Rewire while house occupied. - Tips and strategies?

[1Justin]

I'll be quoting this week on a 1950's rewire. House occupied by couple with young lad. They might be able to take the odd long weekend away but basically I'm working round them.

They understand there will be mess, and I've said I can channel where necessary only with bolster/chisel to reduce dust. The old CU is a dangerous mess, lighting is rubber (but in metal wall conduit which should help replacement in some of the places). Sockets are 1980's white T&E and very DIY. Carpets are either up or expendable.

There is not much space where the CU will go. I might grab an old 2 way CU to give me temporary power (via RCD socket) while I selectively take down the rest.

Exact strategy would depend on circumstance, but got any tips for when folks want to stay in the house throughout?

 

[guest119]

I would do the lights up and down first and let them use table lamps etc in the existing sockets.
Then with lighting back on, tackle up or down sockets to completion one at a time.

Boydy

 

[RyanCheetham]

My last occupied rewire of a 3 bed house took 14 days on my own and a day for testing.

 

[oldtimer]

There are 2 types of tenants the one who clears you way for you after a discussion on how you are going to do the job then the second who has no conception of how people operate and the house is not ready.

Now I dont do rewires but years ago when doing an alarm I told the customer to empty the cupboard and move a few things as the house was a tip so when I turned up nothing was done so I mentioned it and the reply was so sad too bad just get on with it so I said well you broke the agreement and I am not here to clean your house so Im off. Her face was a picture

 

[emacleod]

When I was doing rewires last year in occupied houses we done them in 2 days with 2 men and an apprentice.

 

[MDJ]

i'm must be getting old and slow. generally allow 8-10 days for occupied rewire. much prefer the smaller jobs. in and out in a day or less.

Should have mentioned a week with an experienced mate and a hard week at that, 7 days if occupied more than likely as well.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

make sure your quote is high enough to cover the extra time it will take you. sometimes it helps to work area by area, 1st & 2nd fix each room/circuit, rather than 1st fix the lot then go back into rooms and move furniture again to 2nd fix.

yep..often overlooked....as is the dreaded laminate flooring...lol..

 

[telectrix]

laminate flooring is dead easy to get up........ getting it back down so it don't look like rats have been at it is a different ball game.

 

[kingeri]

I did an occupied rewire last month, house was an absolute filthy hell-hole. Rubbish and dog turd everywhere, animal urine soaked into all floorboards. Rotting food everywhere. Woman seemed to have no shame. Proper had to bleach myself when I got home each night. My wife wouldn't come near me until I'd had a shower followed by a bath. Eurgh!

 

[GLENNSPARK]

I did an occupied rewire last month, house was an absolute filthy hell-hole. Rubbish and dog turd everywhere, animal urine soaked into all floorboards. Rotting food everywhere. Woman seemed to have no shame. Proper had to bleach myself when I got home each night. My wife wouldn't come near me until I'd had a shower followed by a bath. Eurgh!

hmm...a bit like some of the places in leeds where i was doing ECRs for landlords....lol

 

[Jay Sparks]

hmm...a bit like some of the places in leeds where i was doing ECRs for landlords....lol

A bit like ALL of Leeds...lol

 

[GLENNSPARK]

A bit like ALL of Leeds...lol

allrite...
shall we get on the subject of bradford then Jay?...lol...lol....

 

[Jay Sparks]

allrite...
shall we get on the subject of bradford then Jay?...lol...lol....

No way, Ill get banned from the forum...lol I hate Bradford more than I hate Leeds.lol Unfortunately for me, I live on the border of Leeds, so I have the worst of both worlds..lol

 

[telectrix]

Bradford twinned with islamabad?

 

[Jay Sparks]

Bradford twinned with islamabad?

I could of twinned it with any Sh%^ hole. Actually, I could of twinned it with Leeds....lol. I have had to type the name of that town, 4 times today, Its making me feel sick!!!

 

[GLENNSPARK]

I could of twinned it with any Sh%^ hole. Actually, I could of twinned it with Leeds....lol. I have had to type the name of that town, 4 times today, Its making me feel sick!!!

well calverley isn`t bad jay...its just when you start getting into bradford proper...
starts getting tatty....
saying that where i live (dewsbury) isn`t too cracking either...lol...
i..oops sorry i meant my avatar blends in nicely round here....