Soffit lights, only problem is soffit is concrete

MFS Electrical · May 17, 2018

ruston said:
Is it a prefab?

That question was to your first pic . They do not look like it on second post.

It could well be a prefab as a lot of the houses round this way were built to blend in with the older ones except our lot they stand out like sore thumbs but in a good way

MFS Electrical · May 17, 2018

ruston said:
Yes I saw that in your second pics post..
My Granny lived in a similar type of building on the other side of the Clyde from you.

Clydebank? Dumbarton?

ruston · May 17, 2018

Dumbarton . Brucehill.

Wilko · May 17, 2018

I might have misunderstood, but the soffit board is usually light weight, I assume that's because it's overhanging. A 50mm thick concrete slab 30cm wide (say) would weigh a ton by the time you went round the house, surely?
Edit - just seen the pics

MFS Electrical · May 17, 2018

ruston said:
Dumbarton . Brucehill.

Near the hospital? Done quite a bit of work over there too nice wee jaunt

MFS Electrical · May 17, 2018

Wilko said:
I might have misunderstood, but the soffit board is usually light weight, I assume that's because it's overhanging. A 50mm thick concrete slab 30cm wide (say) would weigh a ton by the time you went round the house, surely?
Edit - just seen the pics

By looking at it I do assume it weighs a ton it doesn’t look like a board at all
I’ll be taking it easy with the SDS in case it cracks and falls taking me with it

Martyn Fletcher · May 17, 2018

MFS Electrical said:
I thought I was going mad thinking it was concrete with all the replies I’m still going to get it tested before I go all gung ho with the SDS I like both of those fittings but as there is no overhang I think I might need something a little more low profile... have you ever installed downlights on something similar?

Not me personally, but believe it or not I watched someone bore a recess into the soffit then proceed to channel the cable in (unprotected, but who cares up there?). His arguement was that his recess was 150mm deep for the 80mm halogen and the heat would dissipate across the soffit. He may have been right because they were still there in Winchester last I passed (many years ago). But I never did get an answer regarding his boring of holes into a soffit every 90cm weakening it's structure. It was only 40cm wide as I recall.

ruston · May 17, 2018

MFS Electrical said:
Near the hospital? Done quite a bit of work over there too nice wee jaunt

When I lived there the nearest hopital was the Vale, but yes.
I was Born in the house . It was built just before WW11.

ruston · May 17, 2018

Duplicate

MFS Electrical · May 17, 2018

Martyn Fletcher said:
Not me personally, but believe it or not I watched someone bore a recess into the soffit then proceed to channel the cable in (unprotected, but who cares up there?). His arguement was that his recess was 150mm deep for the 80mm halogen and the heat would dissipate across the soffit. He may have been right because they were still there in Winchester last I passed (many years ago). But I never did get an answer regarding his boring of holes into a soffit every 90cm weakening it's structure. It was only 40cm wide as I recall.

I was at first thinking of coring holes and recessing led downlights but I didn’t fancy the corer getting snagged above my head and throwing me off the ladder or the soffit raining down around me, not to mention the bill of replacing it/insurance claim

Martyn Fletcher · May 17, 2018

ruston said:
Duplicate

AAR! The ol' duplicate bug, it'll eat you from the inside out until you sit there all night afraid to hit that return key. Mwaaahahahah!

Martyn Fletcher · May 17, 2018

MFS Electrical said:
I was at first thinking of coring holes and recessing led downlights but I didn’t fancy the corer getting snagged above my head and throwing me off the ladder or the soffit raining down around me, not to mention the bill of replacing it/insurance claim

It's not worth the risk, seriously. Buildings that old are fragile and prone to throwing tantrums and falling apart. Don't risk it mate. Please.

MFS Electrical · May 17, 2018

Martyn Fletcher said:
It's not worth the risk, seriously. Buildings that old are fragile and prone to throwing tantrums and falling apart. Don't risk it mate. Please.

Don’t worry that idea was booted out my head almost as soon as I thought of it. The customer has agreed to these fitted high up on the wall as close to the soffit as possible but I really don’t know if it’s going to be the look that either myself or the customer is after...

[ElectriciansForums.net] Soffit lights, only problem is soffit is concrete

electric will · May 17, 2018

I think that's just a short concrete lintel

Midwest · May 17, 2018

Can I just ask, why does your customer wish to highlight the fact that they live in a slightly undesirable house. I know everyman's home is his castle, but its not like its a des res on the Sandbanks, is it

MFS Electrical · May 17, 2018

Midwest said:
Can I just ask, why does your customer wish to highlight the fact that they live in a slightly undesirable house. I know everyman's home is his castle, but its not like its a des res on the Sandbanks, is it

Because everyone and their granny round here are getting the soffit lights put in and with a good coat of paint those houses can look superb I personally still wouldn’t buy one but everyone’s tastes are different

Martyn Fletcher · May 17, 2018

MFS Electrical said:
Don’t worry that idea was booted out my head almost as soon as I thought of it. The customer has agreed to these fitted high up on the wall as close to the soffit as possible but I really don’t know if it’s going to be the look that either myself or the customer is after...

There are better looking down lighters than that for sure.
I'm too tired to go searching now but I saw some IP65 domed ones for around £38. I'll have a look tomorrow after I've lifted my lawn (I'm multi talented see).

Martyn Fletcher · May 17, 2018

There are analogies like "Why shine a light in a tird?" and "The more light you throw on ----, the more it looks like ----."
But people love their homes and want to advertise that fact and show that they take pride in them.
So, if you're happy in your little pile of poo, shine a light on it. Bugger what the nay sayers say.

MFS Electrical · May 17, 2018

I know but the cost of the actual fittings are a prohibitive factor as well,
I’m fixing some potholes tomorrow so hey aren’t we all clever cookies
good luck with the lawn and while it’s up why don’t you dig a tiny bit deeper and make yourself a mancave?

MFS Electrical · May 17, 2018

Martyn Fletcher said:
There are analogies like "Why shine a light in a tird?" and "The more light you throw on ****, the more it looks like ****."
But people love their homes and want to advertise that fact and show that they take pride in them.
So, if you're happy in your little pile of poo, shine a light on it. Bugger what the nay sayers say.

I don’t think the houses look like ---- to be fair well the colour maybe but still...
Plus if the customer wants a light and they are willing to pay, I’ll fit them a light and then proclaim from the top of my ladder LET THERE BE LIGHT.

kinda looks like a ball for bowls

telectrix · May 18, 2018

MFS Electrical said:
And here are similar vintage properties on a neighbouring street

View attachment 42303

View attachment 42304

our gaff (1950's build) has almost identical concrete inserted into the outer brickwork.the soffits, however, are apparently asbestos. a closer look will show the difference in thicness, the concrete is roughly 2 ft. long, 6" in height, and 4" width.

telectrix · May 18, 2018

from this angle you can clearly see the extent of the concrete. the actual soffit is only about 1/4" thick.

telectrix · May 18, 2018

@OP. and the last post shows you how to focus a photo.

.

sean_ork · May 18, 2018

It's a cast in-situ concrete ring beam - it ties the top of the brick/blockwork together and is the landing pad for the roof timbers.

Dont be tempted to fix anything to it, or drill/core through it.

MFS Electrical · May 18, 2018

telectrix said:
@OP. and the last post shows you how to focus a photo. .

Apologies the photos were from google maps best quality I could get at the time

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