Best way of fixing boxes to crumbly walls.....

[Vortigern]

Bonding plaster with a screw in the centre is my preferred method.

 

[davesparks]

Spray it with water and slap some bonding in there.

If you want it to go off quick mix a bit of cement in with the bonding and it'll go off in no time.

 

[buzzlightyear]

Cement mixed with plaster goes off quick. Drat beaten to it above.

 

[Intoelectrics]

As all the above ^^^^

In the past I have used a couple blobs of grip fix to stick all the boxes in position then filled round them after with either bonding or drywall adhesive. This way you can get all the cables in then do the back filling all in one go.

Be sure to prime the brick first ideally with a very watered down pva mix.

 

[Megawatt]

Hi I'm doing a rewire of an old victorian terraced house built in the 1890s the plaster and bricks are extremely fragile even with a hammer and scutch chisel the brick just crumbles away leaving no solid fixing, what is the best way of fixing boxes back square? I've thought about expanding foam but will that not expand and push the boxes back out?

It's hard to see from the picture but the brick is all jageded and in pieces.

View attachment 103260

What about surface mounting all boxes and sleeve it up the wall or across the wall using PVC conduit

 

[Micktw68]

A tight mix of Coving adhesive. The Knauf one seems to work best, even better if it’s gone off in the bag a bit as it sets lightning fast.

 

[davesparks]

What about surface mounting all boxes and sleeve it up the wall or across the wall using PVC conduit

That would be as ugly as hell in a house.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Spray it with water and slap some bonding in there.

If you want it to go off quick mix a bit of cement in with the bonding and it'll go off in no time.

Another vote for that solution. Bonding with a bit of cement in the mix.

Do make sure the box is set level. The mix goes off extra quick and hard, so there’s no adjustment later!

Either drill through the box and screw to fix - after the bonding has set!
Or pop out a couple of the knock outs. The bonding will come through a bit into the box and hold the box firm.

 

[Mike Johnson]

I hate it when removing a plug the back box comes with it, this resin will fix anything: Rawlplug R-KEM II Styrene-Free Polyester Resin 300ml. if you have not used it before be aware that the nozzles are one use only unless you are quick and have a few to do.

Have mixed it on a board before now when all my nozzles have gone solid, just squeezed out of the tube onto the board and mixed with a disposable stick, not your favourite screwdriver.

 

[LukeD]

Another vote for that solution. Bonding with a bit of cement in the mix.

Do make sure the box is set level. The mix goes off extra quick and hard, so there’s no adjustment later!

Either drill through the box and screw to fix - after the bonding has set!
Or pop out a couple of the knock outs. The bonding will come through a bit into the box and hold the box firm.

Bend out the nock outs this creates a much better hold . But again , bonding on a ground floor might not be a good idea . It draws in any damp