Re-wire preference - under floorboards or removed ceiling

[Adam W]

Electricians are used to doing what they can with what they've got - having the option between floor or ceiling is something of a luxury.

If you're taking the ceiling down anyway then your electrician could work with that, although after the ceiling has been skimmed I'd probably rather feed the cables down from above than fish them through from below, although there's not much in it.

Are the ceilings really made purely from "thin chipboard" or is the chipboard encapsulating something more sinister?

 

[telectrix]

OP might be confusing chipboard with plasterboard.

 

[Pete999]

how does a plumber botch notches with that?????

He does it with the boards lifted

 

[Adam W]

OP might be confusing chipboard with plasterboard.

That makes sense, although confusing information can lead to confused suggestions.
I'm experimenting with giving suggestions purely based on what information is given, although I've slipped a bit with the last paragraph of my last post.

 

[telectrix]

That makes sense, although confusing information can lead to confused suggestions.
I'm experimenting with giving suggestions purely based on what information is given, although I've slipped a bit with the last paragraph of my last post.

that's nothing....i've just slipped in a wet kitchen floor after 'er indoors had mopped it. almost was a disaster, but i managed to put my beer onto the worktop before falling.PHEW.

 

[Adam W]

that's nothing....i've just slipped in a wet kitchen floor after 'er indoors had mopped it. almost was a disaster, but i managed to put my beer onto the worktop before falling.PHEW.

You should get her a 'wet floor' sign.
Maybe for Christmas.
I'm sure she'd be delighted with it.

 

[telectrix]

she'd probbly whack me over the yed with it. (unless it had gold and diamonds). butt...last crimboi bought her a toaster ( from a charity shop, £4. she was over the moon with it. ( well it is a DeLonghi).

 

[Toneyz]

Rewires always a pain if occupied, whatever, under the floor boards every time for me. Imagine drilling a row of holes in the joist above your head, purgatory, kill your back and shoulder in no time, sure you get bad knees from doing it under the floor, but far far easier than working over your head.

From below is how new houses are wired. From what you have said regarding your work history you've one both for a reasonable amount of time which one of the two evils would you choose?

 

[Spoon]

that's nothing....i've just slipped in a wet kitchen floor after 'er indoors had mopped it.

Next time take your high heels off mate....

 

[stevethesparks]

I have the makita 110V but been toying with idea of getting one of these....I see a plumber using one and it was brilliant.

Milwaukee M18CRAD-502X M18 FUEL Hole Hawg - https://www.milwaukeepowertools.co.uk/milwaukee-m18crad-502x

Not much torque in the spec of that one (25Nm), maybe ok for general usage.
The Milwaukee fuel drill I bought about a year ago has something like 135Nm torque, I can honestly say it the best drill I have owned.
You obviously don't get the space advantage as with the right angle type. I do have a Dewalt angle drill (33Nm), but it is limited with the chuck size.
The M18FRAD-0 M18 FUEL would be a better choice I think

 

[davesparks]

Customer still has to deal with payment for replacing the ceiling.

The OP makes it quite clear that the ceilings are being removed and replaced so your point is irrelevant in this case.

 

[Midwest]

The OP makes it quite clear that the ceilings are being removed and replaced so your point is irrelevant in this case.

The way to go dave

 

[EbolaSideRoom]

Ceiling down every time for me, though it tends to be unpopular with most other trades and householders, whereas no-one seems to mind floors coming up. If there are ceilings coming down anyway, plus the joyful addition of spots, it’s a no-brainier.

 

[Pete999]

Hi!

I'm new to the forum - thanks for having me.

I have a question for a domestic rewire - I just bought my first property and want to know the prefered method for a rewire and if it really matters or is a personal preference.

I'm going to rip down the thin chipboard ceiling and have it replaced - do electricians prefer to rewire from below with the ceiling removed or from above wiring below floorboards onto a new ceiling (from upstairs /loft). The job will include a couple of new sockets per room and an approx 4 spotlight points in most rooms.

Would be great to know the pros and cons of each. Ideally, I would remove the ceiling myself and have the rewire done before a new ceiling due to timescales as my dry liner/plasterer is coming in later.

Cheers

Rewires always a pain if occupied, whatever, under the floor boards every time for me. Imagine drilling a row of holes in the joist above your head, purgatory, kill your back and shoulder in no time, sure you get bad knees from doing it under the floor, but far far easier than working over your head.

In answer to the many disagreements of my comment, of course if as the OP states which, in all honesty I missed, that the ceilings were coming down then in this case I would agree with the majority do it from below.
One question to the OP, he says he want's the thin chipboard ceiling down.
OP is, or does the rewire include every thing in the house, or is it just in one area for example the Kitchen area? will all the ceiling material be removed from the entire property?

 

[Santa]

A thought just occurred to me - I really hope that those "thin chipboard" ceilings are not asbestos. I did some work in a kitchen once (not electrical) and the ceiling was lined with something called 'asbestolux'. It was an ex-council house I think. We had to get the guys in white suits in to dispose of it.