How much to move a light?

sancho

We're in the process of decorating our spare room for our daughter. The current pendant is not in the middle of the room but quite close to the window, not sure why it is there.

How much would it cost roughly to move the pendant to the middle of the room? We are having the ceiling skimmed so 'repairing' the hole shouldn't be an issue.

It's a 1950s 3 bed semi in the East Midlands if that's any help?

Cheers

phill99

I would suggest £50.

olly300

sancho wrote: »

We're in the process of decorating our spare room for our daughter. The current pendant is not in the middle of the room but quite close to the window, not sure why it is there.

The original owner would have a choice of where they place their furniture and if they had some big pieces they may have requested that the light was put there.

Alternatively there my have been an issue with the ceiling joists though if every other room has the light in the centre it's probably the original owners preference.

BTW I have one room with the light near the window it's damn odd.

missesther

Is it an old house? I heard (so don't quote me) that on old houses it wasn't usual to have curtains so the light was placed close to the window to stop people being able to see what was going on in the room when the light was on. If that makes sense.

nanto3girls

missesther wrote: »

Is it an old house? I heard (so don't quote me) that on old houses it wasn't usual to have curtains so the light was placed close to the window to stop people being able to see what was going on in the room when the light was on. If that makes sense.

Iv'e heard this before as well.

searchlight123

missesther wrote: »

Is it an old house? I heard (so don't quote me) that on old houses it wasn't usual to have curtains so the light was placed close to the window to stop people being able to see what was going on in the room when the light was on. If that makes sense.

that is correct. bedroom lights were placed towards the window for privacy. from outside through a net curtain you cannot see into the room if the light is near to the window. for the same reason bedroom doors were generally hung so that they opened into the room rather than against a wall as it afforded a bit more privacy time to someone in the bedroom if a person entered from the hallway. most people change these now as it wastes space opening that way.

sancho

Makes sense I suppose, just seems odd now. Especially as there will be a blackout blind and some curtains up!

Will get an electrician round to have a look, just didn't want to waste their time if it was going to be loads of money!

shegirl

sancho wrote: »

Makes sense I suppose, just seems odd now. Especially as there will be a blackout blind and some curtains up!

Will get an electrician round to have a look, just didn't want to waste their time if it was going to be loads of money!

It does seem odd.In my house the bedroom lights are closer to the door,they're well off centre and more towards a corner of each room.Looks daft!

27col

In most of the old houses that I rewired I found that the bedroom light was placed quite close to the window. I always assumed that it was because most houses then, had a dressing table in front of the window and thus the light was almost over the head of the user. But I expect that the privacy explanation is just as valid.

Mikeyorks

sancho wrote: »

Will get an electrician round to have a look, just didn't want to waste their time if it was going to be loads of money!

If the cable runs past the centre of the room - on its way to the existing fitting - its a 15 min job to cut it back. If it doesn't - add another 10 mins for a junction box. And another 5 for putting a noggin across where the new pendant will be .... if a joist isn't a couple of inches away.

Whichever - should not be 'loads of money'.

Ilona

I wanted an electric socket moving when I had a new kitchen fitted and called an electrician to do the job. He came, had a look at the wiring and said he couldn't do it because of the regulations. He said the house needed rewiring. 1950's semi in North Lincolnshire. I left it as it was, can't afford rewiring.
Ilona