DIY fans just finding out why you shouldn't use caulk to fix light switch cracks
A DIY enthusiast looking for a way to fix a cracked light switch was cautioned against using a seemingly easy solution.
In his quest to solve the problem, he thought about using caulk to fill in the gaps but was advised not to by Reddit's home improvement experts. Members of the r/DIY forum were not impressed with the temporary fix and suggested more lasting solutions for the domestic issue.
The man took to the internet to seek advice, posting: "Stupid question, but what's the best thing to use to fix the gaps/cracks in the plaster around the light switch? " Some users strongly recommended against using caulk for precise repair jobs.
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One Redditor advised: "I'd never caulk round a light switch, it'd make a mess if you have to remove it. Take the face plate off and use pollyfilla, then sand down when dried. Replace the face plate."
Another shared their preference, saying: "Toupret is a better filler than polyfilla imo. If you have some bonding plaster and its a large hole you could use that and then finish.", reports the Mirror.
The toupret option was well-received by the community, with one user commenting: "Toupret is far superior than anything else."
Additionally, several users seized the chance to explain why caulk should not be the go-to for fixing a light switch, highlighting that there are more sophisticated and effective methods out there.
They wrote: "People are suggesting caulk which would work to fill in the gap but it will be stuck to the switch on one side. I prefer to leave sockets and switches easily unscrewable - for example when painting I'll unscrew the socket slightly and paint just behind where it will be when screwed back up."
"That way it's not getting a paint seal around the edge. Similarly here I think I would prefer to get the switch out of the way and build up that gap using a solid filler."