What Does Electrical Quote From Builder Usually Include? Ask questions and find answers to many subjects relating to electrics and electrical work

[KIISPRGK]

Hi, can someone please help me on a question here. My builder gave me a quote for electricals like below for a very small bunglow (about 600 sq ft) - in ******* area.

"A PC sum of £8000 has been allowed for all the electrical works"

Can someone tell me what all this should include? I am sure there must be some implied things here. I am particularly concerned about the fact that he didn't do any wiring for outdoor lights (front and garden) which is very much needed. And I requested for that and he advised that there is good amount of work involved there and will cost extra.

Does that sound genuine? Thanks for your help in advance.

Gaurav

[ericmark]

There is a on site guide book with lays out how many sockets in each room etc, there are also now rules about smoke alarms etc.

I have not got my guide here, don't think there is anything on outside lights, other than max wattage of 150 watt.

Although the guide says how many and the height of sockets it does not say where.

In this area £8000 would do a lot, this house rewired which is harder than original wiring for £2400, it was a bare bones rewire.

The whole idea of not stating what you are getting seems a bit odd, Neither of my houses had outside light, that would be rare to be included as standard.

[kbrownie]

Do not use a builder for electrical work, use a registered electrician.

As a guide I am currently doing a rewire for a three bedroom bungalow, but I have quoted for other work.

The job requires complete rewire, new boiler to be relocated, all new radiators to be installed and relocated, a new bathroom to be refitted and a new cloak room with WC and basin, which requires maceration pump fitting and a new supply for both cold and hotwater, waste and central heating.

My quote has come to just under £10,000 (including all materials (excluding bathroom suite)

The bungalow will have a dedicate socket circuit for above worktop appliances in kitchen, a dedicated socket circuit for below worktop appliances, a cooker circuit.
The main house will have a further 3 socket circuits for bedrooms, lounge, hall and entrance, with provisions for outside sockets.
There will be 4 lighting circuits, two for main house, one for external lighting and one for under house store, a dedicated circuit for boiler.
And smoke/heat alarms for two levels, including high risk areas (living room and kitchen)
There will be a high integrity consumer unit being fitted and relocated, with updating off mains tails, earthing conductor and earth bonding.

All the light fitting are straight pendants internally, (no downlights) other than under cabinet LED strips and plinth kicker recessed lights.

On completion of the electrics my client will be walked through the installation and issued with an electrical installation certificate and building control notification.

So in respect of what my quote is and the work you require, you are being ripped off.

You tell the installer what you want, they inform you of what the minimum you must have, if that is not already covered in your requirements.

The quote should detail exactly what is to be done, under that quote. My quotes include the number of sockets, switches, lights and circuits etc.. to be installed.

[KIISPRGK]

Thanks ericmark, yes it looks like a lot to me as well. I actually got into this project because of someone and he let me down. The idea was that he will teach me things along the way but its been horrible and no learning. So I understand your question of having no specifics for the job which I find odd too :-( And I need the lights outdoor as its a bit dark on the access road where the property is situated.

Thanks kbrownie for your inputs too. They look detailed and give a good idea but here I am now. Dont think I can help it now.

Can you answer one question though? Since electrical work is almost complete now, how difficult or easy can it be to install outdoor lights (in front and garden). Is it a lot of work by any chance or relatively simple task for electrician to extend wirings to in your experience. The builder says there is a lot of work and will involve extra cost.

And is it reasonable to ask builder to advise where all that money has been applied to? Thanks.

Gaurav

[ericmark]

I can only guess, for mine and mother house lights are simply plugged into garage. In mothers house garage is a fused spur from upstairs ring. It could just as easy be a plug in job.

So to fit lamps keeping it simple. Buy light and screw to wall, drill hole in wall and thread cable through it, put plug on cable and plug in. It is that simple.

OK you can enhance on this, using a socket box with brushes to make it look neater where cable comes into house, Fit a dedicated socket so unlikely to be unplugged. But light with PIR built in, cable and plug.

[kbrownie]

Installing external power, should not be a massive job. But without knowing your requirements and local source of power it would be hard to assess the ease versus difficulty of it. Not all installations are the same, but generally there is always a way.

With regards to asking the builder where all the money has been spent, the horse has bolted my friend. That is a question that should have been asked before work started and detailed quote should have been requested and given, that was inline with what you had asked for.