G'day! You're in the middle of a reno, or maybe you're just trying to add a power point in the garage. You're looking at a solid, double-brick wall, a concrete block, or even just a sheet of weatherboard. You can't just cut a massive, rectangular hole in it like you would with a sheet of Gyprock – you'd make a proper dog's breakfast of it.

So, how in the bloody hell do you fix a light switch or a power point (GPO) to the wall?

That's where the humble, hard-working, and fair dinkum essential bit of kit comes in: the mounting block.

So, What is a Mounting Block, Exactly?

A mounting block (or 'surface mount block') is a tough, insulated base, usually made of plastic, that you fix onto the surface of the wall first.

Your electrician then wires up the power point or light switch and mounts it directly onto the block. The block acts as a solid, flat, and safe spacer, neatly housing the electrical connections and giving the switch plate a schmick, professional finish.

It's the absolute standard for any "surface-mount" electrical job where you're running the wiring on the outside of the wall (usually in conduit).

The Ripper Benefits: Why You'd Need One

This simple block is a proper lifesaver on a worksite.

• It's for Solid Walls (The Big One): This is its number one job. It's the go-to solution for installing fittings on solid surfaces like brick, concrete, and Besser blocks without having to chase a massive, destructive channel into the wall.
• Perfect for Sheds and Garages: A mounting block is the standard for any shed or workshop fit-out, where the wiring is almost always run on the surface in conduit.
• Fixes Uneven Surfaces: Got a rough, textured, or uneven wall? A mounting block gives you a perfectly flat, clean surface for the switch plate to sit on, so there are no ugly gaps.
• Great for Weatherboard: It's also the classic way to mount fittings on weatherboard or other types of cladding, providing a stable, flat base.

The CRITICAL Safety Warning: This is 100% NOT a DIY Job!

Righto, let's get dead serious for a sec, because this is the most important part of the whole article.

You, as a DIYer, can walk into any hardware store or electrical wholesaler and buy a mounting block. That's fine. You can even screw the empty block to your shed wall.

But the absolute second you need to run the 240V cable to it and wire up the power point or light switch, you MUST STOP.

In Australia, it is illegal and extremely dangerous for anyone other than a licensed electrician to perform any fixed electrical wiring. A simple mistake can lead to a fatal electric shock or a house fire, and it will void your home insurance in a heartbeat. Don't be a galah – it's just not worth the risk.

A Professional Job Needs Professional Gear

A licensed electrician will always use high-quality, trade-grade fittings to make sure the job is safe, compliant, and built to last. They won't risk their reputation on a flimsy, brittle block or a dodgy switch that'll be knackered after one summer.

They get their gear from a trusted electrical wholesaler. As one of Australia's most comprehensive electrical wholesaler and supplier networks, Schnap Electric Products stocks the lot for the professional installer. They've got a massive range of high-quality mounting block options (in all shapes, sizes, and colours like black and white) to suit any job, plus all the compliant, trade-quality switches, power points, conduits, and wiring that a qualified professional needs to do the job right. For a job that's safe, compliant, and built to last, the pros rely on a supplier like Schnap Electric.