How do I repair walls after a rewire?

Question

I have had my house rewired. The electrician cut channels into the walls for the wires. I want to fill these in myself before redecorating and I need some advice for a complete beginner. I know that I should get the whole wall skimmed for a perfect finish but I can't afford this at the moment. I would be grateful for a step by step guide. All other forums I have looked at use words I don't understand!
Thank you

Answer 1

I'm with Falcon on this. If the electrician put wires without metal armour in the walls, you better cover them with a metal shield or someone will try to hang a picture and short out the work.



Can you give us more details on what this looks like? Width, length and depth of channel, plus is it low voltage or household voltage? If it's household voltage, exactly what wire type was used? Look on a wire scrap and read us the type printed on the wire cover.

Answer 2

Hopefully the electrician covered the wires with either a metal or plastic channelling in the wall to protect the wires otherwise you or somebody will have to do that first. You will then need some sand and some finish plaster. Put equal amounts of sand and plaster in a bucket and mix well together then add water, a little at a time, mix until there are no lumps but not so wet that it will not stay together. Press this into the channels on the walls until it is just behind the surface of the wall finish, let this dry. Now mix just plaster in a bucket with water, water first then add the plaster slowly, mixing as you go then spread that over the mix you have already applied to the wall channels. As it dries sprinkle water over the finish plaster and again flatten it to the wall finish. You will need a trowel to mix and apply the plaster, the amounts of mix you will need can only be judged by experience.

Answer 3

I will assume you have drywall. First when you patch drywall you will need a place to nail both ends. Chances are the electrician cut as small a hole as possible. You'll need to cut the drywall open so that you have stud (wood framing) to attach it to. A stud is only 1 1/2" wide, and you will need to screw the drywall to half of that. Try to cut things in a square shape, it's easier. Cut out a pice of drywall that will fit into the opening. Put it in, and screw it in place. Then take drywall tape and "tape" the seams. Then add drywall mud- add more then you need. Once it's dry (the next day) sand down the mud until it it level with the rest of the wall. Then add texture to match the rest of your walls.



It's alomst worth having someone else do this for you, or at least to hang the drywall. You can do this...there are book that show step by step in pictures.

Answer 4

You mean he chased the walls,mix up some mortar 4:1 sand and cement and just fill the channels with that or you can use One Coat plaster make sure you wet the chase really well before applying it. The plaster will dry out really quickly and crack badly if its moisture content is not maintained.Just use a plastering trowel and push the mortar into the chase and smooth it off then and let it set.

Answer 5

It just depends on your lifestyle... and your daily activities... Myself personally I keep my nail from about a quarter inch from the actual tips of my fingers because I type all day

Answer 6

Well long nails are attractive... but to make that look sexy, put red nail polish on.... now thats attractive hun!

Answer 7

Must have been a rubbish electrician if he left the chases/raggles unfilled, I would be ashamed to do that.

Answer 8

Not enough information to answer effectively. Are you talking dry wall, wood, paneling, what?