What's this item?

[Twirlywoos]

I'm re-routing my external freeview aeriel lead and instead of coming through the window frame (which looks tacky, cheap and lazy) I want to have an external box like what my neighbour has, but what is it called please?

 

[Burned_Alive]

Brick buster plate/cover or cable hole tidy.

 

[Twirlywoos]

Thanks brick buster is what it's called, what a strange name though

 

[enigma27]

Search cable entry cover

you will need some external silicon as well to stick it to the external wall.

cost me a couple of quid last time i bought one.

 

[Maccapacca]

Thanks brick buster is what it's called, what a strange name though

It's not, when the drill through from the inside with the massive drill they bring, it busts the brick out so instead of getting a nice 15mm hole you get a busted brick. This covers it all up. Bodge bodge bodge.

 

[boxman2000]

You can get other ones that sit flush to the wall (a bit less conspicuous).

I prefer the ones I have but this is the sort of thing I was meaning

It's not, when the drill through from the inside with the massive drill they bring, it busts the brick out so instead of getting a nice 15mm hole you get a busted brick. This covers it all up. Bodge bodge bodge.

Exactly what I was thinking.

Had a friend around yesterday to hook up electrics for my shed and he had to drill through my wall - I was most impressed for a tradie (no offence!) as to how careful he was not to blow the plaster. So may people just whack drill to full power/hammer and away they go, regardless of external plaster damage.

 

[Terminal_Boy]

It's not, when the drill through from the inside with the massive drill they bring, it busts the brick out so instead of getting a nice 15mm hole you get a busted brick. This covers it all up. Bodge bodge bodge.

This. There's always a big hole full of mastic under these covers.

 

[Maccapacca]

This. There's always a big hole full of mastic under these covers.

Bet that's not what you expected when you signed up to sky 'ohh come and smash my house to pieces, that's fine yes no problem' £48 per month for the privilege

 

[Abyss]

If you drill through the wall carefully from both sides one of those isn't required, although you might want one like the link boxman has given.

 

[Maccapacca]

If you drill through the wall carefully from both sides one of those isn't required, although you might want one like the link boxman has given.

I'll eat my hat if you can get the holes to meet first time

 

[Twirlywoos]

You can get other ones that sit flush to the wall (a bit less conspicuous).

I prefer the ones I have but this is the sort of thing I was meaning


Exactly what I was thinking.

Had a friend around yesterday to hook up electrics for my shed and he had to drill through my wall - I was most impressed for a tradie (no offence!) as to how careful he was not to blow the plaster. So may people just whack drill to full power/hammer and away they go, regardless of external plaster damage.

If you drill through the wall carefully from both sides one of those isn't required, although you might want one like the link boxman has given.

Yup getting those, seems much nicer than that ghastly thing. Although where my Sky ariel is coming in the guy did a nice tidy job and the bricks aren't busted at all. Shame they don't come in brown to match the brick work but I guess a dab of paint should sort it out. However for the interior wall white is fine.

 

[Burned_Alive]

Make sure your cable feeds into the external hole from below so water doesn't track downwards into the hole (despite being sealed).

 

[boxman2000]

Depends what you're walls are constructed of. Mine is just standard block cavity. Just flick between hammer and regular drill, particularly when you're getting close to the end and let the drill do the work, pushing with all your might will pop the plaster or damage the brick.

Of course you want to be drilling in at an angle (higher point internal). I doubt most would be skilled enough to drill from either end to meet.

You can actually get various coloured grommets and I can confirm they are easily painted over.

 

[Twirlywoos]

Make sure your cable feeds into the external hole from below so water doesn't track downwards into the hole (despite being sealed).

I do this all the time but good reminder as for the reason why it is done this way.

Anyway, drilled the hole and there wasn't too much brick busting going on (unless the hole I made is what is considered as busting a brick, I just think it's a tiny chip.)

I'm just waiting on that Grommet now (I went for black) and when it arrives I will apply silicone and tidy up the cabling etc. Hopefully the flange is large enough to cover the chip, if not then I'm not going to stress over it.

Cheers all

 

[boxman2000]

Sorry if I'm stating the obvious but you need to thread the cable through the grommet - my (former) electrician didn't do this... was not pleased

 

[Burned_Alive]

Sorry if I'm stating the obvious but you need to thread the cable through the grommet - my (former) electrician didn't do this... was not pleased

If required, you can just split them with a stanley knife and add it afterwards. Pretty soft plastic and the split is hidden by the cable.

 

[boxman2000]

I found the part you see on the wall quite hard plastic so would have to be with a hack saw.

 

[Twirlywoos]

Sorry if I'm stating the obvious but you need to thread the cable through the grommet - my (former) electrician didn't do this... was not pleased

Yup I know that, the cable is just on temporarily atm.

Edit - Cancelled Amazon order as I found a brown one at CPC Farnell and it was cheaper too. Their free shipping is still on so it sweetened the deal. Will update with pics once all the bits have arrived and fitted

 

[JohnnyG]

If the grommet doesn't cover the hole just use one of these https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MXCEC.html it will match your wall nicely too

 

[bitslice]

I'll eat my hat if you can get the holes to meet first time

Drill almost all the way through (= two brick widths + cavity space)
glue a magnet to a stick and poke it in the hole
on the other side use a second magnet to locate the end of the stick.
drill at that location