Simple jobs that turn into a pain!!

[Welsh_sparky_21]

Just had a simple kitchen light not working job, one of the fittings with the 4 spotlights on it. Took the fitting down to check if there was voltage there and then spent the next 45 minutes trying to refix the fitting, couldn’t use a gyprock fixing as the bracket wasn’t big enough and the fixing would just fall into the hole, had to use a very long screw which luckily I had at the bottom of my bag. Client coming in asking if you’re getting on okay and all the time in your head you’re thinking how ---- you are and that she thinks you’re also ---- haha! 5 minute job turned into almost an hour and a half. Anyone else had any wee jobs that have ended up turning into a farce? And anyone got any tips on how you would approach that?? I didn’t want to cut the ceiling to fit a bit of wood, didn’t see any other way of fixing it other than a big screw at an angle the brackets are tiny

 

[MJPD29]

Can’t beat them. Took the blinds down round a bay window in a bedroom at home recently to paint and couldn’t get a fixing putting them back up. Hole in plasterboard got bigger and bigger until a cut an even bigger hole put a ground in and skimmed and painted it yet again. Had to walk downstairs and boil the kettle to calm myself down after it fell on me when I turned away thinking it was complete.

 

[Pretty Mouth]

I feel your pain. For problems like this, anchor resin can be useful. Clean up the hole, vacuum it out, then stuff it full of anchor resin. It'll go off pretty quick, then you can drill, plug, and screw it.

 

[nicebutdim]

Can’t beat them. Took the blinds down round a bay window in a bedroom at home recently to paint and couldn’t get a fixing putting them back up. Hole in plasterboard got bigger and bigger until a cut an even bigger hole put a ground in and skimmed and painted it yet again. Had to walk downstairs and boil the kettle to calm myself down after it fell on me when I turned away thinking it was complete.

School boy error using 60 minute easyfill when you really want the 30 minute stuff

 

[Welsh_sparky_21]

School boy error using 60 minute easyfill when you really want the 30 minute stuff

Never used that stuff before I’ll give that a bash next time

 

[timhoward]

For problem wall fixings, if it's an external wall (as one might suppose a blind would be attached to!) a long SDS drill bit into the blockwork behind the plasterboard, then a long screw, put rawlplug on very end of screw and use the screw to tap it into the wall behind. It won't go anywhere then. Just don't over-tighten (hand screwdriver for this!) as you can pull the plasterboard back into the real wall behind.

I completely agree that ceiling lights can be frustrating adventures into the unknown. I had someone tell me that £75 to turn up and change a downlight to a pendant was too much the other day. I just laughed and moved on for the exact reasons the OP described.

 

[nicebutdim]

Never used that stuff before I’ll give that a bash next time

It's good as fillers go, but I wouldn't place too much stock in those times for deeper repairs.

My comment was facetious, so don't place too much stock in it either

 

[OnlQQker]

If you put a sprinkling of cement or multi finish into the Easyfill then mix with water, you'll get approx 1 minute to fill the hole before it goes off rock hard. Same applies to hardwall. You can fill a large chase this way without waiting for the stuff to go off.
Then finish with a skim of Easyfill with a tool like this Magnusson Taping & Jointing Knife 10" (250mm) - Screwfix - https://www.screwfix.com/p/magnusson-taping-jointing-knife-10-250mm-/678pr