Tools used when rewiring domestic property.

[BALDRICK]

Good Morning. Can anyone tell me what tools would be used when cutting channels into plaster when rewiring an occupied home?

House has solid walls, not plaster board and electricians used jackhammers to channel out, without extraction. I know rewiring is messy but the house was like a building site.

Is this usual practice? I have been told that electricions have cutting tools and use extraction and have had a previous house rewired (solid walls) and can’t remember this level of mess.

thank you.

 

[Dannyboybl00]

Ideally a wall chaser with extraction to create the channels then a breaker to knock out the plaster/brickwork. The latter can be done with hammer and bolster - it creates less dust but is slower.
Using a wall chaser instead of a breaker to create channels is far quicker, with cleaner cuts and less damage to the walls. Also means the filling afterwards should be easier with the same width and depth channels.

 

[SJD]

Can you show us a photo of some of the channels?

 

[Pete999]

Good Morning. Can anyone tell me what tools would be used when cutting channels into plaster when rewiring an occupied home?

House has solid walls, not plaster board and electricians used jackhammers to channel out, without extraction. I know rewiring is messy but the house was like a building site.

Is this usual practice? I have been told that electricions have cutting tools and use extraction and have had a previous house rewired (solid walls) and can’t remember this level of mess.

thank you.

Most Domestic Sparkies have wall chasers with dust extraction equipment along with plenty of dust sheets. what you need BALDRICK is one of your cunning plans, sorry couldn't resist.

 

[MJPD29]

Realistically it will always make a mess and using a kango or similar is very common yes.

 

[BALDRICK]

I don't have a photo of the channels with me, but I do have a short video of what I walked into and that sort of sets the scene for the whole rewire. The contractors sent 7 men into a 2 bed house and it was chaos.

If it common to use a jackhammer should some sort of extraction be used with it?

 

[Andy78]

Looks a familiar style of work. Are you in Glasgow area ?

 

[MJPD29]

I don't have a photo of the channels with me, but I do have a short video of what I walked into and that sort of sets the scene for the whole rewire. The contractors sent 7 men into a 2 bed house and it was chaos.

If it common to use a jackhammer should some sort of extraction be used with it?

There is no specific rule or regulation to say a dust extraction unit must be used. Yes it is a mess, it can however be cleaned. I do wonder what people expect when getting their house rewired. I certainly would not make that sort of mess but I have seen it many many times before.

 

[BALDRICK]

Thank you for your replies.

Not sure whether it was the same tool but the channels are no where near as neat as that.
Not in Glasgow.
Matthew, I was thinking is there any need to make that level of mess and dump tools on the carpet. I know rewiring is a disruptive and messy job and yes mess can be cleaned but its a hell of a job when only made more difficult by messy workers.

I think I was wondering whether this was usual practice or whether there is a more efficient way to do it. It seems that they could have used extraction, or made neater channels but feels as though they sent 7 people in to do it as fast as they could without any regard for the persons property.

 

[telectrix]

Thank you for your replies.

Not sure whether it was the same tool but the channels are no where near as neat as that.
Not in Glasgow.
Matthew, I was thinking is there any need to make that level of mess and dump tools on the carpet. I know rewiring is a disruptive and messy job and yes mess can be cleaned but its a hell of a job when only made more difficult by messy workers.

I think I was wondering whether this was usual practice or whether there is a more efficient way to do it. It seems that they could have used extraction, or made neater channels but feels as though they sent 7 people in to do it as fast as they could without any regard for the persons property.

every jobid different. e.g. empty house, just bought. customer is going to replace all the carpets anyway, so who cares if they get trashed? differemnt with occupied house. can't make a mess so that's reflected in the cost.
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just wondering how you retire a house. do you put it out to grass, like a horse?

 

[Dustydazzler]

Twin disc cutter with Henry attached...
minimal dust minimal mess

 

[telectrix]

Twin disc cutter with Henry attached...
minimal dust minimal mess

that's what i use, unless it's just a small chase, like from floor up to a socket, then it's a multitool (cheap blades) or angle grinder and scutch chisel.

 

[BALDRICK]

every jobid different. e.g. empty house, just bought. customer is going to replace all the carpets anyway, so who cares if they get trashed? differemnt with occupied house. can't make a mess so that's reflected in the cost.
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just wondering how you retire a house. do you put it out to grass, like a horse?

Ha yes and I didnt know how to edit it. And the house is occupied.

 

[telectrix]

Ha yes and I didnt know how to edit it.

only a mod. can edit a title.

 

[Wilko]

Hi - sorry to hear your house was a mess. I can’t view the video but I have seen wall chasing without extraction and usually dust is so thick that visibility is barely across the room. Yes they should’ve used a vacuum hooked up to the chaser. Maybe they just used angle grinders? Anyway, with a relatively cheap chaser and vacuum it is possible to do the job without tooo much mess and it’s always possible to keep the mess contained and clean up afterwards.

