Wall plug replacement in Exeter
Professional wall plug replacement services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60
Typical Duration
10-15 mins
Location
Exeter, Devon
Wall plug replaced where the old one's failed - your shelf, curtain pole, or picture secure again. Quick fix using the right plug for your wall type.
When Shelves Start Moving, It's Usually The Plug
That shelf was fine for years. Now it wobbles when you touch it. Or that heavy mirror is sitting at a slight angle and you're convinced it's going to fall off the wall at 3am.
Nine times out of ten, it's the wall plug that's failed - not the shelf, not the bracket, just the plug in the wall that's given up.
Quick fix. Right plug. Job sorted.
Why Wall Plugs Fail
| ✅ Proper Fixing | ❌ What Usually Went Wrong |
|---|---|
| Right plug type for wall material | Standard plug in plasterboard (doesn't work) |
| Hole the right size for the plug | Hole too big, plug just spins |
| Weight appropriate for fixing | Too much weight for that plug type |
| Plug in solid material | Plug in crumbling old plaster |
The Fix
🔧 What I Do
- Remove the failed plug
- Check what wall type we're dealing with
- Fill old hole if needed (or make new one nearby)
- Install correct plug type for your wall
- Refit whatever was hanging
- Test it's secure
💡 You Get
- Fixing that'll actually last
- Right plug for the job
- No more wobbling
Pricing
| Job | Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Single plug replacement | 10-15 mins | £60 |
| Multiple plugs same visit | Add 5 mins each | £60-£85 |
£60 minimum covers the visit. If you've got multiple failed plugs, tell me when booking.
💡 Pro tip: If one plug on a shelf has failed, the others are probably on their way out too. Worth replacing them all while I'm there.
Why Choose Us for Wall plug replacement in Exeter?
Proper fixing in solid wall
Shelf or picture secure again
Right plug for the wall type
10-minute fix, done properly
What to Expect
Step 1: Remove & Assess
Pull the old plug, check the hole condition, and figure out what went wrong. Can't fix it properly without understanding the problem.
Step 2: New Plug
Either fill the old hole and re-drill (if plaster's crumbling), or clean it out and fit new plug (if hole's still good). Use the right type for your wall.
Step 3: Refit & Test
Bracket or hook back on, item rehung, give it a tug to make sure it's not going anywhere. Done.
🔧 DIY Tips
This is pretty straightforward if you've got the right plugs:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Drill with masonry bit
- Correct wall plugs (see below)
- Hammer
- Screwdriver
- Pliers (to pull old plug out)
📐 Identifying your wall type
- Solid wall (brick/block) - doesn't sound hollow when tapped, use red rawlplugs
- Plasterboard - sounds hollow, use plasterboard fixings (the ones with wings)
- Old lath-and-plaster - hollow sound but harder than modern plasterboard, use longer fixings to reach through lath
🔨 Replacing the plug
- Remove item and bracket
- Unscrew and pull old plug (pliers help)
- If hole's too big, fill with plaster or filler, let dry
- Drill new hole same size as plug (check plug packet for drill bit size)
- Tap new plug in flush with wall
- Screw bracket back on
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Using standard plugs in plasterboard
- Drilling new hole too close to old one (plaster crumbles)
- Hole too big for the plug
- Not checking what's behind the wall before drilling
💡 Pro trick: If the old hole's too big, you can stuff it with matchsticks and wood glue, let it set, then screw directly into that. Bodge but works for light loads.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🎨 Multiple shelves wobbly? Tell me when you book and I'll bring a selection of plugs. More efficient to do them all in one visit.
Heavy items? If it's a hefty shelf full of books or a big mirror, might need to use two plugs per bracket or upgrade to a better fixing system. I'll advise on-site.
Exeter's older houses? Victorian and Edwardian properties often have lath-and-plaster walls rather than modern solid walls or plasterboard. These need specific fixings - I deal with them all the time.
Keep coming loose? If fixings keep failing in the same room, the plaster might be past its best. Sometimes the answer is re-plastering that wall properly rather than endlessly replacing plugs. I'll be honest if that's what you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if the wall plug has failed?
Classic signs: shelf or picture hook moving when you touch it, screw spinning but not tightening, or the whole thing pulling out of the wall. Happens a lot in older plaster, or when someone used the wrong plug type for the wall.
Can you just use a bigger plug in the same hole?
Sometimes, if the hole's just a bit worn. But often it's better to move slightly and make a fresh hole with the right plug - more secure long-term. I'll assess when I see it.
What if the whole chunk of plaster came out with the plug?
That needs filling and letting it set before putting a new plug in. If it's small I can sort it same visit - mix up some filler, pop it in, let it go off for 20 minutes. Bigger holes might need coming back next day once filler's cured properly.
I've got plasterboard walls - is that different?
Yeah - needs specific plasterboard fixings, not standard wall plugs. Plasterboard plugs spread the load across a wider area. I always carry both types so can use whichever your wall needs.
This keeps happening - is there a better solution?
If plugs keep failing in the same spot, there's usually a reason - wrong plug type, too much weight on it, or dodgy plaster. I'll advise on a proper fix, might mean moving the shelf or using a different fixing method.
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