LAP vs Appleby

[Thorfun]

I've got a 10% off voucher for Screwfix so I'm filling up on bits for our electrics first fix. Got the Prysmian cable in the basket and now looking at back boxes. on the advice from @ProDave I have a 25mm service cavity and so a 35mm back box will fit perfectly in it with the plasterboard. 

 

so.....

 

LAP at £0.51/double box https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-2-gang-galvanised-steel-installation-boxes-35mm-10-pack/88287 with a bulk buy

 

or 

 

Appleby at £0.58/double box https://www.screwfix.com/p/appleby-2-gang-galvanised-steel-knockout-box-35mm/42695 with a bulk buy

 

I know we're talking pennies here but at the stage I'm at they all count! 

 

is the Appleby a better back box or is there no real discernible difference? I will be labouring for our electrician for first fix so need to be suitable for a special boy but I don't want to pay the extra £3.50 or so for the Applebys if there's no benefit. but I will also take the responses to this question on to the single back boxes for network ports so the savings could increase.

 

damn....I feel really cheap even posting this question! 🤣

 

[saveasteading]

10% off a £1 order or £1,000.

At the end of the job it is 10% of a lot. Keep at it.

 

I have been in Wickes with a 10% voucher that isn't scanning, and thought, 'is it worth the wait for 50p?'

 

Of course it is.

I can't speak for Appleby v LAP but will say not to buy own brand (with made up names) from these stores.

[Thorfun]

8 minutes ago, saveasteading said:

10% off a £1 order or £1,000.

At the end of the job it is 10% of a lot. Keep at it.

 

I have been in Wickes with a 10% voucher that isn't scanning, and thought, 'is it worth the wait for 50p?'

 

Of course it is.

I can't speak for Appleby v LAP but will say not to buy own brand (with made up names) from these stores.

I’m up to about £500 so far so could be a nice little saving. 
 

im sure LAP and Appleby are known brands and not own brands though, right? 

[Temp]

Re: Appleby v LAP.. check out the earth terminal? The one on the photo of the Appleby looks odd/different? Might be just the photo?

 

If in doubt ask your electrician.

Edited August 24, 2022 by Temp

[Thorfun]

5 minutes ago, Temp said:

Re: Appleby v LAP.. check out the earth terminal? The one on the photo of the Appleby looks odd/different? Might be just the photo?

 

If in doubt ask your electrician.

I will ask him tomorrow. I always feel guilty sending him a message this late at night but the lovely folk on this forum are around at all times of the day. 

[ProDave]

LAP metal flush boxes are okay.  It is the Appleby plastic dry lining boxes that I rave about.

[saveasteading]

10 minutes ago, Thorfun said:

I’m up to about £500 so far so could be a nice little saving. 

I use ts and sf for convenience not for value, so do check around. 

Often the specialist merchants can do better.

eg Saw some fence washers at £50 / bag in TS that were £15 at fence merchant.

Drainage much cheaper from a drainage merchant...but ts and sf great for a quick in and out, if in stock.

[Thorfun]

11 minutes ago, saveasteading said:

I use ts and sf for convenience not for value, so do check around. 

Often the specialist merchants can do better.

eg Saw some fence washers at £50 / bag in TS that were £15 at fence merchant.

Drainage much cheaper from a drainage merchant...but ts and sf great for a quick in and out, if in stock.

Yep. Don’t worry, I am definitely shopping around. I’ve found that T&E at SF is really cheap when compared to electrical outlets and even online sellers. So I’m stocking up. 

[Thorfun]

13 minutes ago, ProDave said:

LAP metal flush boxes are okay.  It is the Appleby plastic dry lining boxes that I rave about.

Cheers. I want to stay away from the plastic boxes. Just don’t like them! Had a new build before this self build and the tabs broke off and didn’t seem like they’d last. 

[ProDave]

7 minutes ago, Thorfun said:

Cheers. I want to stay away from the plastic boxes. Just don’t like them! Had a new build before this self build and the tabs broke off and didn’t seem like they’d last. 

Which is precicely why I keep recommending Appleby dry lining boxes.  Some makes of dry lining box are absolutely dire, and when they fail, people assume all dry lining boxes are equally rubbish.

[Thorfun]

12 minutes ago, ProDave said:

Which is precicely why I keep recommending Appleby dry lining boxes.  Some makes of dry lining box are absolutely dire, and when they fail, people assume all dry lining boxes are equally rubbish.

Did you use plastic back boxes in your house? Or galvanised steel? I don’t remember reading either way on here. 

[ProDave]

8 hours ago, Thorfun said:

Did you use plastic back boxes in your house? Or galvanised steel? I don’t remember reading either way on here. 

Mostly plastic, there are a few metal boxes when some unique reason made that a better choice.  

[Thorfun]

45 minutes ago, ProDave said:

Mostly plastic, there are a few metal boxes when some unique reason made that a better choice.  

Would you be able to share when metal would be a better choice? I’m struggling to understand as I thought professionals were metal all the way!

[joe90]

IMO metal boxes are better where large cables are used, I.e. cooker, as its more stiff to bend and difficult to get into place. Also i guess where multiple cables are 🤔. Yes some cheap plastic back boxes are crap!.

[Gone West]

I used metal boxes in the kitchen but elsewhere used plastic back boxes from TLC which were Kensington make. They were useless so changed them all for Appleby. You can get metal dry lining boxes but they're more expensive.

 

Edit: The Kensington boxes were bought about six or seven years ago so the design might have improved since then.

Edited August 25, 2022 by Gone West

[Thorfun]

thanks all. although this turned into a metal vs plastic thread I have learnt a lot. never thought about mixing the back boxes which actually sounds like a good idea. If I go that route I will make sure I use Appleby plastic. 🙂 

[bassanclan]

Discount 4electrical

[ProDave]

Places I use metal boxes rather than plastic:

 

Where an accessory has to go right next to a stud.

When sinking e.g a light switch into a solid bit of wood.

When I want the face of the sockets recessed behind the wall behind a television.