Need extra socket in bedroom, take cable outside?

longwalks1

We need another double socket fitting in our bedroom, just above the skirting board about 3m along from an existing one. Local electrician has been round, looked under carpets and said the floorboards are actually large sheets (its a recent extension) and are a pain to get up (plus we dont want to replace carpet or any woodwork), so suggested going out the back of the current double socket, through the external wall, clip cable along the outside of the wall (he suggested hi-tuff cable for this), then back in through the external wall exactly where we want the new sockets, is this allowed? The external wall face is above a single storey extension on our property, so wouldnt be seen. Hope that makes sense

Just asking as never heard it one that way before?

Doozergirl

I wouldn't.

Corroy Products do a special jig that allows a hole to be cut into chipboard floors, and rings which are placed around the cut out pieces so they fit back into place properly.

That allows an electrician to fish the cables under the floor.

I'd much prefer that than taking any of the electrical installation outside.

Ebe_Scrooge

Well, if he's a genuine and properly-qualified electrician, and he says it OK, then I'd guess it is. Must admit it sounds a bit "wrong" to me, I wouldn't fancy the idea of mains cable being exposed to the elements and what-not. Having said that, I've no idea what "hi-tuff" cable is - I'm guessing it's some sort of armoured cable that's designed for just this situation ? So it's probably OK as long as it's installed correctly.

Grenage

Hell no, that's a nasty way to do it; I'd find another sparky.

bmthmark

I wouldn't take it outside, sounds a bit strange to me. I would try and figure out a way of getting it under the board.

Le_Kirk

I had it done in my living room, concrete floors so had to go outside BUT the cable was placed inside a galvanised steel conduit with circular boxes at each end with rubber seals under the lids and silicone sealant between box and wall. Carried out by certificated 'tricians.

ETA: If I had had floorboards it would have depended upon which way the joists run. If you are lucky they run parallel to the wall to which your sockets are fixed. If you are unlucky, they would run the other way (square to the wall) and then you would have to cut holes or notches through joists.

ST1991

Can't you simply run it behind the skirting boards?
I have seen some skirts that have a gap built in so you can run cables behind them. Then, you would simply need to (pardon my wording) make a hole on the interior of the wall between the existing socket and the skirt, and the new socket and the skirt, and replaster over the top afterwards?
No?

I am not an electrician by any means... just thinking of the neatest way... :P

Risteard

Hi-Tuff cable is perfectly suitable for external use - that's what it's designed for. As long as it isn't buried then there is no problem. I would also expect it to be kept away from anywhere where foreseeable impacts could damage it.

Whether you are happy with it being done this way or not I can't answer for you, but it most certainly is permissible. I have used Hi-Tuff externally in certain situations where routing cable inside is impracticable for whatever reason.

brightontraveller

Bodger if you must take it outside then metal or plastic conduit …

Lifting flooring it’s a bit of a pig but not that difficult or any more time consuming than any other way? It also depends on type of joist ie solid or open (ie easi joist) Metal Web etc and there direction as to if it need to be lifted at all ?

Risteard

ST1991 wrote: »

Can't you simply run it behind the skirting boards?

No. No. No.

TheCyclingProgrammer

Getting up chipboard flooring can be a faff but I'd still rather have it done that way than going outside and back in again. Of course, you'd still need to do some remedial work to the walls anyway as it will need to be chased out for conduit.

As has been pointedly electrical cabling should be run in safe zones and most certainly shouldn't be run behind skirting boards.