Check List For Quoting A Domestic Rewire

[LiveWire Electric]

Ok, so I am an Elecsa registered sparks and in my first year of going it alone.

I have a rewire to go and quote for and although I am confident in carrying out the works, I would appreciate if there was a check list to base my quote on. 

If anyone feels like posting a few bullet points, whether they are obvious or no so, that would be brillaint.

Thanks in advance guys!!

Steve.

 

[Technician]

Only a suggestion, and the others may suggest otherwise,

but count up all;

1.  Sockets to be fitted.

2.  Lights to be fitted.

3.  Switches to be fitted.

Get an idea of how the building is constructed (you have

not stated what it is) because this will determine how long

it will take to get into the fabric to lay the conductors.

 

[LiveWire Electric]

Hi Technician,

Many thanks for you input, ill put those in my list.

Your comment about "not stating what it is" is actually another bullet point in itself.

So I have added, wall fabric, floors, loft boarding or not.

Amount of bedrooms will come under the socket/switch/light count i presume?

 

[Nicky Tesla]

pace likely cable runs out to workout the amount of cable you need

 

[Zeespark]

Earthing type: you don't want to be left needing rods after thinking its a TNCS supply. You may also want to make a copy of the page in the OSG regarding socket provision.

Andy Guinness

 

[kerching]

Joint boxes or loop at switch or loop at ceiling?

Two ways

Accessories......thin plate accessories can ruin your day if you only fitted 25 mm back boxes

Occupied or not?......floor coverings back at night?

REC2 fitted or visit by DNO

RCBO to every cct or the nasty and cheap ( and in my and many others opinion 'non compliant' split board )

And this is only just a start!

 

[m4tty]

Joint boxes or loop at switch or loop at ceiling?

Two ways

Accessories......thin plate accessories can ruin your day if you only fitted 25 mm back boxes

Occupied or not?......floor coverings back at night?

REC2 fitted or visit by DNO

RCBO to every cct or the nasty and cheap ( and in my and many others opinion 'non compliant' split board )

And this is only just a start!

Not a fan of the b&q specials £50 quids BG split loader then Kerch

 

[kerching]

Not a fan of the b&q specials £50 quids BG split loader then Kerch

In my opinion they do not comply!

Regs say circuits are to be installed/ arranged so as to minimise inconvenience.......no fault should influence another cct....yahda yahda yahda. A split board DOES NOT minimise inconvenience it only HALVES it!.....discuss.......10 points

For the cost of RCBOs just do it

Just ranting........

 

[Robin Spark]

Its good to draw out a rough plan of the property, noting positions of consumer unit and accessories and getting the client to confirm this is what they want. 

Nothing worse than working out a price, the customer agrees, you start said job and then when you have nearly finished they pipe up with

"Oh, i thought you were putting sockets in that corner of the room as well!"

 

[Sharpend]

And with the Good prices available from our Dave, sorry SBS then why not RCBO?

 

[batty]

In my opinion they do not comply!

Regs say circuits are to be installed/ arranged so as to minimise inconvenience.......no fault should influence another cct....yahda yahda yahda. A split board DOES NOT minimise inconvenience it only HALVES it!.....discuss.......10 points

For the cost of RCBOs just do it

Just ranting........

Problem with RCBO's unless you use an extra height consumer unit they just are not designed for RCBO's. I generally use Mk with TD line RCBO's but after the recall I actually used a TD line board full of RCBO's this was almost as bad as a Contactum consumer unit full of RCBO's. I am actually going to to start using the SBS compact ones in the future for all my jobs. I am fed up of having untidy boards.

 

[Sharpend]

Walk the house with the customer and mark the positions of the points on the walls, with a spray can of course so that they can't change their mind!? I don't advise you mark the chases or cable routes though, that's something you'll have to remember!!!

Bats I love the way you start with a problem then provide the answer yourself, I didn't even get a chance to answer!

 

[batty]

Try the DP RCBO's that SBS Dave does, very neat

I have used them on one job three boards well impressed will take some pics on the next job.

 

[Technician]

The On Site Guide has guidance on the recommended minimum

number of sockets per room type, based upon floor area.

You could gain extra brownie points by installing the conductors

for future work that the customer might not want to do right now.

Things like bathroom and kitchen fans and the like but if you do,

ensure that the conductors are not energised when the house

is powered up and leave information about where the connections

are to be found so that next contractor can go straight to them.

Accessibility of all connections is important unless they are

maintenance free.

(That next contractor might be you)

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

Ok, so I am an Elecsa registered sparks and in my first year of going it alone.

I have a rewire to go and quote for and although I am confident in carrying out the works, I would appreciate if there was a check list to base my quote on. 

If anyone feels like posting a few bullet points, whether they are obvious or no so, that would be brillaint.

Thanks in advance guys!!

Steve.

