Not too happy with this work...

[Kitty0307]

We're first time house renovators and recently had an electrician in to replace the main board and rewire the kitchen.

I'm really not too happy with the results. There are cables coming out of the wall below the sockets and running back into the floor, multiple holes around sockets and where old sockets were and worst of all an absolutely huge hole in our hallway above the new main board.

On speaking to the electrician he's advised he doesn't do plastering- but I had assumed he would at least make good after doing the rewire- whether that was included in the additional quote or would be at additional cost.

As a complete newbie to having a rewire and any kind of electrical work done, am I overreacting? It doesn't look as professional as I would have expected....And the cables coming out of the wall and then into the floor dont seem right either.

I'd like to have a chat with him about it but not really sure what to say and how things should look. Not like this, I'm sure!

Anybody?

 

[Silly Sausage]

That's appalling!
Report him to the organisation shown on the Installation Certification you've been given (if any) eg NICEIC.

The plumbing doesn't look too good as well.

Check here: Competent Persons Register | Home - https://www.competentperson.co.uk/

 

[Pete999]

We're first time house renovators and recently had an electrician in to replace the main board and rewire the kitchen.

I'm really not too happy with the results. There are cables coming out of the wall below the sockets and running back into the floor, multiple holes around sockets and where old sockets were and worst of all an absolutely huge hole in our hallway above the new main board.

On speaking to the electrician he's advised he doesn't do plastering- but I had assumed he would at least make good after doing the rewire- whether that was included in the additional quote or would be at additional cost.

As a complete newbie to having a rewire and any kind of electrical work done, am I overreacting? It doesn't look as professional as I would have expected....And the cables coming out of the wall and then into the floor dont seem right either.

I'd like to have a chat with him about it but not really sure what to say and how things should look. Not like this, I'm sure!

Anybody?

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Did this person issue you with any certification, did he warn you that there could be some making good to the building fabric, was he a member of any of the CPS Competent Persons Schemes (NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, etc) the work is appalling, if he is a CPS regulated electrician, and I use the word loosely, then contact them and complain, if not then I'm unsure of your next step, maybe trading standards, name and shame in the local press.

 

[Octopus]

Hum ....

You should address this in writing to said electrician and see what the responses are .......

What did the original quote actually state what would be included?

 

[Kitty0307]

He hasn't issued us with any certification- should he have and should I ask for this? He mentioned the work was certified but haven't seen any paperwork.

We haven't paid him yet but he has billed us £1600 for the main board replacement and kitchen rewire. I guess we have to pay and then take it from there? He's due to come back to do a few things so am hoping that's going to include sorting stuff out. There was no discussion or warning about making good - perhaps naively I assumed he would do this or work with somebody who would!!!

Not sure what our next step should be.

 

[Kitty0307]

Thats what Our original quote and eventual invoice said.

 

[Pete999]

He hasn't issued us with any certification- should he have and should I ask for this? He mentioned the work was certified but haven't seen any paperwork.

We haven't paid him yet but he has billed us £1600 for the main board replacement and kitchen rewire. I guess we have to pay and then take it from there? He's due to come back to do a few things so am hoping that's going to include sorting stuff out. There was no discussion or warning about making good - perhaps naively I assumed he would do this or work with somebody who would!!!

Not sure what our next step should be.

In a word Yes, an EIC for the CU swap and other works EIC (Electrical Installation Certificate) remember the work isn't complete until the certification has been issued.

 

[Octopus]

Looks perfectly reasonable to me. No mention of making good ........

The routing of the cable above the skirting is pxss poor ....

 

[Kitty0307]

The original agreement was th at we would rewire the full house for us on a room by room basis, as We're unable to do the whole thing in one go. Does that mean he won't issue certification until the whole house has been done? Not sure I want him to do the whole place now!
I should add he's coming back after Christmas so is it possible he just isn't finished? The cables coming out under the socket and into the floor seems very odd to me though - that's not usual is it?

 

[Kitty0307]

Looks perfectly reasonable to me. No mention of making good ........

The routing of the cable above the skirting is pxss poor ....

The cable above the skirting is my main issue- there are multiple sockets like that. My other issue is the compete lack of care on the wall installing the RCBO - the wall was perfect beforehand and now it's got a huge hole- it's the first thing visible in our hallway.

 

[Strima]

Was making good agreed?

That wiring run over the skirting board needs sorting out.

