1st-fix bedrooms and bathroom, Nabwood, Saltaire

First-fix electrical work carried out to prepared bedrooms and a bathroom in a semi-detached house in Nabwood, Saltaire. Work was limited to the electrical first fix so plastering and other trades could proceed; second-fix items are pending the customer’s instruction.

Project overview

Location: Nabwood, saltaire

Service: 1st fix of some bedrooms and bathroom ready for plastering

Property type: Semi-detached house

We attended a self-renovation in Nabwood to complete a considerable first fix across the upstairs bedrooms and bathroom. The client was reorganising room layouts and door positions, so our scope covered relocating sockets, adding new switch positions, moving lighting points and providing temporary lighting for the plasterers. The work was carried out as a modification rather than a full rewire, with existing cables retained where noted in the job record.

Why the customer contacted us

Customer is undertaking a self-renovation but is not electrically qualified and needed a competent electrician to reconfigure the upstairs circuits to match the new layout before plastering proceeded.

Work completed

We removed old socket points and installed new sockets in their required positions for the new layout. We added and repositioned light switches to suit the changed door and room arrangement, and moved lighting positions as needed. In the bathroom we installed four recessed spotlights and provided a power feed intended for an extractor fan. We also adjusted the two-way switching arrangement between upstairs and downstairs. During the work we found that the upstairs ring final circuit was not a true ring, so we carried out fault-finding and confirmed which existing cables were available for reuse.

The socket circuit was left completely isolated. The lighting circuit was made available for temporary use so the plasterers could have lighting; temporary fronts and fittings were required to power the lighting safely for that purpose.

Temporary lighting was energised to provide worklight for the plasterers; sockets remained isolated pending second fix. The job was left ready for other trades; second fix will follow when the customer is ready.

Products installed

New socket outlets in relocated positions (bedrooms) (11), new light switch plates and associated back boxes, repositioned ceiling rose/wiring for relocated lights, four recessed bathroom spotlights, and a power feed for an extractor fan.

Testing and certification

Dead testing only was carried out at first fix (continuity, insulation where applicable with circuits isolated). Formal second-fix testing and certification are pending; the customer will confirm when they want us back to complete second-fix work and issue any relevant test paperwork.

Problems encountered

On inspection we discovered that the upstairs ring final circuit was not actually a ring circuit. This required additional fault-finding to identify conductor routing and to verify the condition of retained cables. Old cables identified for removal were removed. Second-fix work and final testing remain pending. The unusual circuit configuration increased labour for the first fix and required temporary adjustments to the lighting supply to provide power for plastering.

The result

First-fix stage completed: new positions for sockets and switches are installed, bathroom spotlights and extractor fan feed are in place, two-way switching repositioned and temporary lighting provided for plasterers. The socket circuit has been left isolated and the lighting provided with temporary supply for works. The project is awaiting the customer’s instruction for second-fix completion and any formal testing/certification required thereafter. Other trades are on site to continue the renovation.