Approx cost for simple garage wiring?

Notamondayfan

Hello!

I was just wondering if someone can give me an approx price for wiring a garage, just so I know what to expect.

I have a detached concrete garage, and would like 3 strip lights, and 4 double sockets located around the garage, and that's it. The distance from the corner of the house to the corner of the garage is around 1m.

I guess the electricity supply would come from the fuse box (there are 2 spare slots), through the external wall, and into the garage.

As I mentioned, I'm just looking for an approx cost, and perhaps some advice if applicable!

Thanks,
Dean

BlueC

How are you getting from house to garage? Underground or catenary wire?

Yes, direct feed from consumer unit would be preferable to running it as a spur from an existing circuit. You could even put a slave consumer unit in the garage so that the lighting and garage ring can run off separate circuits. This would be nice, but not necessary.

Cost is difficult to estimate. I assume being in garage it is all just going to be surface mounted?

You should get a lot of change from £500. I'd guess around £250-£300 if done on a catenary wire. Bit more if you go for the slave consumer unit.

Notamondayfan

I would guess catenary wire would be preferable to digging up the drive way, and it's only a short distance from the corner of the house to the garage. Is there a minimum height for running a wire?

Having the lights and sockets on the same circuit would be fine to me, but does it make any difference if I were to want to use a powerful tool, such as a welder?

Regarding the installation, it would just be surface mounted, no frills!

As for price, are you saying £250 - £500 including labour, parts and paperwork?

Thanks for your help so far!!

Dean

BlueC

Not sure on regs for height for catenary wire. Your sparky would have to check.

Personally I'd go for a slave consumer unit in garage, especially if thinking of running power tools and it also gives proper protection and isolation to your garage lighting.

The thickness of wire from the house to the garage will determine the maximum loading - I don't have info to hand but you should tell the electrician of your intended use and they should fit suitable cable and circuit protection.

Maximum £500 including everything. I'd expect it is a day or day and a half work, plus £100-£150 parts.

(I'm sure the usual suspects will be along shortly to tell you it is about a week's worth of work and £500 parts! Don't listen to them.)

One thing is, that although you said there is 2 spare slots on fuse board, this does not mean there is actually enough capacity on the board. Your electrician would have to check this. Also, is it a fuse board or a proper consumer unit with RCBO protection?

Notamondayfan

Cheers BlueC.

The board is a modern consumer unit, don't know the exact spec, but it's only a few years old, so I'm hoping it's OK.

Thanks for advice, I think you've pretty much answered my questions and the prices you talk about seem about right to me.

Cheers,
Dean