When I’m not crawling around in a loft space or underneath the floorboards, or chasing out walls and drilling holes – chances are I’ll probably be renovating a house somewhere doing something along those lines. Photo above is from a recent renovation in Hebden Bridge. For more info go to –
http://2bedroomterraced.blogspot.com/
Before and after photos
When people buy houses many turn a blind eye to having the electrics tested. Just because a house is well presented doesn’t mean the electrics are alright. Theres plenty of know it alls who think they can turn their hand to most things to save a few quid (and make a few) what you end up with is work done to poor standards and potentially dangerous situations. Never has there been so much emphasis on complying to regulations, best practices, adhering to manufacturer’s instructions and specifications.
A downlight in a kitchen – doesn’t look like much however, this is a modified downlight. It used to be an MR16 diachroic lamp holder which has been part replaced by a GU10 lampholder and LED bulb has been fitted – no big deal you might think?
Except manufacturers instructions clearly state these type of lights should have 150mm clearance around them to avoid heat dispersion – as you can see the installer has hit a joist – by replacing the bulbs for led the installer thinks it’l be alright as the led bulbs dont get hot. On the contrary the bulb might not get as hot but theycarry a high current so the contacts are red hot which is far more dangerous. There is also a bedroom above and building regulations say for habitable rooms above kitchens with downlights fitted the downlights must be fire rated. Here you have exposed conductive parts from the downlight carrying a high current touching the lattes and timber joists above in the cieling out of sight with the bedroom above, and to top it all off the cables are new colours but have been connected to old cables which have no earths – rendering the earths in the new cables useless. There is no rcd protection on the consumer unit (not that it would make much difference as there are no earths.)
All of which has been done recently by someone local to Holmfirth. No idea who – obviously not a competent electrician but still someone who probably thinks they are good – in fact not saying any names but there was a local person (handyman) advertising his services on Facebook the other week and boasting about a similar job he had done recently complete with photos. I mean whats the point in having all these regs, governing bodies, building control etc in place if youre going to get people like that going round doing things like this to people and showing off about it on facebook? Then when someone like myself comes around and condemnes it all we’re made out to look like the bad guys. Truth is most of you who’ve had work done like this already know the score just wanted a cheap job and be on with it – joe bloggs seems like a really nice guy and he can do it all, sooner and a lot cheaper than said electrician.
And it’s not just houses either i’ve come across a few commercial premises in the town centre of Holmfirth who do exactly the same. Charging customers a fortune whilst having sub standard electrical work done to save money where they can.
So if your’e buying somewhere you have every right to have the elctrics tested before parting with your life savings for the sake of £150 – £200 you’ll have a much better knowledge of how things really are and what you’re letting yourself into down the line.
The photos from the house above is a lovely 3 bed house in Holmfirth which a growing family are buying – its in need of light refurbishment here and there due to its age then you get parts of the electrics that have been modified recently by some dickhead and its all to be ripped out and re-done to make safe. How many people buy houses with downlights fitted or signs of any other work and don’t have an electrical report before buying? In my experience I would say about 80%
Appleby Electrical 