Need help which contractor to go with

[JLeague]

So on a house rewire I have finally got back the three quotes and they are all pretty much in the same ballpark but there are some differences which may be significant or not. The main differences were.

Quote1 - Fit 10 way Crabtree Unit, schneider sockets, 4 Aico smoke alarms, - will not fit metal socket fronts supplied by me as he said 1) cannot guarantee their quality and b) they fail more often. Job will take 7 days.

Quote 2 - 12 way High Integrity Wylex unit, MK sockets, will fit metal sockets - BG are ok. 4 FireAngel smoke alarms. Job will take 5 days.

Quote 3 - Hager 10 way (can opt for RCBO). 4 smoke alarms (no mention of brand) I can supply the socket fronts. Job will take 3-4 days.

After the quotes I asked each one about adding network cables, their responses were as follows.

Quote 1 - will not fit cabling as it requires certification.

Quote 2 - Has not done a network cable install but can do.

Quote 3 - No issues with doing network install.

Now the final point is that all will provide certificates of completion but quote 1 said he will provide 2 certificates one for smoke alarms and the other for the rest of the work.

I like bits of all the quotes but I am finding it hard who to go with.

 

[Andy78]

My input.
Aico are the brand to go for if you want decent reliable smoke alarms.

I would go for an rcbo board as it's the best solution for many reasons. Any of your contractors could factor this in with any of the mentioned brands.

BG decorative sockets are cheap and cheap for a reason. The quality is low and variable. No electrician will provide warranty on customer provided parts.

Yes you should receive a certificate for the smoke alarms that would be separate.

I'm not aware of data cables requiring certification.

Go for the electrician you get on with best and who you think will be easiest to achieve what you want. Don't choose on price. Also look up reviews and recommendations for each of them.

 

[pc1966]

As Andy78 has said an all-RCBO board is your best choice if affordable, and these days it will only add a modest percentage to the overall cost.

If you are very lucky you will never have a fault or spurious event trip an RCD, but probably you will at some point and the independence of RCBO operation (A) contains the fault to just the impacted circuit, and (B) makes finding it far easier!

 

[JLeague]

I was tending to go with Quote 1 as I got on well with him but there were two possible deal breakers - he would only fit his white sockets and he doesn't do network cable install.

Schneieder was his preferred choice - do they make a nice low profile white socket? (the wife may need convincing - had planned on metal sockets)

 

[pc1966]

Schneider are a reputable company and they also do quality metal sockets as well, but they cost significantly more than white. That is the same for all brands, just the "how much more?" that varies.

If you are otherwise happy with him then discuss it. Quite possibly he quotes for plain white to avoid losing trade on cost against others who do the same.

I am pretty sure he could run in network cables as they are not much different from mains (slightly easier to damage by pulling hard though), but probably lacks any means to test them once installed as doing that properly is a bit specialised. At a push he might be able to arrange for some help on that front.
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Just to add - Crabtree RCBOs are quite good as they (like Wylex) switch both L & N which makes testing easier!

 

[davesparks]

Quote 1 - will not fit cabling as it requires certification.

I'm not aware of data cables requiring certification.

Certification of network cables in a domestic installation would be very over the top.

You'd normally only see certification be required on higher spec non-domestic network installations.

I've done a few data/network installs and only once had to hire a network tester and certify the install.

 

[DefyG]

but quote 1 said he will provide 2 certificates one for smoke alarms and the other for the rest of the work.

Thats the least you should expect as far as certification goes.

Agree with Andy #2, with regard to smoke detectors (Aico) and networking.

Final circuit protection by RCBO is always the preferred way to go, but obviously at a cost compared to a dual RCD board!

Go for the electrician you get on with best and who you think will be easiest to achieve what you want. Don't choose on price. Also look up reviews and recommendations for each of them.

Agreed!

 

[telectrix]

I'd bin no.1.
1st, he condemn BG sockets. I fit them as standard and have no problems. quality at a good price.
2nd. If an electrician can't run cat5 or cat6 cables, he's lying. probably not clued up on what has to go where.

Quotes 2 and 3. look good, but I'd opt for 12 way RCBO board, if you don't need all ways, just get him to fit necessary ones and have spare blank ways if required in future. Both Wylex and Hager are quality kit. I do however prefer Crabtree Starbreaker on the higher spec jobs, BG for when price is more of a concern.

 

[JLeague]

I'd bin no.1.
1st, he condemn BG sockets. I fit them as standard and have no problems. quality at a good price.
2nd. If an electrician can't run cat5 or cat6 cables, he's lying. probably not clued up on what has to go where.

Quotes 2 and 3. look good, but I'd opt for 12 way RCBO board, if you don't need all ways, just get him to fit necessary ones and have spare blank ways if required in future. Both Wylex and Hager are quality kit. I do however prefer Crabtree Starbreaker on the higher spec jobs, BG for when price is more of a concern.

Thanks. Quote 1 did say two certificates but quotes 2 and 3 said only one cert is needed - is that ok?

Its a 3 bed terrace house - so are those times for a full rewire correct - 3-5 days?

Had a quick look at RCBO - it may work out better if we drop the metal sockets and use that money towards upgrading to all RCBO?

 

[littlespark]

Out of interest, did any quote mention SPD's in their consumer units?