What DIY work can I do in my extension?

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Aberdeen
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We have knocked down our (attached) garage and are rebuilding it with a first floor above it (and loft space above that), so the whole extension is about the same size as our basic house, over again.

I'm told that I need to get an electrician to certify all the electrical work, but I'm curious to know just how much I can do myself, to save as much money as possible.

I'm skilled enough with electrics and am happy to do any, if not all the work myself, but I understand that the BCO will require SOME sort of certificate for the work done.

Assuming I "extend" the two main and lighting rings into the extension (and don't actually install NEW rings) then, is this notifiable? (Scotland Regs). Assuming it's not notifiable, then do I need to show a certificate for it?

I assume an electrician would only certify the work he/she actually did his/herself, which is absolutely the right thing to do (obviously can't certify any work I have done myself), but I'm just curious to know if the BCO would choke on such a big extension only having a certificate for a new consumer unit.

I also wonder whether, if the electrician DID do all the work, then the certificate would detail precicely the work done, eg, five sockets in bedroom 1, thee sockets in bedroom 2 etc), so I couldn't add any sockets between getting the cert, and having the extension signed off.

thanks
Guy
 
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I thought, if you have planning permission for your extention, theres a possibility that planning application covers the electrics anyway? and you can get it inspected at intervals just as you would any of the other work being done that needs inspecting by building control.

if that is the case, as long as your work is to standard, there shouldnt be a reason why you cant do the electrics yourself, then building control sign it off with the rest of the extension.
 
Planning Regulations and Building Regulations are two different things.

Planning Permission and Building Regulations approval are two different things.

It is possible to need Planning Permission, and not Building Regulations approval, and vice-versa.
 
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I think you will find that building warranties in Scotland although not quite the same as In England and Wales, will still require notification for electrical work done in a new extension.
I imagine that's probably true. I think that, although he spoke of 'planning permission' what RB2004 was probably suggesting that notification of the electrical work could be incorporated into that relating to non-electrical aspects of the extension and that the periodic inspection and approval of the electrical work would be done by BCO in the same way as periodic inspections and approval of the non-electrical aspects - the implication perhaps being that notification/inspection/approval of the electrical work might add little/nothing to the cost. Whether or not any of that is the case, in England/Wales, let alone Scotland, I don't know.

Kind Regards, John.
 
If notification for building controls/warranty were or are to be made for the extension.
I suggest to GCarnegi that on the application, they detail and apply for all work that will need to comply to building regulations, on that one application to cover all work on the extension. I doubt the fee will be much different.
 
If notification for building controls/warranty were or are to be made for the extension.
I suggest to GCarnegi that on the application, they detail and apply for all work that will need to comply to building regulations, on that one application to cover all work on the extension. I doubt the fee will be much different.
Indeed - that seems to correspond with what I just suggested.

Kind Regards, John.
 
We have knocked down our (attached) garage and are rebuilding it with a first floor above it (and loft space above that), so the whole extension is about the same size as our basic house, over again.

I'm told that I need to get an electrician to certify all the electrical work, but I'm curious to know just how much I can do myself, to save as much money as possible.

I'm skilled enough with electrics and am happy to do any, if not all the work myself, but I understand that the BCO will require SOME sort of certificate for the work done.

Assuming I "extend" the two main and lighting rings into the extension (and don't actually install NEW rings) then, is this notifiable? (Scotland Regs). Assuming it's not notifiable, then do I need to show a certificate for it?

I assume an electrician would only certify the work he/she actually did his/herself, which is absolutely the right thing to do (obviously can't certify any work I have done myself), but I'm just curious to know if the BCO would choke on such a big extension only having a certificate for a new consumer unit.

I also wonder whether, if the electrician DID do all the work, then the certificate would detail precicely the work done, eg, five sockets in bedroom 1, thee sockets in bedroom 2 etc), so I couldn't add any sockets between getting the cert, and having the extension signed off.
thanks
Guy

After this last paragraph, I'm surprised anyone on here has even bothered to reply.

Just how far are you prepared to go to cut costs???

Are you really prepared to do electrical work yourself and pass it off as the electrician's??

Stop being a tighta*** and get an electrician in, before you do something stupid and someone gets hurt!
 
I had a look on the Aberdeen Council website and it is pretty vague

In this part of Scotland my local council states THIS

Your first step is to ask the council exactly what they require

You may also need to upgrade the smoke alarms to interlinked mains powered to GRADE D LD2- this will apply if you applied for the warrant on or after 1st October 2010.

You need more info- better to find out early and do it right, rather than wait till it's all done and have to alter things
 
Yes, information is hard to find on the councils website, but I appreciate the link you gave me, Baldelectrician.

I was a little taken aback by electrifyings assumption that I am trying to pull the wool over the planners eyes, and am being tight fisted. I have only £50k from my mortgage lender to get this extension built, and I need the space urgently for my little girl who is turning one year old soon (currently sharing with mum & dad). Do do this, I have to save some money here and there, and it makes sense to use my skills where I am able. I understand that some people will use the excuse that "some" work is notifiable to bundle-in even non-notifyable work as "easy money", and I guess that's their perogative, where the homeonwner is either unwilling or unable to do that work themselves.

I just want to make sure that notifiable work and non-notifiable work is properly segregated, and reported as such in the certificate. If the build can be managed so that more of the work is non-notifiable, then so much the better (eg, can the electrician create a ring with no sockets (or one or two) on it, then I can add the sockets myself - ie the ring is notifiable, but adding sockets to an existing ring may not be).

Application first went in last August, but a mains smoke alarm is specified on the plans.

thanks for all positive comments. You're a helpful bunch!
Guy
 

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