Just the spadework ...

Pete48 · 30 Jul 2019

Hi,

I live in a first floor maisonette with a substantial, private back garden in which I'd like to install electrics. The electrical connections etc I will leave to an expert, but is there anything I can do which will make his job easier (ok, and less expensive!)

I thought I could possible drill through the external wall so that cable could be laid from the loft down the outside of the wall into a double or single external socket. Hopefully I could then take a spur from this socket further down the garden. The cable would have to cross a concrete patio, so I think I would have to cut through the concrete, install conduit, then re-concrete so that I am into the "soft" garden. (There are actually 2 rows of pavers which I might be able to remove, lay conduit and then replace).

Then .. dig a trench down the side of the garden to another external double socket.

Would this then be enough for a "proper" electrician to make the necessary connections?

I assume that the cable would have to be armoured. Is it within regs to install this down an outside wall?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Cheers,

JohnW2 · 30 Jul 2019

Pete48 said:
... Would this then be enough for a "proper" electrician to make the necessary connections?

I doubt that many electricians would have a problem with being spared the 'spade work' etc.

However, the crucial thing is to engage an electrician and get him/her to tell you what they are happy for you to do, and exactly how it should be done, before you start doing anything. Different electricians may have different ideas/views, so any answers you got from people in an internet forum may not correspond with what a particular electrician wanted and was prepared to accept.

Kind Regards, John

Astra99 · 30 Jul 2019

As this is a maisonette, who is the freeholder? As you will be running a cable from the first floor to the ground, this will involve passing across the ground-floor property. This would require permissions and agreements to be in place. Best find out now, before starting any work than be in "hot water" later.

Taylortwocities · 30 Jul 2019

Whssign

Taylortwocities
16 Jul 2016

What he said

What Astra said. You'll need a legal agreement (wayleave) to attach anything like a cable across the ground-floor's wall. There may be an annual payment that you give them for the priviledge. This must be in place so you don't have to get a new agreement when downstairs changes hands.
And who owns the back garden?. Is it all yours, or is it shared with the other residents of the maisonette. Get legal advice before you do ANYTHING.

JohnW2 · 30 Jul 2019

Taylortwocities said:
Get legal advice before you do ANYTHING.

That's certainly good advice, but it would not be all that surprising if it reveals that some sort of 'blanket' agreement regarding services etc. already exists, since that is not uncommon.

Taylortwocities said:
And who owns the back garden?. Is it all yours, or is it shared with the other residents of the maisonette.

Pete48 said:
... a substantial, private back garden

I obviously may be wrong, but I took that to mean that the OP owns it.

Kind Regards, John

winston1 · 31 Jul 2019

Pete48 said:
I thought I could possible drill through the external wall so that cable could be laid from the loft down the outside of the wall into a double or single external socket.

Most lofts don't have power circuits in them. Just saying.

Taylortwocities · 31 Jul 2019

Lights consume power. P=VI, remember?
I have radial circuits in my loft that power some of the upstairs lights.

winston1 · 31 Jul 2019

Taylortwocities said:
Lights consume power. P=VI, remember?
I have radial circuits in my loft that power some of the upstairs lights.

I remember it as VI cos phase angle

Taylortwocities · 31 Jul 2019

I was making it simple for you.
It’s still power though.

winston1 · 31 Jul 2019

Taylortwocities said:
I was making it simple for you.

You don't need to.

Pete48 · 31 Jul 2019

Outside wall is the wall of our staircase of our maisonette so wouldn’t think wayleave is required, but understand the need to check with freeholder. Most of our power sockets seem to be fed from the loft. Good idea to get the electrician in first though.
Thanks for your comments

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Just the spadework ...

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