 

[davesparks]

The cables coming out of the floor and disappearing into the wall is not all that uncommon behind kitchen units as it can avoid further destructionof the walls and floor.

The hole above the consumer unit is disgraceful, personally I always specify on my quotes that I don't do any making good but even I would have done basic filling if I'd created a large hole like that.

Yes you should receive an electrical installation certificate for the work completed.

That quote shows a very poor standard of technical language, a lot of the terminology is incorrect.

 

[telectrix]

in your situation, i'd be inclined to get an independent sparks to assess it and price for making it right.esp.the cables over skirting boards. then you have ammunition for the original sparks. as in fix it or deduct the cost from your bill. some forum members in bandit country. maybe 1 is near you. as for the making good, i'm afraid that maybe down to you to pay plasterer and decorator. whatever you do, don't pay him the full amount till it's been sorted.to be fair, maybe pay 50%.

 

[richy3333]

If you’re energising circuits you should certify.
Price doesn’t appear that unreasonable to me but hard to judge on limited info.

Speak to the contractor, we don’t bite! The gap above the CU might be being left as there’s more wiring to do in other rooms.

 

[davesparks]

The original agreement was th at we would rewire the full house for us on a room by room basis, as We're unable to do the whole thing in one go. Does that mean he won't issue certification until the whole house has been done?

In that case no you wouldn't normally get a certificate until the job is complete.

 

[davesparks]

If you’re energising circuits you should certify.

If you're energising circuits you should inspect, test and verify them, certification isn't necessary until completion of the job.

 

[Kitty0307]

If you’re energising circuits you should certify.
Price doesn’t appear that unreasonable to me but hard to judge on limited info.

Speak to the contractor, we don’t bite! The gap above the CU might be being left as there’s more wiring to do in other rooms.

Thanks - that's a good point! Will have a chat with him after new year and see what we can sort out.

 

[Kitty0307]

in your situation, i'd be inclined to get an independent sparks to assess it and price for making it right.esp.the cables over skirting boards. then you have ammunition for the original sparks. as in fix it or deduct the cost from your bill. some forum members in bandit country. maybe 1 is near you. as for the making good, i'm afraid that maybe down to you to pay plasterer and decorator. whatever you do, don't pay him the full amount till it's been sorted.to be fair, maybe pay 50%.

Thanks, that's what I will do!

 

[HappyHippyDad]

1. The hole (or rather mess) in the ceiling above the new consumer unit looks like it has just been hacked out without any thought towards trying to keep it tidy. However, perhaps you had discussed having this wall replastered which gave him license to make a mess.

2. The cables coming over the skirting board are terrible. If this was his work (and it was not agreed that he could bring them over the skirting) then that really is awful.

3. The consumer unit is flush with the wall. If the cables are entering the top of the consumer unit then they need to have grommets like this https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/british-general-fire-retardant-semi-blind-grommets-13-piece-set/9638p where they enter the consumer unit or something similar. If they enter from behind the consumer unit then ignore this.

4. The holes in the plaster, including the old holes where the sockets used to be would usually be up to a plasterer to fill, in other words your responsibility. However, this should have been mentioned in his quote to give you some warning.

5. The work needs notifying to the building authorities. If he has taken on the work (and no building inspector has visited) then we must assume that he is 'Part P registered' and able to sign off his own work. You should be receiving an email (or letter) from his governing body at some point saying that the work has been notified.

6. You should also be receiving an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC). This is a certificate that he will be producing himself. It will be 5 pages long (6 including the explanatory page at the end).

7. If you have agreed to have more work done (i.e rewire) then you would not be receiving the above paperwork (points 5 and 6) until the work has been completed.

 

[Silly Sausage]

The cables coming out of the floor and disappearing into the wall is not all that uncommon behind kitchen units as it can avoid further destruction of the walls and floor.

Really?!?!
I'm not surprised that the domestic side of the business is, not wanting to get banned, not where it should be.

 

[davesparks]

Really?!?!
I'm not surprised that the domestic side of the business is, not wanting to get banned, not where it should be.

Yes, although neatly clipped would be better, the whole point of having a service gap below and behind kitchen units is to be able to install services there.

 

[Silly Sausage]

Hmmm, maybe, but there are plenty of units that fit flush.
It just looks incredibly amateurish and lazy to me, and you can't go drilling holes in the middle of people's floors. What happens if they want to re-work/purpose the kitchen space?

