Issue with Tiling over Electrical Plug Sockets

[Mr Tiler]

hi, the kitchen splash and floor I tiled... customer gave me a call yesterday to tell me they were having new sockets installed in the kitchen and they wont fit because I have overlapped the metal casing in the wall (original sockets fitted back in sound)... so I have said I will go up today to resolve the issue and take out haq is needed... but should I of charged here for this? and whats the best method guys? I was thinking cut the power off, remove the sockets and get the nippers on them? cheers

 

[Gazzer]

Try doing it properly in the 1st place !

 

[The D]

It’s a common mistake when you are first starting out m8. Nobig deal just go back and put it right. Tilefile, nippers, grinder, take the tiles off and re cut them. Whatever you haveto do to put it right

 

[Dougs Third Go]

are they having chrome socket faces?

 

[swanman]

I thought Mr t bag was experienced.
that was a mistake I made about 15 years ago when I first started out

 

[Qwerty]

Whoops!!! Did you Silicon around them or not in the end? Cut to internal size of pattress (or dry line) box in the first place. Simples

 

[Freeze]

Like Dean said, just pop round and sort it it out, would have thought every tiler on here has had to nip a tile back around a socket sometime in their career, your honest enough to share your mistakes so don't worry about the people who shoot you down at every opportunity, don't get it myself

 

[Qwerty]

would have thought every tiler on here has had to nip a tile back around a socket sometime in their career

Nope!

 

[Freeze]

Nope!

I stand corrected

 

[gamma38]

I haven't ever been back to a job to do this i always screw the sockets back while i'm there so I know they are fitted ok and nice and level. That said I can see how this has happened, ash has cut to the socket front rather than the backbox, rookie mistake, I guess so. But if you cut to the back box this can't ever happen.

 

[Freeze]

According to his original post, he overlapped the back box, but the original sockets fitted back, the new ones won't??, Teabag can explain why once he has returned to site to sort out.

 

[gamma38]

According to his original post, he overlapped the back box, but the original sockets fitted back, the new ones won't??, Teabag can explain why once he has returned to site to sort out.

If you tile to the backbox then any sockets will fit.

 

[Mr Tiler]

all sorted now, didn't plan on not going back at all just wanted opinions. as gamma states I originally cut the tiles to fit the face of the original plastic switch casings (not knowing they was going to be any issue) and fitted them back on myself before completing the job. I didn't Silicon in the end as tbh any gaps would of been very very minimal as these tilese were not as proud as I originally anticipated so all is good. customer is happy and I was asking if there was any issues at all that she was unhappy with so that I could rectify them rather than them be unhappy with my work. job is a good en. cheers guys

 

[Mr Tiler]

If you tile to the backbox then any sockets will fit.

yep that's what il be doing in the future lol all down to inexperience again mate but it is sorted and customers are happy with my work. but as I said if I was told new casings were going on it would of been sorted out beforehand but now I know to take my cuts from the metal casing in the walls lol

 

[Peter]

Don't worry about it, it's a rite of passage as a trainee tiler :lol:

 

[Mr Tiler]

Don't worry about it, it's a rite of passage as a trainee tiler :lol:

well as bri stated before the way I have gone about all of this I have to learn from my own mistakes, and this is one that certainly wont happen again. wont have to worry about any of this for now though I have officially landed my first full time position as a tiler for a company and will be fixing for them in a couple of months once I am up to scratch. cheers guys

 

[Freeze]

Just learn from your mistakes Ash, I have been tiling 20 years and I'm still learning, your a foolish man if you think you know everything, your not far from me, once you have a bit more experience you can come on a few of my jobs if you like, I will introduce you to the world of natural stone tiling.

 

[Peter]

It still happens. I cut a socket check too big in December, and only realised when I was screwing the faceplates on again. Not a problem except the customer was talking to me at the time so seen my forehead slapping error 😳

 

[Mr Tiler]

Just learn from your mistakes Ash, I have been tiling 20 years and I'm still learning, your a foolish man if you think you know everything, your not far from me, once you have a bit more experience you can come on a few of my jobs if you like, I will introduce you to the world of natural stone tiling.

wow thanks matey, going to be pretty busy over the next 12 months as I am working for a firm now mon-fri but once I am very confident I will start taking my own work on on the weekends again and tbh I am not too far away I just have to get up to speed then il be fixing. I actually thought I was getting somewhere this time a fortnight ago but last week on site made me realise I have a looooot to learn lmao. I would love to do some stone work with you mate thank you for the offer 😉

 

[beanz]

I got caught out like this, the first time I tiles round a shaver socket... They're so much tighter than the plug sockets I'd done before! Not a mistake I've made since lol!

 

[beanz]

Ash, don't count your chickens bud. There's no way of knowing you'll be busy for the next 12 months, in this game. I was flat out a month ago. Fell out with the guy that supplies most of my work, and now have nothing, as my other contacts are just ticking over right now... It's never good to have all your eggs in one basket, as I should have learnt by now lol!?!

 

[charlie1]

Ash, don't count your chickens bud. There's no way of knowing you'll be busy for the next 12 months, in this game. I was flat out a month ago. Fell out with the guy that supplies most of my work, and now have nothing, as my other contacts are just ticking over right now... It's never good to have all your eggs in one basket, as I should have learnt by now lol!?!

hard but very good lesson to learn. Sure you will get something else through!

 

[Freeze]

Oh and Ash, it's easy for people to point out mistakes, I look at a lot of work by so called experienced tilers on different forums, and their web sites, and although their are a few top class tilers knocking around, their are a lot of wannabes, who seriosly think they are better than what they are and if I was inclined to I could pull their work a part, especially on some of the stone jobs I see, take it with a pinch of salt, strive to achieve the best results you can, learn from your mistakes and adopt a professional attitude.

 

[cam_low]

might want to check your contract. You may not be allowed to moonlight on the weekends !

 

[Dan]

Thread title changed from "Issue" to "Issue with Tiling over Electrical Plug Sockets" because "Issue" just doesn't cut the mustard, tea-bagging.

Use decent thread titles lad. Nearly all threads are an 'issue'.

 

[Mr Tiler]

might want to check your contract. You may not be allowed to moonlight on the weekends !

I havnt discussed it yet and tbh I probably might just settle in the job and that will be it rather than work weekends, I have been told I am ok to get my own work on the weekends and also use the company van that is waiting for me for once I am fixing for them, im filling in the position of a guy who started the business with these lads 16-17 years ago cheers

 

[cam_low]

I would take the weekends and enjoy them to be frank Ash. When/if you ever go out on your own you will wish you had kept them free !!! I barely know what days it is these days !

 

[Mr Tiler]

well tbh these guys have really taken a shine to me and as I have to them, they can see I have been eager to get into this trade I think that is why they have given me the job. no shortage of work and have been told I cant go to them and state that I have a weeks work of my own coming up but they wont also tell me theres no work for a week so I wont be getting paid! for now though now though I will enjoy the weekends but could pay for a holiday for us in a months worth of weekends worked haha! cheers

 

[beanz]

hard but very good lesson to learn. Sure you will get something else through!

Yeah cheers mate. It feels like I'm starting from scratch, as all the recommends from my previous work are going to my ex boss, as it was all for his company. I'll definitely make sure I take on more of my own work this time round... Pure laziness on my part really, as it was just easier to sit back and let someone else do all the leg work, and just do a 9 to 5.. You live and learn.