Chasing cable in a ceiling.

B

Bobble23

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I need to convert a pendant into three downlights in the hallway of a ground floor flat. No access available from above, so the simplest way I could come up with would be chasing the cable into the actual ceiling and plastering it in. All RCD protected, so was thinking that I'm just treating the ceiling as a horizontal wall, but the problem would be that I don't think there are any safe zones in a ceiling so anyone could come along later and not know where my cables are.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks.
 
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What do you mean by ''downlighters'' not recessed i hope?? Well if it's a concrete ceiling i wish you luck, if not how do you intend to chase plasterboard/larve and plaster??

Why does no-one ever give any basic details on the queries they are asking about??
 
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If this is a concrete ceiling forget the whole idea. You can’t chase it without a structural survey. I’ll tell you what the answer will be now, NO WAY!

There again, if the people above are good friend with your clients. They may enjoy sharing a communal lounge, all be it on two floors!
 
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IF it was a concrete ceiling then DO NOT CHASE IT! Besides being a nightmare to do, as suggested already it would need looking at by someone to make sure the whole lot won't come down on your head. If it's plasterboard or similar, just use your rods and try to make as little mess as possible! People seem obsessed with downlights these days, don't know why, they are more trouble than they are worth. Bring back the trusty one pendant per room, I say! Mind you, I do get a lot of work from their installation, so I suppose I shouldn't complain.
 
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Just cut nice 64mm holes and use rods if plasterboard. And as said before if you hit a joist drill a hole either side. After you have done just fit the 64mm cut offs back in the ceiling with some timber. Then use some filler. Easy. If its a concrete ceiling... No chance don't even go there let some other muppet do it.
 
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Like always we are all just assuming, because the OP hasn't given any details about the construction or what he means by downlighters, they may not be of the recessed type at all!!
 
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Thanks all, and sorry for lack of detail. I haven't started the job yet but it's a converted Victorian house so I assume lathe and plaster ceilings. I'll be (hopefully!) fitting fire-rated mains downlights. So is the concensus to use rods to lay cable on the ceiling and notch out the bottom of the joists where necessary? If so, should I be thinking about some sort of mechanical protection below the joists? Thanks.
 
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that's how i would do it. notch joists and fit 3mm steel cable protectors, but lath/plaster, YUK. good luck with this one.
 
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if the property has been converted from a house to 2 flats , then there is nearly always a clause in tenancy agreement / property deeds to allow for access in the other persons flat to carry out necessary repairs etc.
 
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9 times out of 10 when we're wrecking ceilings for access we reboard and have them skimmed. Always a top finish and taking on a spread for a couple of hours is a damn sight cheaper than a spark filling holes badly for half a day!

Average ceiling 4-5 boards? = £35
Drylining screws? = £5
Bag of multi-finish? = £7
Plasterer? = £60
A finished job that doesn't look like a bag of excrement? = Priceless!
 
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Just a thought from a few posts ago,do not notch joists from underneath,bad practice,remember Laurel and Hardy sawing the tree branch they were sat on?....:74:
 
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D Skelton said:
9 times out of 10 when we're wrecking ceilings for access we reboard and have them skimmed. Always a top finish and taking on a spread for a couple of hours is a damn sight cheaper than a spark filling holes badly for half a day!

Average ceiling 4-5 boards? = £35
Drylining screws? = £5
Bag of multi-finish? = £7
Plasterer? = £60
A finished job that doesn't look like a bag of excrement? = Priceless!
Click to expand...
had one the other day damian....we had done some work for this un in the past...he had been telling us how well his property development business had been going...how he was a consultant for this, that and`t other...

so it came as a surprise when he announced that he wanted cables moving across the ceiling at his latest `project`...as when we got in there all the ceilings had been plastered....i took one look in the loft....full of the kinds of shyte that them too lazy to take it to the tip collect...together with those tongue & groove chipboards to store it all on....

balls to that i thought....and out came the hammer....
there...stitching made easy......

he didn`t like it....so i had to remind him that he should have called us out...before plastering the ceilings...
what a dimmer...
consultant....my arse....
 
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Listen:

i`v been on a rite site the last few days.....how it should be,,

theres a head electrical contractor there who i have direct contact with....and i supervise on 2 other lads......youngsters that are there to learn...
its good...this is how it should be......
 