 

[westward10]

The cable above the skirting is my main issue- there are multiple sockets like that. My other issue is the compete lack of care on the wall installing the RCBO - the wall was perfect beforehand and now it's got a huge hole- it's the first thing visible in our hallway.

If I am reading this correctly this is not just a kitchen issue.

 

[Rpa07]

The guy is fitting Hager as standard, he’s showing some class!
Kitty, There obviously needs to be communication between you and the electrician and get his take on these snagging issues and don’t let the discourse be fuelled by this thread.
Talk and arrange a solution.
Holes can be filled and I certainly agree regarding the kitchen wiring an the service void. Better to see them so the kitchen fitter can’t spear them.

 

[davesparks]

Hmmm, maybe, but there are plenty of units that fit flush.
It just looks incredibly amateurish and lazy to me, and you can't go drilling holes in the middle of people's floors. What happens if they want to re-work/purpose the kitchen space?

No you can't go drilling holes in the middle of the floor, but these holes are next to the skirting which is generally nowhere near the middle of the floor.

If they want to rework the space they have the electrical installation altered to suit, which is part of the reason this is fairly common as kitchens are generally shorter lived than the rest of the installation.

 

[AJshep]

I usually discuss with the customers about making good in my quotes. I personally wouldnt want to put my name to that, It looks a bit slap dash but I suppose theres nothing technically wrong with whats shown.
If you were keeping the wallpaper above the fuseboard I would have probably tried to cut the wallpaper and flap it back on itself, I would have also popped a bit of capping in the wall or at least pulled the twists out of the cable before its buried. I also use a 16mm/20mm masonary drill bit to drill behind skirting boards but then again I think I would have charged a bit more.
Looks more like a domestic installer has carried out the work rather than electrician, but thats me being judgemental and miserable because I have man flu.

 

[PEG]

This post just goes to show,how the initially "accused" looks less and less guilty of anything,the more details are disclosed.

The "terrible holes" may well be for the agreed future "room at a time" access,and i have seen considerably worse cabling,behind cabinets....seen some yesterday on a large 70's palace,which is largely coming down - atrocious,but no issues in the last 40 years,apparently.

 

[streamer]

am I overreacting

Yes

 

[Markyd]

I usually discuss with the customers about making good in my quotes. I personally wouldnt want to put my name to that, It looks a bit slap dash but I suppose theres nothing technically wrong with whats shown.
If you were keeping the wallpaper above the fuseboard I would have probably tried to cut the wallpaper and flap it back on itself, I would have also popped a bit of capping in the wall or at least pulled the twists out of the cable before its buried. I also use a 16mm/20mm masonary drill bit to drill behind skirting boards but then again I think I would have charged a bit more.
Looks more like a domestic installer has carried out the work rather than electrician, but thats me being judgemental and miserable because I have man flu.

Excuse me........i am a Domestic installer and would not leave work looking like that.....and a couple of months ago spent 2 days rectifying what you call an ELECTRICIANS work who was time served and all that....ran 8 new double sockets using singles......not a grommet to be seen in metal boxes....connected 5 new metal light fittings without connecting c.p.c......and fitted a small chandelier in the bathroom i.p. rating whats that?........so his work was a total disgrace......when asked about a cert for additional sockets he didnt have a clue what the client was on about....maybe he should stick to working in grubby factories....So much for what you call an Electrician eh.......Shoddy work,works both ways

 

[Kitty0307]

I certainly don't feel I'm over reacting about the hole in the wall above the consumer unit. We did NOT plan to get this wall replastered and wanted to keep the original wallpaper. It looks a state and regardless of whether access will be needed there for future work, I think much more care could have been taken when fitting the new unit. I'm actually shocked that anybody would say I'm overreacting...
I didn't say he could drill holes in the floor...or run cable over the skirtings. It's still a shoddy job in my opinion. If we decide to go with somebody else for the remainder of the rewire will he still issue us with certification for the work he has done?

As far as leaving service gap behind kitchen units....our plan was to fit freestanding custom made wooden units and now it's looking like this won't be a option or we will have to have spaces cut into them for cables and pipes. We did discuss the types of units we were planning on fitting with the electrician (well, I did).

Just fed up of the whole thing- pretty much dealing wirh this myself as my partner just buries his head and moans about how much it will cost/tells me off if things go wrong.

