Is it normal for switches/sockets to be at different heights + distances apart?

andrew00

Hi, I am renovating my apartment at the moment and hired a contractor who came highly recommended from someone in my building.

His team recently installed the power points, room thermostats, light switches etc in my apartment. He's installed them at differing heights, and with different distances between the points.

So, on the first count, he'll have a two walls at a 90' angle, and with two light switches, one for the living room, one for the stairs. He's installed these at different heights.

On another occasion, outside the bathroom, you have the extractor and spur up high and the light switch and thermostat below, and he's installed the switch and thermostat at a large distance apart which looks very weird.

On another, he's installed a row of points - power, internet, tv etc, and has installed them at a range of random distances apart, ie not consistent.

I pushed back on this and he told me a) this is a normal thing to do and b) because my plan docs didn't specifically say must be installed at the same heights and distances apart, he's done it fine.

My point, as you can imagine, is that's a crazy thing to do, to expect switches at different heights and distances apart, and that is not a normal thing to do, it's a lazy and unacceptable thing to do.

My question is - who is right? Is he acting like a cowboy and doing things with an unacceptable lack of quality? Or am I wrong, and it is my mistake in not providing a detailed spec in advance that said that I expected consistency.

This is the first thing I've renovated and from talking to people in advance and now they all told me how that stuff is standard things the builder will do, do a good job, make it nice etc, so I didn't believe I needed to go into a granular forensic detail for what is a small flat. It's not a brand new build for example.

But at the same time, it seems entirely crazy to me that he thinks this is acceptable and is refusing to change it and do a better job.

Who is in the right here and what should I do?

Note - he has previously acknowledged things are wonky and agreed to level them.

Sandtree

If you leave it to their judgement then there isnt that much come back. 

Certainly in our place switches vary in height a reasonable amount between rooms though there is no place you can stand and readily see more than one other so the impact isnt massive visually.  The only place we have a run of sockets is in the kitchen where they arent spaced evenly but there is the cooker in there and the TV where power and aerial are adjacant and the surface mounted BT master socket was above the aerial one.

Our friends across the street is even more extreme with you notably having to reach down for a couple of switches but thats because they raised part of the floor and didnt move the switches.

FreeBear

andrew00 said: On another, he's installed a row of points - power, internet, tv etc, and has installed them at a range of random distances apart, ie not consistent.

I pushed back on this and he told me a) this is a normal thing to do and b) because my plan docs didn't specifically say must be installed at the same heights and distances apart, he's done it fine.

It might be normal for him, but for everyone else, a consistent height is the norm, as is spacing. All it takes, is a little thought and measuring correctly. In a kitchen where the walls may be tiled, the marking out needs to be spot on (perhaps even using a laser), anywhere else, within 5mm is close enough.

Anthony147

Couple of points:
1: There are rules regarding heights, distances on new installs and I’d expect a good electrician rewiring to let you know what they are sockets at 450mm from ground, no diagonal chases etc - You don’t have to follow the rules for refurbishment but you might want to

2: If you’ve given him free reign - He hasn’t done anything technically wrong but from description provided - quality and professionalism would have me checking for the horse outside (note that the quality and professionalism as the install may be perfectly safe and adequate).

ka7e

There are specific range of heights  for new light switches and sockets as they have to be accessible for disabled users etc.Sockets must be at least 450mm above floor level and light switches no more than 1200mm above floor level.  I would definitely expect all fittings to be level.

It is usual to decide a plan for number and position of sockets before work starts.You need a bank of sockets next to your internet/phone connection for hubs, router etc and several adjacent to each TV outlet.The minimum recommended number of socket is living room - 8. kitchen - 8,  dining room - 4, bedroom - 4, hall - 2.

Anthony147

Just to add especially as you appear to be refurbing and at first fix - Detail everything for each job - Otherwise you’ll be told things like - We take it to rough finish (Plasterers), Fittings are extra (Plumbers), We don’t do sand and fill (Decorators), waste is your problem (all). There are good trades who are conscientious, professional and go the extra mile but to avoid any issue - Put down the details.

NSG666

As the project manager it's your responsibility to communicate with trades and discuss/explain what you want where / how you want things doing up front. I'd expect switches / sockets to be level though.

grumbler

Personally, I'd want to have the sockets in the convenient positions, not evenly 'spaced'.

And I'd ask the contractor to install the sockets in the positions I want instead on relying on him.

markin

I think we would need photos or detail measurements to judge anythink here, but without a plan he just has to guess where furniture may go.

rob7475

Horizontal spacing is down to your decision I'm afraid. Whenever I've had properties rewired, I've marked the walls where I want things putting. 

As for height, these should be more or less consistant throughout. I'd expect all sockets and light switches to be the same height from the floor (within reason). If not, he should be correcting his errors but basic errors like this would have me worrying about his competency. 

Can you let us have some photo's / details of height differences?

Foxy_Knoxy

Hi @Andrew, 

I work in this field. BS 8300: 2009 gives 'guidance' on accessory heights in domestic dwelling. You should be able to find a free copy online.

There may be instances where it was much easier and better for those involved for him to move the switch from the guidance doc. Imagine you have a plastered/ plastered wall and you discover the location of a new switch out would necessitate moving steel or chasing out the brick work. Sometimes it cannot be avoided.

My opinion is that all accessories on the same wall or an adjacent wall should be uniformed.

I bought a new flat a few years ago and the wall that seperated the kitchen from the livingroom, have a switch on either side and a socket at low level. NONE of them were equally distanced and the socket wasn't centralised. It annoyed me so much that during locked down I moved them. It wasn't a huge job.