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builder had fitted 4 spots in a corridor. it didn't look right. taking a laser level when it got dark its clear the lights are all a bit off centre . not loads maybe half an inch but it is defintly noticeable and annoying.
given that the circle has already been cut out, is it possible to move it half an inch over? the ceiling hole would clearly be larger that the spot. does the ceiling need patching before another hole can be drilled
annoyed....
did you try nudging them individually towards the center line?
If they're 4" lights and hes used a 4 1/4" hole saw then there'll be some movement
Try to slide them as suggested^^ . There might be a joist in the way
It'll probably be quicker by hand if you've got the room to either chain drill or plasterboard jab saw/keyhole saw to enlarge the hole. Patch it if needed
hopefully I'll get a chance to look properly this morning. my concern is if I enlarge the hole there won't be enough board to hold the light up.
it probably was a joist in the way and he had hoped we wouldn't notice....
and is it usual practice to not fix the surface mounted boxes under the kitchen? he's left them loose, which probably isn't a problem in most places but under the sink it interferes with the drawer. easy fix, but annoying
If the box not being mounted is causing a problem then you're right to be annoyed. You'll find boxes not mounted in spaces usually where gravity will keep them in place and they won't move, e.g. above ceilings. Leaving switches and socket outlets loose is asking for trouble and I'd want boxes mounted away from possible leaks
If there’s a joist in the way there’s not a lot whoever fitted the lights could have done about it really. It’s not like anyone’s moving joists to fit a few down lights. Maybe the layout of the lights could have been altered to be visually pleasing though.
The only way to fix properly is to patch and fill the hole, and then re drill, trying to move it a little bit and then fill the gap is asking for a mess of a job.
Back boxes in my kitchen fits are always screwed to cabinets. Why wouldn’t you?? EDIT - just read again, are you talking about boxes under the cabinets in the plinth zone? If so you can’t easily fix them there and no requirement to as far as I’m aware.
hmmm the lights are really putting me off looking at them now! maybe shifting them all over 10 cm or so will drop them off the joist
there are loose sockets under the plinth for the fridge and freezer. the ones that are causing issue are the sockets for the boiling tap and the dishwasher. they are loose in the back of the sink cabinet and catching the drawer.
and he hasn't put a socket in the back of the island
causing issue are the sockets for the boiling tap and the dishwasher. they are loose in the back of the sink cabinet and catching the drawer
They should 100% be fixed! Although sometimes it’s very difficult to find a location for them in a drawer pack. This should have been considered when 1st fixing.
Depends what you mean by surface-mounted, I used plasterboard boxes sunk into the wooden backs of my drawer units with a separate switch above the worktop. If you want access pull a drawer or two out
If the drawer closes too close to the back then they'll need to be fixed to the wall behind with access through the unit back.
Snipping a moulded plug off and replacing it with a screw-on version can help with neat flex runs
As far as the lights are concerned you could consider zig-zagging them either side of the joist, although some will find that annoying too, or swapping those lights for something else 🙂
We have used these a few times when fitting new spots into old holes, would allow you to open the hole up and still cover it neatly.
Sockets under cupboards and behind plinths don't have to be fixed and will often be loose on the floor. Sockets inside cupboards should be fixed to the back or side of cabinets