Trunking - chasing wire through walls etc.

Alias_Omega

Hi,


A re-wire is about price, the customer does not want to pay top dollar for a job, therefore they get what they get.

If I were you, I would chase in all the cables as you decorate. It may be easier to do them all and have a plaster come and do the work in 1 load. I would strip the wall 50cm either side of the proposed chase...

If there is not enough slack in the cables, raise the sockets up slightly.

zax47

LaurenHeath123 wrote: »

Thank you for the advice! - I'll definitely take that on board. The electrician that did the house's electrics just left loads of plug sockets and light switches. He took out the wires etc but left a hole and stuck blank sockets back over the hole.
I've never heard of anyone doing this so I was quite shocked to see blank sockets everywhere. Lazy springs to mind, unless I'm missing a new trend?

Done to a price - was it "re-wired" just prior to going on sale? Also very common in ex local authority properties as is done quick & cheap. Team of council employed lads might have to do 5 or more properties A WEEK!

Risteard

Realistically the most cost efficient option of achieving what you want would more than likely be to rewire it again.

It may well be completely impracticable to conceal all of your surface wiring.

LaurenHeath123

Initially I was going to rip everything out and do all the rooms in one but I will probably do it room by room now. First job is the kitchen and bathroom so at least they'll be done! The rest is just plug sockets and light switches which I can deal with for a few months in the bedrooms and living room etc.
It was re-wired 18months - 2 years ago but the owner is in his 90s so rather than wanting a cheap job, I'm guessing it was more about keeping the place in descent order for him. Although, I still think whoever did it should have at least covered the holes up rather than put loads of blank sockets over them.
Plastering will be materials cost only and bearing this in mind I can't see it being an overly pricey job from what everyone has said. At least, I hope not... I don't want to speak too soon because there will always be extra problems and additional costs that you don't think about when it comes to property!

Risteard

LaurenHeath123 wrote: »

Although, I still think whoever did it should have at least covered the holes up rather than put loads of blank sockets (sic) over them.

They certainly won't do that for free!

konark

If you want it done right, do it yourself! You've already seen what a professional will do; the shoddiest job they can get away with.

Make sure you cover the cables with metal cable guard before re=plastering.

Risteard

konark wrote: »

You've already seen what a professional will do; the shoddiest job they can get away with.

Absolute nonsense. They did what they were paid to do. If that isn't the finish you want then you need to pay much more!

Davesnave

konark wrote: »

If you want it done right, do it yourself! You've already seen what a professional will do; the shoddiest job they can get away with.

Make sure you cover the cables with metal cable guard before re=plastering.

Huge misunderstanding here. The previous owner was not in need of hassle, and being a nonogenarian, probably had minimal electrical needs and/or finance.

It doesn't sound as if the OP wants to learn plastering skills either!

The builder/plasterer will probably be able to sort these issues, but the OP should work our whether there will be adequate provision before committing. She doesn't want to go through more again, a few years down the line, so maybe a further rewire would be advisable, with a test at the end for the whole system.

LaurenHeath123

From my understanding, the gentleman (previous owner) is elderly and wanted minimal work done to ensure that he could live there whilst the work was being carried out. Being elderly, the dust and mess probably wouldn't have helped his health and ease of access around the property. If finances were an issue (I don't think they were) I can see why things weren't done to completion.

I will definitely be doing all the necessary checks by getting an electrician in to see what he thinks will need doing. Even if he gives the go ahead for my builder to do it, he will be back in to review the work on completion and to make any changes if necessary.

Thanks all!

robotrobo

konark wrote: »

If you want it done right, do it yourself! You've already seen what a professional will do; the shoddiest job they can get away with.

Make sure you cover the cables with metal cable guard before re=plastering.

A professional electrician re-wired my bungalow!, infact it was his bungalow i purchased!, the wireing is sunk in the walls , JUST, with no metal covering the cableing.