more of a bond, plastering is supposed to be a thin layer not for filling large gaps like that.

Couple of options, easiest and cheapest is to go buy a pot of PVA glue from a DIY store and some regular poly filler.

First do a thin mix of watery PVA and paint it onto the crumbling parts, this will bond it too the wall. Now you *can* fill straight onto it, but for a better more solid finish:

Grab an old news paper and get cracking with some paper mache to fill in the large gaps (rather than waste polyfiller) but be careful with making it too runny and it dribbling down cables.

Next mix a hefty blob of PVA glue (about 1 part glue to 8-10 parts water) into water then add the polyfiller (water THEN filler stops it going lumpy) - this creates a far harder with better bonding material. Don't fill all the way to the top with this as it is a MAJOR pain in the ass to sand down. Finished off with a regular mix of filler + sanding.

Lopéz · 2 Jul 2010 at 23:31

Magic_x_uk said:
AMP34.

Your not allowed are you. Thats why.

Not strictly accurate.