 

[Kitty0307]

I certainly don't feel I'm over reacting about the hole in the wall above the consumer unit. We did NOT plan to get this wall replastered and wanted to keep the original wallpaper. It looks a state and regardless of whether access will be needed there for future work, I think much more care could have been taken when fitting the new unit. I'm actually shocked that anybody would say I'm overreacting...
I didn't say he could drill holes in the floor...or run cable over the skirtings. It's still a shoddy job in my opinion. If we decide to go with somebody else for the remainder of the rewire will he still issue us with certification for the work he has done?

As far as leaving service gap behind kitchen units....our plan was to fit freestanding custom made wooden units and now it's looking like this won't be a option or we will have to have spaces cut into them for cables and pipes. We did discuss the types of units we were planning on fitting with the electrician (well, I did).

Just fed up of the whole thing- pretty much dealing wirh this myself as my partner just buries his head and moans about how much it will cost/tells me off if things go wrong.

 

[Cid]

The only thing wrong I can see is the cables over the skirting. However you have pipes and skirting on the way. Hiding the cables would require more destruction.

Now re wiring is usually done before major refurbishment or redecorations. You can't expect electricians to plaster the room and redecorate for you. The cost would be much higher.

 

[Midwest]

I'd like to think I would of done a better job, as do most members on this thread appear to think.

However, as this seems a work in progress, I don't think any of us can criticise this installer, until the job is finished.

As said the OP needs to discuss this with her installer, and not let us pick holes (excuse the pun) in the work. E.g. the hole above the CU, I have carried some installs, where the replacement of CU's revealed the existing install of 50 years ago, where the previous electrician hacked out the wall, and filled it with 4" deep plaster.

I always made good to sub finish, with final finish to be completed by others, and made that clear in T&C's, unless my client wanted a quote to decorative finish.

Lastly, when I've done work in my own house, my wife often complains about the holes I have to make to route cables. How she expects me to get cables to accessories, without doing so, I ain't the foggiest. Always been the same though. No offence OP

Have you anymore pics, that highlight your concerns?​

 

[streamer]

5. The work needs notifying to the building authorities. If he has taken on the work (and no building inspector has visited) then we must assume that he is 'Part P registered' and able to sign off his own work. You should be receiving an email (or letter) from his governing body at some point saying that the work has been notified.

Part P does not apply in Scotland, there is no need to inform the local building authorities.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

The first two replies to the OP are a considerable overreaction. The work is not appalling, just rather untidy. Members should think carefully before scaring the pants off people. There seems to be a trend with some members to simply condemn everything without knowing the full circumstances of the install. It would have been a simple matter to make up a neat ply boxing to enclose wiring to the DB if the damage to the wall was necessary to pull in wiring Other than not being well finished I cant see a great deal wrong with it, as long as certification is issued.

 

[streamer]

Kitty, you joined this forum a few months ago to ask for advice before you started this job. Two members local to you offered to have a look for you. You didn't give me the courtesy of a reply, I'm not sure about the other chap but I know he didn't do the work.
At worst the work is untidy but probably sound enough, all the issues you've mentioned are things you should address with the person who carried out the work.
For my English cousins on the forum, there is no competent persons scheme or domestic installers in Scotland. You are either an Electrician or not, there is no middle ground. Also, we have different building regulations so there is no part P here. We do share the same electrical regulations though!

 

[westward10]

He needs to rectify the hole in the ceiling as he has compromised the fire protection.

 

[Midwest]

He needs to rectify the hole in the ceiling as he has compromised the fire protection.

Whose saying he won't eventually.

 

[westward10]

Whose saying he won't eventually.

I agree just pointing out that it should not be omitted from his works.

 

[Conor McConville]

There’s no way he should be paid full agreed amount, I would pay another trusted electrician in the area to come in with you and go round the house and identify all issues with a ‘competent’ tradesman. Let him try to explain himself then. I’d rather give the extra few pound to someone else rather than pay him. Unacceptable!

 

[AJshep]

Excuse me........i am a Domestic installer and would not leave work looking like that.....and a couple of months ago spent 2 days rectifying what you call an ELECTRICIANS work who was time served and all that............so his work was a total disgrace......when asked about a cert for additional sockets he didnt have a clue what the client was on about....

Your right, some people do shoddy work, qualified or unqualified. To me the pics look a bit shoddy but not technically wrong.. I was miserable yesterday but what I'm getting at is some people who aren't trained do shoddy work, but unfortunately they have no idea, they think they are doing a great job ! Ive seen people promoting their businesses with pictures of work they carried out, and the pics were worse then this.

