Wallpapered sockets wrong size

[Kroma]

Eek...

My future Father-in-Law has been wallpapering for us. When he got to the electricity (and tv/phone) sockets, I offered to remove them (after turning power off) as we were to but new ones anyway and so he could get a nice bit of paper behind. He assured me that it'd be ok - he'd just loosen them and tuck a bit behind.

Well, he didn't tuck very much behind at all and now, here's the bad bit.. I've got the new sockets tv/phone and power) and it would seem that the horrid brass sockets which I've removed were LARGER than standard sockets. The new ones are about 4mm smaller all round (the standard size it wouls appear)!!!

So, I'm going to have great big unpapered bits on show now!

Would it be best to:

1) Cut offcuts to decrease the size of the holes or 2) Remove the offending sections of paper (but will I damage neighbouring sections)

I will be painting over the paper when it's all finished.

I'm not sure how to break the news to him - the rest of the job is lovely and I can't hurt his feelings but I wish he'd listened to me (and I wish I'd been retired so that I could have helped)!

Daz

[Rob Morley]

Wipe a thin layer of filler over the edge of the paper to disguise it - don't smear it all over the paper as it will have a noticeably different texture when painted, but for 4mm around a fitting it won't be noticeable under a few coats of paint.

[John Cartmell]

Tear (not cut) pieces of paper to cover the blank spaces with the tear taking more from the back than the front and paste around the area. The tear will stop the join from showing and there should be no sign of it when you paint.

How successful this is depends on the paper. Try it on a scrap of wood/platerboard first if you need to convince yourself.

[Dave]

In that case, take piece of the original paper a bit larger than the area you want to cover and tear the outer edge all round so that the removed part is pulled away from you. Do this in a random way, so that there are no straight edges. This will feather the edge and be invisible when it is pasted over the too short paper.

I use this method when I have to and when the paste dries, you have to look very carefully to see the join.

Dave

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

You can buy white plastic switch/socket surrounds you know?

-- Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

There you go...

Benjamin Middlethwaite

[Peter Taylor]

Is there a standard size of socket? Someone else might know what the British Standard says. The only standard sizes seem to be the centres and thread of the screws and the size of the backbox.

[Chris Bacon]

Use some polly fillah or similar where the paper does not cover the plaster. Flat it off. Carefully cut out squares, or oblongs, of lining paper 1/2" bigger all around that the fitting. Soak them well, and paste to the wall, when dry, over-paint, and affix the fitting. You may be able to get away with just filler and paint.

[Kroma]

Thanks for all replies. The wallpaper in question is mostly of the plain 'wall doctor' variety if that helps. There is a different paper above the mid-level dado rail which is textured (due to be painted).

I think there is a standard size as all the sockets and switches in the other rooms conform to the same size (as well as my new set) whereas the brass ones I've removed from lounge and dining room are bigger.

I've now fitted one double power socket - it looks very odd with the border around it! I may try the tearing/plastering techniques tomorrow. Ideally I'd like to remove the offending strips (they're quite short as they are below the dado rail) but I fear it will interfere with adjacent strips... and SOME of the strips have already been painted!

Daz

[Matt]

4mm? Great big?

Does your day job involve sub atomic particles?

[Kroma]

:o) No - but it is very obvious, believe me. Now I have a socket in place I'd say it's more like 6mm which is visible from the other end of the room.

1mm would be big if I was hoping for a neat tucked-in look.

Daz

[Andy Wade]

The usual sizes are 86 mm square for accessories which fit a single-gang box and 86 x 146 mm for 2-gang.

FCs are 60.3 mm (2 3/8 in.) and 120.6 mm (4 3/4 in.); thread is M3.5 (formerly 4 BA, prior to about 1970).

[chris French]

In message , Kroma writes

I think I'd go for the removing and replacing strips technique, should be able to get them off without messing up neighbouring strips, even the painted ones, though that might require little more care and work.

[Matt Beard]

I might be tempted to carefully cut rectangles of paper, then cut rectangular holes in them. Then remove the sockets, fit the rectangles with paste and paint when dry.

If the join is visible (my guess is that it will be, but not very obvious) and the rectangles are even enough it will probably look as if you intended it.

[John Weston]

I think I'd go with making a "feature" for the mistake rather than try to hide it. How about using a border strip mitred round the fitting with the inner edge of the square hidden under the fitting? Use a contrast or whatever border to suit the paper installed. If you try to hide the mistake, then you will always see it. The ivory fitting is already a different colour to the paper. so adding (say) an ivory border will not be as obvious as a botched attempt at repair.

The other alternative is to use one of those plastic surrounds that are designed to prevent finger marks on paper around fittings. These are normally clear but can be painted (on the back) to hide the mistake. if it is still obvious.