Old electrics in new flat

[freyuk]

Hi everybody, just near completion on a new 2 bedroom flat (first time buyer) so doing a bit of groundwork as I have a tight budget and will like to do what I can myself.
This is the quality and age of the electrics, not sure how old is that set up, but the workmanship is really poor. So a bit worried about safety. House is vacant at the moment.

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• freyuk
• 29 Jan 2011
• 2

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• freyuk
• 29 Jan 2011
• 2

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• freyuk
• 29 Jan 2011
• 2

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• freyuk
• 29 Jan 2011
• 2

I am sure I will need an upgrading, by reading the forum, you can save money by clearing furniture, lifting carpets, not living in while the works go on. Chasing, in safe zones, is talked about too, never done much DIY myself, so is chasing a complicated job? Can I save money if electrician reuses cable already in the flat? Hear copper is really pricey and looks like the flat had some fairly new cable laid more recently if not properly. Any other simple tasks to save a few pounds that will not bother the electrician?

Many thanks in advance for your help
By the way whoever paint the flat, he was fearless...

 

[ricicle]

Best advice would be get a Periodic Inspection done on the property, along with trying to badger the owner for any paperwork that might have been issued for any previous electrical work (highly unlikely, but you never know !)
It looks like the service head has had some recent upgrade works on it so the main earth might be satisfactory but still worth checking.

EDIT: It looks like just a newish meter so earthing probably wasn't checked.

 

[Spark123]

You need to employ an electrician to come and take a look, speak to them and ask what you can do to save time.
Newish cables may not need to be replaced, again ask your sparky.

 

[Steve]

Is the fusebox on the **** or is the stuff around it slanted?

If it were me, I'd have the place rewired at least for peace of mind. Try friends of friends. I managed to get my 2 up 2 down almost rewired by a spark on the side over a few weekends for £850 - materials at cost and labour discounted. My budget was also tight, but I made sure electrics were given priority, knowing I was going to be decorating when I moved in. The last thing you need in 6 months is to have to chase out your newly papered walls because something's gone wrong!!!

 

[sparkwright]

Remember it may not just be a case of chasing in untidy wiring if it has been done badly in the first place. Wrong size cable, spurs on spurs are just a few examples.

You don't appear to have many circuits there.

RCD protection should be considered.

10 mm earth cable to gas, water etc is one important thing to have.

Are there enough sockets, and enough light switches where you need them?

It may be sensible to have a complete or partial re-wire, your electrician will advise you.

He may allow to do the first fix, or some of it; ie
Chasing
Fitting flush boxes
Lifting floorboards
Drilling holes in joists
Running cables.

It is vital you liase with the electrician before you do this, and double check everything.

 

[plugwash]

Copper is more expensive that it used to be but still electrician time is likely the most expensive part of a rewire job. Trying to reuse existing cable is likely to be a false economy.

 

[freyuk]

Steve: the two pipes are slanted, one is gas and the other water for the flat upstairs.

Thank you all very much for the replies, will work out what I can do with the electrician but looks like a bit of prep will come out cheaper at the end that trying to save on materials.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

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• freyuk
• 29 Jan 2011
• 2

Who paints over items like that? MCBs as well!

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• freyuk
• 29 Jan 2011
• 2

Ah yes - that trunking makes it all look a lot better.


Anyway - get the PIR done, but be prepared for bad news - it doesn't look as though the place was in the care of someone who cared about his work.

 

[OwainDIYer]

If that's the CU I wouldn't waste money on a Periodic - assume you'll need a full rewire. The existing installation is obviously a complete snarl-up of inadequacy and feckwittery.

For less than the price of a Periodic you can buy a complete CU and MCB/RCD package.

I wouldn't reuse old cables - you never know what nastiness they conceal - but any stuff recovered can be exchanged for beer vouchers at Scrappies-R-Us.

 

[OwainDIYer]

and get your key meter replaced by a standard meter or you'll be paying a small fortune for lecky.

 

[Wontdothatagain]

Who paints over items like that? MCBs as well!

Did a rewire of a chinese takeaway just before last xmas. Looked great after we were finished, new everything including IP65 battons.

Owner decided to re-decorate after we finished, 4 staff, tore a hole in bin bags for arms and head, did not bother covering anything else and then rollered the whole place, just wiped the paint off the de-fusers but left it on every thing else, sockets, light switchs, SFS, Isolators, the bloody lot.

Nearly cried when i went in there for a take-away.