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Property/DIY

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Boarding loft and electrics?

2 replies

theshellhouse · 13/11/2019 20:33

Hello,
I am currently thinking about boarding up my loft (+ underboard insulation) but soon we will also need to make changes to the upstairs lighting, along the lines of moving switches and adding bedside lighting. The wiring is quite a big job if we do the whole house in one go...there's lots to do downstairs and am worried it might spiral into a full rewire. So for this reason I'd prefer to leave it and get the boarding done first. Is this ok or is it going to make doing the electrical work difficult? It seems that wiring is usually run in the insulation but can it also be run over the boards? The plan is just to use the loft for storage.

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PigletJohn · 13/11/2019 23:16

Wiring should be done first, otherwise you will have to lift it all up again.

Wiring should not be buried in insulation. It can be under the insulation, against the ceiling; or it can be on top of the insulation, exposed to the air. In a loft most of it can be fixed, exposed, to the loft timber above the floor. It does not have to be hidden.

Lighting circuits are mostly very lightly loaded, with energy saving and LED lamps, but an immersion heater circuit, and especially the cable for an electric shower, will be carrying full load for extended periods so must be able to lose heat.

In a loft, I think you will need a few lighting points, both sides of the loft, middle and both ends ds; and i think you will need sufficient socket outlets to plug in power tools and a vacuum cleaner without needing extension leads.

It's possible to have a master switch with an indicator neon, fitted outside the loft, next to the hatch, on the ceiling, so you can see at a glance if the power has been left on.

You need a qualified electrician who is a member of a self-certification scheme, and preferably of "contractor" grade rather than just "domestic installer" which is a lower grade.

theshellhouse · 14/11/2019 21:54

Thanks for the detailed reply, @PigletJohn. Appreciate it!

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