You descibe work you have put right, for q start I wouldn't call that person an electrician. sure this chap who you followed up told everybody he was a qualified, but he would be aware of testing, if he is with a scheme report him.

 

[DefyG]

We did NOT plan to get this wall replastered and wanted to keep the original wallpaper. It looks a state and regardless of whether access will be needed there for future work, I think much more care could have been taken when fitting the new unit. I'm actually shocked that anybody would say I'm overreacting...

How did you expect him to get the cables to the consumer unit? Without chasing? Would surface clipped or trunking be acceptable? Probably lack of communication.

If the original cables were just 'plastered in' above the original consumer unit, its quite possible (and not uncommon) that in removing them the plaster and wall crumbled away.
We used to 'make good' but when clients criticised our attempts at making good (we are electricians NOT plasterers), we decided that we would always put …. 'making good excluded' as a note to our quotes.

As far as leaving service gap behind kitchen units....our plan was to fit freestanding custom made wooden units

Was this communicated to the electrician.

Was it suggested that the pipework might be 'boxed in'? Might be another reason why the cables come out in front of the skirtings!

As you say you are a 'first time' renovator and there will be many more lessons to learn!!

 

[Risteard]

We used to 'make good' but when clients criticised our attempts at making good (we are electricians NOT plasterers), we decided that we would always put …. 'making good excluded' as a note to our quotes.

Don't know how many times I've had to explain that I'm not a plasterer. Some people seem to think that a bit of bonding to hold things in place should have an amazing finish.

 

[DPG]

Seems a bit optimistic to expect new cables to be chased in but to keep the wallpaper intact.

 

[ruston]

Some plaster falls off if you look at it the wrong way. It's in the lap of the God's.

 

[John Arnold]

Is that lead water pipe (with a join/repair) above the consumer unit, might fail again above the cu. Not safe replace. Seems like the new 15mm pipe is touching the old19 mm pipe as well as the wires hanging down the wall. Why not leave the twin skt in the same place? Do I want to use this worker?

 

[Markyd]

Your right, some people do shoddy work, qualified or unqualified. To me the pics look a bit shoddy but not technically wrong.. I was miserable yesterday but what I'm getting at is some people who aren't trained do shoddy work, but unfortunately they have no idea, they think they are doing a great job ! Ive seen people promoting their businesses with pictures of work they carried out, and the pics were worse then this.

You descibe work you have put right, for q start I wouldn't call that person an electrician. sure this chap who you followed up told everybody he was a qualified, but he would be aware of testing, if he is with a scheme report him.

Oh no....he was qualified...thirty years a sparks,industrial only.......he admitted he didnt do a lot of domestic work.......so what im saying is,he should stick to what he knows,the same as i would not attempt to do anything i wasnt sure of ie industrial. I would rather stick to domestic and do a nice job than try and do a job im not capable of and mess it up......exactly what he should have done......

 

[dmxtothemax]

sloppy and messy work BUT not dangerous or code violation.
This could go either way, best you negociate with the electrician
The plastering repair is NOT on the work order
Many electricains don't do plaster work
A good plasterer can fix it quicker and better
caveate empter - Google Search - https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b&q=caveate+empter

 

[SparkyAndGeorge]

What did you agree with the guy regarding making good before work commenced? Also, those cables going to the kitchen socket is pretty rough that could do with being chased in properly. Having major structural work such as a rewire will undoubtedly cause minor damage to the building, were you aware of this?

 

[Shoei]

It's shoddy work but unless it's unsafe the chances are no certifying body will take an interest. Technically it should be certified before allowing customer use but that's a regulation that's often glossed over for practical purposes.

Without getting bogged down in rights and wrongs the object now is to get on with the job in the quickest way that gets a result. Take a detached view and decide what's important to you and what you can put down to experience, and move on. Your pictures don't show the whole story but I'd take the holes in the plaster on the chin but insist on routing the wires behind the skirting, for example.

When you've defined the limits discuss it with the contractor to see if he'll work with you. If not, thank him for his time and get someone else in and quote a) for getting it to your minimum standard and b) to do the rest of the work. Deduct part a) from the first contractor's invoice and continue with the job (and your life).

That's assuming the contractor can show you he has current authority to certify the work, if not, skip the discussion and get someone who can.

p.s. It's none of my business but if your partner can't be supportive then suggests he takes a large dose of festive shut the f*** up. You're on a learning curve and we all get caught out sometimes.