Old installation with lead sheathed cable

[lincolnguy]

Hi Guys,

I've recently bought a terraced house, which seems to be in good order, and which I was hoping wouldn't need much work doing. It is apparent that the wiring in the house is all of the older lead sheathed type, presumably mostly dating back to when the house was built in 1903. All lights and sockets are functioning fine & the bakelite fittings are intact, but my partner has started nagging that she wants to have the house rewired and a modern consumer unit fitted. I could personally do without the mess and expense of a full rewire, and as everything seems to be working ok it seems unnecessary to me - am I right or would it be sensible to listen to the missus and get some quotes to have the electrics updated?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

 

[lincolnguy]

Thanks for the reply, - not able to see it at the moment (am at work and imageshack is blocked!) but will check it out when I get home tonight.

 

[JohnD]

I don't know what the picture is, but old lead sheathed and bakelite fittings needs to be replaced urgently.

btw it will not be from 1903 but might be 1930s or 1940s. Possibly later.

As you have just bought the house this is the ideal time to make holes in walls and ceilings, before you start decorating; and to lift floors before you lay carpets or laminates.

This is not a DIY job.

http://www.competentperson.co.uk/

 

[lincolnguy]

I don't know what the picture is, but old lead sheathed and bakelite fittings needs to be replaced urgently.

btw it will not be from 1903 but might be 1930s or 1940s. Possibly later.

As you have just bought the house this is the ideal time to make holes in walls and ceilings, before you start decorating; and to lift floors before you lay carpets or laminates.

This is not a DIY job.

http://www.competentperson.co.uk/[/QUOTE]

Thanks, will phone a couple of electricians and arrange for some quotes, - wouldn't dream of touching electrics myself, - I would struggle to wire a plug!

If this is something that needs sorting urgently I'm surprised that the surveyors report didn't mention it, it did mention that the consumer unit used wired fuses rather than breakers, but this wasn't marked as an urgent issue, just something to be aware of.

 

[LiamPope]

Never mind the picture - it's not exactly helpful

Your missus is spot on right (they always are, of course), and now is the best opportunity you will ever have to get it done. If it's all original, you probably have no earth to the lighting circuits and about 1 socket per room if you're lucky. So totally inadequate for modern requirements and potentially dangerous. You could save money by doing some of the donkey work for the spark - lifting floorboards, cutting socket back boxes into walls, etc - so contact sparks sooner rather than later to agree what they are happy for you to do as they will have to put their name to the work.

 

[lincolnguy]

Thanks for everyones help, have just had the first electrician round to quote - he arrived less than an hour after I phoned him, so I guess there isn't too much work about! He's going to send out a written quote with exact specs/details, but has told me that he'll completely rewire, replace the CU, add extra sockets where necessary and provide certification for £2500. On top of this I will have to pay one of his non-electrically qualified friends who will do all prep work (lift floorboards, chase walls etc.), and make good with plastering afterwards, but only charges £40 a day. As it happens he told me he's recently done a similair job at a house at the top of my street, and has suggested that I go and speak to the occupants to see if they're happy with the work he did.

 

[JohnD]

have a think about how many sockets you want. I recommend a double about 1metre from each corner of each room, plus one every two metres along each longer wall; one at each end of hall and landing, and in the kitchen or workroom, one every metre at 150mm above worktop height. Appliance outets under worktop controlled by switches above at each point where you want, or one day might want, an appliance.

Electric cooker point even if you currently cook with gas

dedicated freezer circuit

light switches at both ends of hall and landing, 2 way or 3-way

outside lighting controlled from indoors

light switch and socket at each end of garage

better to have too many now than to wish later on...

 

[electronicsuk]

As it happens he told me he's recently done a similair job at a house at the top of my street, and has suggested that I go and speak to the occupants to see if they're happy with the work he did.

Sounds like a pretty genuine chap - you don't want to be taking a gamble when using a tradesman for the first time. It's still always good to get a few quotes, but the cheapest is not always the best. Better go to with the tradesman that you trust to do the job properly. The price you've been quoted sounds pretty reasonable for a 2/3 bed terrace, assuming that's what you have.

Our of interest, are we to take it from your username that you live in Lincoln?

 

[skenk]

On top of this I will have to pay one of his non-electrically qualified friends who will do all prep work (lift floorboards, chase walls etc.), and make good with plastering afterwards, but only charges £40 a day.

A plasterer who works for £40/day ???

 

[Spark123]

I know Lincoln is meant to be one of the cheapest places to live in the country but £40 a day still isn't a lot to live on.

 

[londonboy]

The £40 is for a labourer

 

[electronicsuk]

I know Lincoln is meant to be one of the cheapest places to live in the country but £40 a day still isn't a lot to live on.

Well, you probably could manage it if you worked 7 days a week and all income was tax free, speaking as someone who also lives in Lincoln. Wouldn't fancy it myself though

 

[skenk]

The £40 is for a labourer

" . . . .and make good with plastering afterwards"

Well I can't get a decent labourer for £40 a day, never mind one who can plaster as well.

 

[Steve]

The making good after my rewire, and a full room skim, set me back £350. A days work for a plasterer and mate.