 

[Risteard]

only a mod. can edit a title.

Unless they're retired.

 

[Mike Johnson]

I did chase out a bathroom with a double disc electric chaser, with the windows open and a large industrial fan on in the room (extractor had broken down) after about an hour the fire brigade turned up saying that someone had reported the house was on fire, they did not laugh, local Pompier did not have a sense of humour.

 

[multimick]

unfortunately it all depends on how much you are paying ,i know it shouldn't, but it does

 

[Lister1987]

Even if thry were using angle grinders, you can get extraction cases that enclose the tool and hook to a vacuum.

 

[Midwest]

I can view the video. I would call a halt to the proceedings. Read through your quotation. There's an unfortunate side affect of chasing walls, but that looks like Armageddon.

Ask 'em for their CDM Reg risk assessment, and whether they own a dust pan & brush!

 

[Pete999]

every jobid different. e.g. empty house, just bought. customer is going to replace all the carpets anyway, so who cares if they get trashed? differemnt with occupied house. can't make a mess so that's reflected in the cost.
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just wondering how you retire a house. do you put it out to grass, like a horse?

lYoum getting as bad as Buzz Tel wiv yer spelin

 

[multimick]

for7 men read 6 apprentices and maybe 1 3rd year apprentice, boss showing up now and seldom

 

[BALDRICK]

SJD these are some of the (allegedly) finished chases!

Midwest what is a CDM risk management?

The contracts manager is coming tomorrow to look at the mess. It is my daughters rented property so reading your replies I do think the Landlord has gone for the cheapest option and she was not given a choice.

 

[haptism]

SJD these are some of the (allegedly) finished chases!

Midwest what is a CDM risk management?

The contracts manager is coming tomorrow to look at the mess. It is my daughters rented property so reading your replies I do think the Landlord has gone for the cheapest option and she was not given a choice.

Its filled in, what else do you want electricians to do ? Wallpaper and paint it aswell

 

[BALDRICK]

Its filled in, what else do you want electricians to do ? Wallpaper and paint it aswell

No but I expect it to be finished to a standard where we can paint it. The plasterer hasn't even polished this off. The video posted earlier showed much neater channels. Even in these replies there are different standards. These fall below mine.

 

[Midwest]

Midwest what is a CDM risk management?

The contracts manager is coming tomorrow to look at the mess. It is my daughters rented property so reading your replies I do think the Landlord has gone for the cheapest option and she was not given a choice.

All that dust and detritus has to be managed correctly, google CDM. What did the quotation say about dealing with the chasing & debris?

I've done some work in a properties in single rooms, that created lots of dust etc, but it was managed appropiatetly. Seems here the whole house has been treated like a building site?
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Its filled in, what else do you want electricians to do ? Wallpaper and paint it aswell

No but treat your clients with some respect. They are not there for your benefit, they are paying for your custom.

 

[Andy78]

No but I expect it to be finished to a standard where we can paint it. The plasterer hasn't even polished this off. The video posted earlier showed much neater channels. Even in these replies there are different standards. These fall below mine.

Your expectations may not match the quoted work though, especially if you have not ordered the work.
If the finish is not suitable to decorate you will have to take that up with the landlord not the electrician. It is quite normal for a rewire quote to not include for fine finished chases.

 

[BALDRICK]

All that dust and detritus has to be managed correctly, google CDM. What did the quotation say about dealing with the chasing & debris?

I've done some work in a properties in single rooms, that created lots of dust etc, but it was managed appropiatetly. Seems here the whole house has been treated like a building site?

Thanks I will ask to look at the quote and plan tomorrow. I suspect their plan was get in and get out quick, not all of the workers were even wearing masks!

 

[haptism]

No but I expect it to be finished to a standard where we can paint it. The plasterer hasn't even polished this off. The video posted earlier showed much neater channels. Even in these replies there are different standards. These fall below mine.

To get a finer finish you could go over with easy fill and sand down appropriately ! But tbh chasing a finished wall is always going to leave signs that its been chased unless its redecorated to a high standard. I dont even know why ive jumped on this bandwagon of a thread but anyways. I agree with the dust issue, the only way round that is using a wall chaser with attached vacuum, keeping area well ventilated, and covering up everything in sight with sheets (chasing can be v.dusty your lucky they used breakers and not grinders). In fact I turned down a job last week cause the chasing would create too much dust with the meagre equipment I have.

 

[Robson689]

The problem with brick dust in an occupied rewire is the silica released into the air. The homeowner is being put at unnecessary risk by the contractor not using suitable extraction systems.

I can't even cut concrete outside without water suppression so I don't know why anyone would find it acceptable to do it in someone's house especially when occupied.