Just had full rewire done, cables very close to surface or coming through skim

[rich888]

we just had a full rewire done on a 1920's property. Electrics been completed and signed off with certificate. Making good on wall chase areas done by plasterer hired by electrician. We have just come to decorating and found that in a few areas the cables haven't been chased deep enough and are covered by a very thin skim of plaster, some actually visible through plaster. Has this been a bodge job? shouldn't the cables be capped off with a metal plate or chased to a deeper level?

download_20161222_124121 — Postimage.org - https://postimg.org/image/66nq4wbr1/

 

[telectrix]

I know, OP was asking is it needed it. If not in a zone it needs to be ran in earthed conduit complying with BS EN 61386-21.

I learned my lesson last time I thought metal capping would be sufficient from @Taylortwocities

irrespective of whether or not cables are mechanically protected as you say, they still must be routed in prescribed zones. just a shame that plumbers, kitchen fitters and builders ain't got a clue about the zones.

 

[The Ghost]

your cables should be protected by an RCD, capping does little in terms of protection. I prefer to use oval conduit as it allows you to pull out the cable if you need to later on i.e. drilling through it. It looks like the cable was not pinned back when plastering and someone appears to have used an orbital sander on the chase which has probably vibrated loose the plaster/cable. Would suggest carefully working off existing loose plaster and refilling with a good quality filler above the surface of the wall then sand down.

 

[rich888]

thanks for all the advice! so its in a 'prescribed' zone which seems fine then but I still think the electrician should have taken the cables deeper or pinned them down better. because the problem we have is that when the chase has been filled the plasterer has had to come out further than the original wall surface - which can't be common practice can it? I expect the ideal is to keep the wall level otherwise you get lumps in the wall or have to reskim whole wall?!

 

[DPG]

If the cables are above the level of the rest of the wall then get the sparky to sink them deeper. Do not accept it as it is. Daz

 

[Midwest]

Not a plastering expert myself, but seen lots of good and bad work. Feathering in a chase in a wall, is never going to be perfect, even with a good decorator following on. If there are more than one chase in a wall, better to get the whole lot skimmed.
Always use capping in a chase, for the very reason shown here. But if there's less than 5mm of plaster, it won't be long before it falls off, even with lashings of Febond Blue Grit.

 

[rich888]

lucky if there is 2mm on top of the cables in other areas of the house! I suppose that is depth of a skim but cables should be deeper. going to get onto the sparky and see if he can come and cut them in a bit deeper. Thanks again for all the advice!! very useful!

 

[PEG]

Hi,it appears that your electrician has done a poor job of ensuring the cables are correctly installed.His plasterer has then come along and equalled his endeavours.
Unless B&Q do a VDE sheathing and insulating wallpaper in the style and colour required,i would ask to have it done properly.
Just my view...

 

[sparksburnout]

I'm not being funny but have you considered getting another sparks to come and have a look at the rest of the work? That looks terrible to me, no experienced tradesman would leave that behind him, if that's an example of his chasing in what is the other stuff like? Looks like a bloody rough job to me.

 

[rich888]

I'm not being funny but have you considered getting another sparks to come and have a look at the rest of the work? That looks terrible to me, no experienced tradesman would leave that behind him, if that's an example of his chasing in what is the other stuff like? Looks like a bloody rough job to me.

Yeah we decided to get a different guy in tomorrow to come check the whole job out! There are a couple of things that don't seem right and I've got to make sure it's all safe and isn't just going to drop off the wall!

 

[DPG]

Keep us posted. Daz

 

[hightower]

To take this a little off topic, what made you choose this spark? Good reviews, best price, something else?

 

[bf03yvd]

we just had a full rewire done on a 1920's property. Electrics been completed and signed off with certificate. Making good on wall chase areas done by plasterer hired by electrician. We have just come to decorating and found that in a few areas the cables haven't been chased deep enough and are covered by a very thin skim of plaster, some actually visible through plaster. Has this been a bodge job? shouldn't the cables be capped off with a metal plate or chased to a deeper level?

download_20161222_124121 — Postimage.org - https://postimg.org/image/66nq4wbr1/

Have they or would they require a conduit ?

 

[buzzlightyear]

I sent in a plaster in on a job once , and the customer paid, he told the customer he had finished
went back to finish second fix , looked like put the plaster on with a butter knife.

 

[uksrevivor]

Personally I think thats a terrible job. He has cut a chase and not used any capping? I have always been told and taught to use some sort of capping, oval preferred but but plastic flat does the job as well as its put in to protect the cable from plasterers trowel. plastic capping is peanuts and if you have chased the wall I cannot see any reason not to use it. To me that is just bad practice not to use it and from the picture the chase looks wide enough to take the capping.

 

[nowaypedro]

Capping (metal or plastic) only protects cables from the plasterers trowel and is not a form of recognised mechanical protection. As long as the cables are in the correct zone and are RCD protected then they are electrically compliant. Not sure about the reg that mentions workmanship tho.