Installing down lights - how much & how hard

Admins will freely allow you discuss breaking of Regulations here. Buying / Selling a car that has been caught speeding doesn't affect its resale value. Filling a bunch of HDDs with media from torrent services doesnt affect affect their resale value. But dodgy work on your house can affect its resale value. Hence, I guess, people want to do it right so that they don't end up with a problem further down the road, maybe? I dunno.
 
Brutal biff said:
As it's a kitchen it's classed as a special location it's notifiable job
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A kitchen is not a 'special location'.

Notification is only needed if:
  • The installation of a new circuit
  • The replacement of a consumer unit
  • Any addition or alteration to an existing circuit in a special location
Special locations
  • A room containing a bathtub or shower
  • A room containing a swimming pool or sauna heater.
A special location means:

  • A room containing a bath or shower, the space surrounding a bath tap or showerhead where the space extends vertically from the finished floor level to a height of 2.25 metres or the position of the showerhead where it is attached to a wall or ceiling at a height higher than 2.25 metres from that level or horizontally where there is a bathtub or shower tray, from the edge of the bath tub or shower tray to a distance of 0.6 metres. Or where there is no bath tub or shower tray from the centre point of the shower head where it is attached to the wall or ceiling to a distance of 1.2 metres.
Light circuits now need to be protected by RCDs as well and if yours arent then you shouldn't be doing the work.
 
SimonR said:
14 downlights a day of spark time plus fittings and cable. 14 fire rated downlights - £15 each - £210, cable £50. Spark's time £250 - £400 (depending on where you are) - Somewhere between £500 and £700
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Bang on sir.

Following on for anyone who runs a search down the line but 14 high spec downlights installed for about £600
 
Why don't people on this forum ever listen to people who say they aren't confident in DIY.

The OP clearly said he was crap at DIY and then people are still telling him a sparky isn't needed and to do it himself.
Its a very easy/small job for a spark and isn't going to cost the earth, then as 200sols has explained there are various regs to comply with, and "proper" ways of doing things.


I personally am fairly competent with most DIY tasks, and have done my fair share of DIY over the years, but I still prefer to consult with a professional sometimes just to be sure I'm not doing something that would jeopardise safety in the most expensive thing I will ever purchase in my life and the place where my family sleeps at night.

You have all probably seen bad examples of bad DIY in your life, if not 1st hand then on forums such as this one.
 
Well worth getting the pro to do it for piece of mind if anything. Got a cert post too so can pass that on to the buyers.

You can't notch the joists these days. housebuilders had on 1 or 2 back in 99/2000 when it was built so assuming it was allowed then but not now.
 
gazref said:
Well worth getting the pro to do it for piece of mind if anything. Got a cert post too so can pass that on to the buyers.

You can't notch the joists these days. housebuilders had on 1 or 2 back in 99/2000 when it was built so assuming it was allowed then but not now.
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Yes you can
https://nhbc-standards.co.uk/6-supe...te-upper-floors/6-4-18-notching-and-drilling/


Regardless for cables I'd obviously say holesaw thru centre ideally.

It sounds like OP should get a spark in to do this though (and do a 1st fix before plastering then second fix)
 
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