First year of going it alone???

you don't say if it is your first year into the industry as a whole as well..

or if you have been working for a larger firm for several years previously???

If you have already been working in the industry then TBH you should already have a decent grasp of whats needed!

It could also be said that any person starting a business should have already thought of this stuff before going it alone!!

carrying  out the works.. does actually also INCLUDE design.. not just cable bashing...

So I could be grumpy and just say post your existing check list up and don't be lazy asking others to do your business planing or you........

BUT...

before someone dishes out another neg scoob to me for being honest..

I will stick a few thoughts down that may help...........  (or maybe not??? :C   )

I am assuming you are fresh out of study with minimal experience..  few tips I would say are....

1/ When quoting for job don't get so tied up in the electrical stuff that you forget the basics of SELLING!! 

1a) All the CUSTOMER wants to do is purchase a product or service.. and they DON'T have to purchase anything if they don't want to...  (you are just one of a multitude of suppliers they can purchase from)

1b) So FIND OUT WHAT THE CUSTOMER WANTS.. not what you want to sell them... As with any purchase a customer is more reluctant to purchase something they don't want..  But if they are going to purchase they often like to see they have a choice to select from... so where possible suggest a basic solution plus a "for £x.yy more you could have more flexibility for the future by also fitting one of these"

2/ Don't get telling lies saying that legally they have got to have something flitted as it in the regs!

2a) BS7671 is non statutory guidance.. no one has to have anything installed by you in any property if they don't want to purchase it off you!..  So concentrate on establishing the actual requirements and the various ways of meeting those requirements..   (there is no one size fits all solution to every job!)

2b) So keep you head around the basic task in hand that you have to solve ie..  What electrical loads does the customer need to supply, what size fuses and cables to I need to install to supply those loads in accordance with BS761... AND... are there any REALISTIC additional loads that the customer may have forgotten about?? 

3/  Remember THE CUSTOMER PROBABLY DOESN'T KNOW THEMSELVES EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT...  they will be expecting you to make suggestions...

3a) So don't try and think of the job as one big task..  Break it down into individual rooms or circuits or major loads etc... have a few basic ideas before you meet the customer..

3b) The customer probably hasn't got that much spare time to talk to you and you don't want to be wasting your time when at site.. so have a pre set idea of what you would actually do in an average 3bed semi property, then work around that as your framework either adding to it or removing from accordingly. 

4/ SO what are the basics needed for the average property.. sockets & lights of course but need to verify number of circuits you intend installing.. 

4a/ Find out if Electric cooker / Shower / Immersion heater / Outdoor wiring are needed... 

4b/ Assume minimum of 2x Socket circiuts & 2x Light cicruts but preferable more if feasible.. e.g. up/down/kitchen(utility) sockets separate

4c/ DON'T assume sockets MUST be on a ring!!!  appropriately rated & designed radials can be a  better solution!

4d/ Assume 3x double sockets 1x lights switch & 1x pendant as the staring point in each living/dining/bed/room. 

4e/ Suggest smoke alarms..  preferable but NOT essential!!

5/ Only get essential information whilst on site, other more detailed stuff can be confirmed IF you actually win the job!

5a/ Precise locations for sockets. is not that essential as long as you know how many per room...(Assuming you quote for getting wires across to each side of a room moving one socket 2 meters to the left don't really affect your price!!)

5b/ When discussing lights ALWAYS check where they want it switched from..  Essential to know which lights are two or three way switching -vs- single switch at door..  AND check which if any are dimmers!

5c/ Ask about any specific decorative finishes.. or just plain core white?   

5d/ Get supply details, check cut out, earth type, take a Ze reading to make sure you wont have later headaches about the supply.

6/  Check out and note the building construction...

6a/ Floors...  solid / wooden ?   Floor coverings...  carpet / lino / laminate / tiles ect..

what floor CAN be lifted and which cant!?

6b/ Walls.. stud walls / brick walls / Plaster board / lath & plaster etc...

6c/ Ceilings.. accessibility from above.. loft voids /  flat roofs / artex / lath & plaster etc...

6d/ Room sizes, note down rough dimesions...

6e/ Outbuildings & external wiring..  garden lengths, / obstacles etc..

7/ ALWAYS take into account the use of the property...

Landlord renting out -vs- private homeowner  same building very different requirements!

 

[Sharpend]

Very good Spec, now for the price?

 

[kerching]

Not a great deal of help BUT, the NICEIC used to do a pre contract check list.....maybe available online somewhere

 

[LiveWire Electric]

Wow thanks everyone!

I qualified in 2009 and have been working partime for myself. I have a full time job doing a different trade.

So although I do have the experience in the design,  install and inspect and test, I just havn't had to do it all in such a big scale. When i say my first year alone, i really mean its the first year I am starting to do notifiable work. 

I am asking to really to make sure I havn't missed out something obvious that would save me time really.

Thanks again all!