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see if you can find which way the joists run and where the joists are , where the existing light fitting is rod in the direction the joists run up to the wall , you can find this by measuring drill a hole and fish a cable from the lighting point to the wall pull cable through the hole after you have fished for it of course and if it looks neat put some mini trunking in the opposite direction the beams run then you can measure out to between the beams and have the wiring in the trunking where it crosses the beams so position the down lights on the main runs , between the joists , MF junction box where the existing light is ,stick a smoke detector where the hole is or CO2 detector , time consuming method but works , oh and I would not use halogen down lights if the ceiling is lath and plaster
 
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so, des. now we know that chasing cables in a caravan roof is not the same as chasing sheep in a meadow. :daisy:
 
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telectrix said:
so, des. now we know that chasing cables in a caravan roof is not the same as chasing sheep in a meadow. :daisy:
Click to expand...


No need to chase them around the meadow,they are pleased to see a friendly face
icon7.png
 
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PEG said:
Just a thought from a few posts ago,do not notch joists from underneath,bad practice,remember Laurel and Hardy sawing the tree branch they were sat on?....:74:
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Eh?

flat bit....take enough out to get the cable below the level of the board....

think before posting next time...
 
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Hi All,

I am renovating my flat in the 1st floor of a council building. the ceiling and floor are both concrete.
Are we allowed the chase the cable in the ceiling for 30-50n Cm to change the place of lights?
My builder says he can do it with an angle grinder but the electrician says its not allowed.

thanks

Nad
 
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Nad61F said:
Hi All,

I am renovating my flat in the 1st floor of a council building. the ceiling and floor are both concrete.
Are we allowed the chase the cable in the ceiling for 30-50n Cm to change the place of lights?
My builder says he can do it with an angle grinder but the electrician says its not allowed.

thanks

Nad
Click to expand...
no chance..... batten out the ceiling, get cables in, board ceiling 3" below concrete. fit downlights.
 
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Just read many of the 7 year old posts in this thread. The electrician is right.

cutting any of the concrete could weaken the structure.

is the ceiling concrete, or is it battened and plaster boarded?
 
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Nad61F said:
Hi All,

I am renovating my flat in the 1st floor of a council building. the ceiling and floor are both concrete.
Are we allowed the chase the cable in the ceiling for 30-50n Cm to change the place of lights?
My builder says he can do it with an angle grinder but the electrician says its not allowed.

thanks

Nad
Click to expand...
Neither can make that call as they're not competent to do so. Only a structural engineer familiar with the block and building methods employed would be able to determine this.

If you're going to struggle to find the information required then my advice would be to batten and board the ceiling. That way you don't risk damaging it's structural integrity.
 
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D Skelton said:
Neither can make that call as they're not competent to do so. Only a structural engineer familiar with the block and building methods employed would be able to determine this.

If you're going to struggle to find the information required then my advice would be to batten and board the ceiling. That way you don't risk damaging it's structural integrity.
Click to expand...
Who are you? ;-)
 
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D Skelton said:
Neither can make that call as they're not competent to do so. Only a structural engineer familiar with the block and building methods employed would be able to determine this.

If you're going to struggle to find the information required then my advice would be to batten and board the ceiling. That way you don't risk damaging it's structural integrity.
Click to expand...
long time no see. how's the North Africa campaign progressing noe the emeny's got that monty fellow in charge?
 
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D Skelton said:
Neither can make that call as they're not competent to do so. Only a structural engineer familiar with the block and building methods employed would be able to determine this.

If you're going to struggle to find the information required then my advice would be to batten and board the ceiling. That way you don't risk damaging it's structural integrity.
Click to expand...
You never used to mess about Damien.....get Rommel to strap up a grenade or two and have a plasterer handy.

Hope things are OK, mate.
 
Last edited:
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all credit should not go to him. it was the RAF and RN that scuppered your supplies. how rthe hell did \hitler expect you to fight on without your regular supply od bratwurst?
 
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D Skelton said:
I can't complain. Life trundles on by and I get older, fatter and my skills fade. At least I get to watch my kids get bigger, stronger and learn new skills though.

Every cloud ?
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skills never fade. they just get forgotten with old age. now where did i leave my MFT?
 
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on a aside, Damian, younot bee on for ages. did you see my post about Tony Smith? sadly passed away October.
 
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Chasing cable in a ceiling.
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