Burnished Flat Burnished Pewter Switched Plug Socket

      Burnished Pewter Sockets Just Great
16 April 2020 by Lydia Joseph, Brompton - Verified Customer

great look achieved by fitting the pewter sockets. Very pleased with the end result overall and these sockets just topped it all off

      All Rinky-Dinky
29 October 2019 by Roberta Myski, London - Verified Customer

Couldnt be happier. My new kitchen is now all finished and the socket fronts look brill.

      Burnished Flat Pewter
29 October 2019 by Rebecca Eve Brocklebank, Bristol - Verified Customer

We had our new kitchen fitted with all the sockets being of the Burnished Flat Pewter Range supplied by this company. We used delicate surface frogtape to cover them whilst painting and when we took the frogtape off it took all the finish off the switches to create a mottled effect - they were wrecked. The company fobbed us off saying it was moisture damage. The items are not fit for purpose. Do not buy!

Reply
We welcome and thank you for your feedback as it gives us an opportunity to resolve issues.

When we spoke on the phone we were trying to understand the issue and what had happened to your switches and sockets as it was not clear on the initial explanation, the photo we requested to find out more was not clear and based on this incomplete information, we made the suggestion of potential watermarking on the metal plate due to the moisture in the plaster and the paint due to the supplied plastic gaskets not being fitted. The gaskets form a moisture barrier which sit between the wall / plaster / paint and the metal front plate.

Then, after speaking to your decorator we understood more of what had happened. The normal practice of removing the wall plates completely when decorating had not been done, neither had you simply loosened the screws to slightly pull the socket or switch plate off the wall to paint behind them but instead the plates were taped over with Frog-Tape. We believe that when this tape was torn off you have pulled the protective lacquer layer off the plate which has resulted in the mottled effect you refer to. The lacquer layer is designed to resist pushing, rubbing and knocks into the plate and is not bonded to resist pulling forces as this does not happen in normal use; therefore we cannot say with certainty what the outcome will be when the protective lacquer is pulled away from the rest of the plate.

As it says on the Frog-Tape instructions (we have used it before) and their website "In all cases please test on an inconspicuous area first." even on the delicate tape version.

As we were not completely sure on the exact cause, we asked for you to return one plate so we could confirm which was correct and then discuss a course of action. However Rebecca decided to leave a bad and inaccurate review on something we had not even had a chance to confirm, before ordering even more sockets straight away from us - this despite stating "The items are not fit for purpose. Do not buy!".

Apart from Rebecca's issue there are two important things to note for all metal socket and switch owners when it comes to decorating

First, please use the plastic gaskets supplied to protect the metal socket or switch from the moisture on freshly plastered or decorated walls. This prevents the possibility of the moisture affecting the plate if fitted correctly. In all metal sockets and switches we supply, this gasket comes as standard in the box. Plastic sockets and switches being water resistant do not need the gasket.

Please do not apply tape of any kind to the front of any sockets and switches (metal and plastic) as this can have an effect on the finish, marking the item. Normal decorating practice is to loosen the plate away from the way taking any precautions necessary, for example switching off the electricity, so you can paint behind the socket or switch, preferably leaving the paint to dry before tightening up the screws again. Still use the gasket as there can be residual moisture. This method also leaves a better finish.