UK First visit , Bungalow question.

[Hawkster]

Hi, first visit and hopefully I get this question in the right forum (advise if I have got it wrong please) and is appropriate for this site. I do have ancient electrical qualifications - C&G 232 pts 1,2 +3. but my experience is more commercial appliance and have very limited domestic installation, .Anyway, my question is I'm looking at purchasing a dated bungalow with tired electrics, also has had the consumer unit moved into the lounge. Problem is, I'm unsure if it has a concrete floor but the whole bungalow has had expensive Karndean flooring laid throughout which I'm very reluctant to disturb anyway. How much of a complication/added expense/mess is it to wire from the easy access un boarded loft down and reinstate the consumer unit through the wall back into the garage, or should I be considering backing out of buying the bungalow? TIA for any advice. Mike

 

[DefyG]

As per #13 the Wiska re-locaction kit is probably your best bet as accessible through the attic, but if the installation has not been tested yet (EICR) a rewire may be best outcome, but usually quite easy in a bungalow.

 

[Tim Court]

Having done similar it is easier to rewire from your new garage CU to the first port of call imho.

I’ll bet you need a new kitchen ring and it would be good to have two lighting circuits anyway.

So that potentially leaves you with the existing ring, an immersion supply and cooker supply you might have to extend/replace. Factor in lack of enough sockets and a kitchen revamp and you’ll probably find there will be little left of the old wiring. And you will avoid an ugly joint box in the lounge.

The one we did had a massive cupboard housing an old gas boiler and hot water cylinder so moved to a combi in the loft. Gave us a lot more floor space and better loft storage - and got rid of the immersion.
Dead easy just extending all pipework straight into the loft.

We added ensuites so again with new h+c in the loft no flooring had to be removed for feeds.

Obviously depends on if you are planning to splash and go or going for a proper refurb.

As for mess that will depend on how you chase and the effectiveness of your dust suppression!

 

[sunray]

Make sure that you're not making the mistake I once made while working in a bungalow. Moved all the furniture back, pulled the expensive carpet off of its grippers, carefully cut all along the tongue and groove each side of the board I wanted to remove, and levered the board up, all the while being watched by the homeowner.
Shone a torch down the hole, and was extremely surprised to see a lawnmower down below!!!
Daft homeowner hadn't thought to mention that the place had a cellar, accessed through a door from the back garden.

Had something similar in a commercial building and the customer didn't know the neighbour had a basement which extended under his part of the property. Worse; his company was the freeholder of the whole building and didn't know there was an extra level.

 

[sunray]

As you're commercial. I'm a little surprised you haven't mentioned din rail and terminals, If all of the wiring comes from the loft it may make sense to locate it there and extend to the garage, equally it may be feasible to pass cables through into garage at high level.

The other thing is; was the wiring extended through from the garage to the lounge, IE is there a big junction box in the garage?