House rewire questions Please help

H

Happyharry

Member
Hi all, Please bear with me as this is my first post and not use to being on the internet.
I have some questions I hope someone can help me with.
I have recently had my whole house rewired.
Obviously I knew there would be mess and disruption.
Question 1/ Can I ask when the guys cut floor boards to drop wires, etc, is it there job to refit them as they were before, as I have noticed a lot of loose boards and also boards that have chunks broken off them.
Question 2/ They obviously had to pull back carpets to get to floorboards. but now the carpets are not attached to the grippers around the rooms, they have ridges they look like they need stretching - would that be down to them ?
3/ Question 3/ We have had quite a few chases in walls done and slices taken out of skirting boards - is it there job to make good / fill the chases ?
4/ Question 4/ In all of the chases there is obviously new wires, is there any law they have to put capping over the wires before filling to prevent someone from putting a nail or screw through a live wire down the line.
If someone could help me out with these questions I would truly be grateful.
Many thanks in advance.
 
Cables can be run without protection so long as they are in the permitted zones. How about few pictures?
 
Surely if you remove floor boards you should screw them back down when finished.
What are permitted zones, we have chases in bedrooms, kitchen, dining room and front room
 
Permitted zones are area's in wall's where it's accepted that it is allowed to run cables without any kind of mechanical protection. They are "formed" horizontally and vertically according to the width and/or height of an accessory as well as just below ceilings and wall corners. Have a look at this and I think you will see what I mean.

https://www.voltimum.co.uk/articles/rcds-and-concealed-cable

If the chases and cables are outside those zones then it would be a non-compliance with the regs.
 
Sounds like you have had a really rough bunch of house bashers in with no pride in their work.

The boards should have been secured back down properly.

Any decent spark will use capping but preferably oval conduit, although some like yours can be rough and just clip the cables.

You would not expect the carpets to be fitted back using a stretcher, you would kick the carpets to the walls with your feet to get any rumples out and fit behind the gripper with a bolster.

If it does not say no making good on the quote, the job should be made good.
 
Happyharry said:
Question 1/ Can I ask when the guys cut floor boards to drop wires, etc, is it there job to refit them as they were before, as I have noticed a lot of loose boards and also boards that have chunks broken off them
Click to expand...

I think the other questions you raised have been answered.

But on this one there may be a reason for damage to the boards. If the boards had previously been taken up by other trades, damaged and then put down again - badly - sometimes it is just 'one of those things'. It's happened to me.

But the electrician should have warned you that it might happen. When I used to do domestic work, all my quotes used to have a disclaimer regarding damage to decor, making good etc. Even if none were expected. These disclaimers were also verbally backed up.

No excuse in not refitting the boards though.
 
The Happy Builder said:
"Slices taken out of skirting boards" is the for all the sockets upstairs or just one of them?
Click to expand...
He cut a good inch channel out of the skirtings underneath all the double sockets and wires went down, so can't put wood back in bits that have been cut out as there's cables in there, so will have to build it up and shape it with some good wood filler
 
I thought this was the light fitting thread, was confused for a second (easily done)
 
This is why I stopped even going to look at potential rewires, I would price for a tidy job including plaster patching, then lose the job because an electrician like the one you used would agree to do at at a lot lower price.
 
Happyharry said:
He cut a good inch channel out of the skirtings underneath all the double sockets and wires went down, so can't put wood back in bits that have been cut out as there's cables in there, so will have to build it up and shape it with some good wood filler
Click to expand...
I would hope you haven't paid them yet, but, I have an inkling you have.:(
Could you please post a few pictures, because without witnessing such degeneracy with my own eyes I'm reluctant to believe it.
 
Happyharry said:
He cut a good inch channel out of the skirtings underneath all the double sockets and wires went down, so can't put wood back in bits that have been cut out as there's cables in there, so will have to build it up and shape it with some good wood filler
Click to expand...
Like already said we need to see this form of butchery
 
Happyharry said:
He cut a good inch channel out of the skirtings underneath all the double sockets and wires went down, so can't put wood back in bits that have been cut out as there's cables in there, so will have to build it up and shape it with some good wood filler
Click to expand...

99% of the time one can use this method, I do, it saves either removing the skirting, chasing, and then replacing, or, as in your case apparently, notching the skirting, which is pretty awkward to repair invisibly, unfortunately. Screenshot_20231222_050936_Google.jpg
 
Rulland said:
99% of the time one can use this method, I do, it saves either removing the skirting, chasing, and then replacing, or, as in your case apparently, notching the skirting, which is pretty awkward to repair invisibly, unfortunately.
Click to expand...
Have done it that way for decades, either with a drill or a chisel. Did not have the luxury of a drill many years ago.
 
@Happyharry As you can tell from the responses you've received the general consensus is that you've been poorly treated and on behalf of tradesmen past and present on here that take a pride in our work, I apologise for that.

An electrician I occasionally do rewires with uses a shovel as his tool of choice to lift floorboards (unless I can get to them first) so disappointingly you're not alone.

Assuming the work you've had done is compliant and safe there is hope, and although it's of little comfort right now everything can be put right - although it may not seem like it just at the moment. Next time you visit a stately home remind yourself that all the electric sockets and lighting were installed after the place was built (possibly more than once) and maybe had gas lighting installed before that.

Whatever the outcome with the numpty that did your work there is a pool of talent on here that can guide you through making good - just ask.

Good luck.
 
Happyharry said:
He cut a good inch channel out of the skirtings underneath all the double sockets and wires went down
Click to expand...

It's harder to do that than it is to drill around the back of the skirting. An electrician would never do that. Check the certificate that was issued, and the building notification to your building control.
 
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