Re-wire time scales

[Robo1401]

Hi all, wondering what time scales you would put on domestic re wires etc, example being a 3 bed house, works involved;

4 double sockets on a kitchen ring main incorporating 4 sfs for sockets at low level for w/m, d/w, f/f and extractor fan.
complete re-wire and connection of cooker circuit.
main water and gas bonding
downstairs ring (5 outlets)
upstairs ring (2 outlets in each bedroom, 1 on the landing)
upstairs lighting
outside light front and back
downstairs lighting
interlinked smoke detection
new shower circuit
consumer unit upgrade
immersion heater
bathroom heater
replace all switches/fittings etc
no chasing, surface mini trunking where necessary...

As a self employed subby I was given 24 hours to do this in (1 spark and a mate tho boy was at college 1 day) occupied by customer all day, rooms fully furnished. carpets, floorboards, furniture returned to original condition each day.
It took me 40 and only got paid for for 24!! the supply had to re-energized straight away without so much as a continuity tester anywhere near the place, the qualified tester might make it round within the next week or two... apparently. Good practice for a NICEIC company you think?!
Asked to go to another job a change a socket behind a cooker to an outlet plate, neutral had come out of terminal and live had been screwed into the insulation...Decided i couldn't work for them after that, just wondered what people thought was a sensible length of time for this sort of thing??!

 

[DurhamSparky]

the rewire i would have given 7 days at least!!

 

[mickys86]

One thing I must say...... My boss is a top top bloke!! Lol

 

[SirKit Breaker]

40 hours sounds about right, 24 is a joke. And as for not being tested, that is a big NO NO, and as they are NIC they will know this. Sounds like a proper cowboy outfit to me. All new installations should be Initially Verified, before any consideration is given to switching it on. What would have happened if you had made a mistake? and someone got injured, i bet they wouldn't want to know you then, all the brown stuff is on your head.

Cheers..........Howard

 

[Andy78]

I think you did well for 40 hours bearing in mind it was occupied and furnished. Always a bit of a nut ache to work round everything. As said by Sirkit, these sound like a right bunch of lasso slingers and maybe best avoided. You are never gonna make any money working for them, and it doesn't sound like they operate with much professionalism at all.

 

[SirKit Breaker]

the rewire i would have given 7 days at least!!

But your days are only 5 hours!:cool3:

 

[Darkwood]

Just read your listing ... seriously!!! mini trunking in domestic, i hope these aren't switch drops or to sockets etc and hidden within cupboards if used at all, i would consider mini trunking in domestic (excluding garage or cellars) as unsightly and poor design, if customer is concerned about deco' explain the negative value it would have if the house ever went on market......

Although im not saying this is how your doing it but please highlight what you mean when you say you will use it where necessary, i get visions of some very unsightly ex-council houses ive been in, where they had switch drops, kitchen circuits etc all in mini trunking.... a total eyesore.

 

[Octopus]

Out of interest, if all you do is the install, are you signing the EIC covering the design and installation?

 

[Robo1401]

Regardless of how long the days are, 40 hours is 40 hours!! Na seriously...im well aware of the need to test, were all human and in the time scales they were setting it would have been very easy to miss something such as the bond to the water pipe etc...if anything even more important to test under those circumstances, and stayed till 7pm to test ze, continuity and rcd just so i could sleep that night, although i knew i wouldn't be getting paid for it.
This work is on council housing, its was mini trunking heaven...sockets, switches, you name it, cables slung in behind kitchen cupboard kick backs, like a scene from a horror film! customers didnt seem to mind as their getting a free re wire i guess...and yes i agree, as soon as something goes wrong they would point to their methods and procedures booklet (which they know to solely be an --- covering thing) and it would be my head on the block!!
They have got 5 years work doing this so if anybody is looking for a job....lol...was seriously considering giving NIC a call and asking what they thought of it, tho they have probably done one house properly for this purpose!!
I said i would see out the week, so they gave me another job to do...full kitchen re wire as stated above, interlinked smokes up and down, and a fuse board change...8 hours i was allowed...needless to say i did it in 12...

 

[Octopus]

I said i would see out the week, so they gave me another job to do...full kitchen re wire as stated above, interlinked smokes up and down, and a fuse board change...8 hours i was allowed...needless to say i did it in 12...

And we wonder why we see so many awful installs these days - 8 hours to do what you describe - not long enough by any means.

You are a top bloke for taking 50% more time (I'm guessing not getting paid for the extra).

You should tell the NICEIC, and they, along with Elecsa and Napit should do "random" inspections. I bet most homeowners wouldn't object to having Tony Cable in the house for an hour or so to check over a recent install!

 

[Robo1401]

no one mentioned anything about signing certs in the short time i was there, just feel sorry for the 2391 chap that has got thousands of these to test...if it even happens at all

 

[PC Electrics]

Cowboys and sharks

They are using you big time.

Find your own work.

 

[Robo1401]

I am Napit approved and have lined up four jobs since...it was local and steady so thought id give it a go...lesson learned!!

 

[londonlec]

Which area?

I know of Decent Homes projects locally that get rewired in one/two days.

 

[Robo1401]

Bristol...I think companies take the contracts on and want to know exactly how much the jobs will cost and how long they will take esp as there are another few thousand waiting to be done with time scales/targets/promises to meet...I'm sure they will go through alot of sparks and they might find 1 or 2 that it suits down to the ground...but seriously doubt you could call these people electricians...I'm sure they wouldn't last long on an industrial installation where your work is on show for all to see!!