Where Will You Live During the Works?
The first question a client needs to think about is where they will be living during the duration of the works. A lot of our clients will be living in the house, but as many choose to move out.
The Disruptions of a Full Re-Wire
In this instance, as we were carrying out a full re-wire of the property, it meant mess and disruption simultaneously in every room. When carrying out a re-wire, we have to chase out every wall and lift floorboards in every room. This is very messy, noisy, and generally disruptive. It also will slow us down if we have to work around people and their belongings!
Installing a New Consumer Unit and Cabling
A new consumer unit (fuse board) is installed, and then new cabling is run under floors and in walls to every new switch, socket, and lighting point. The chases are then filled and ready to either plaster the walls or fine fill ready to decorate. It is worth giving some thought to specialist requirements such as 5-amp lighting circuits and high-speed internet connections while this work is being carried out.
Wall Condition and Re-Plastering Considerations
In most cases, when a house is in need of a re-wire, the walls will be in a poor state and usually covered in multiple layers of old wallpaper! Once stripped, it reveals the need to completely re-plaster. Usually, it is only two coats of finishing plaster or “skim coat” to provide a flat smooth finish for decorating. It is only ever advisable to use wallpaper if a patterned paper is required. Lining paper is only ever used by people who can’t plaster!
Dealing with Artex Ceilings and Cracks
The ceilings in this property had an Artex finish on them—the bumpy pattern popular in the distant past! If very old, it can sometimes contain asbestos, so specialists will need to remove and dispose of it. Fortunately, this was not the case, and we were able to plaster over.
Top Tip: Handling Ceiling Cracks
If the ceilings show any signs of historical cracking, there is no cause for concern. However, they will require overboarding with a 9mm plasterboard to ensure those old cracks don’t open up again. “Scrim tape” will not be a permanent solution!
Removing Structural Walls: A Step-by-Step Process
We were required to remove a structural wall on this project, so there are processes that must be followed. A builder is not legally allowed to decide what is a suitable course of action when removing structural walls.
The Role of a Structural Engineer
A qualified structural engineer should visit the property and make the necessary calculations to design suitable steelwork to support the new opening. It can be quite a lot of work. From a single steel beam resting on the remaining bits of the removed wall to a beam just below the ceiling, a steel column at either end, and even sometimes a steel “ground beam.”
Cost Considerations for Structural Wall Removal
Depending on the engineer’s report, costs can vary wildly, so ensure that is looked at early on before making any decisions. A simple job can be no more than £5,000, whereas if complicated, the same wall could cost £20,000 to remove.
Choosing the Right Heating and Hot Water System
In an older house, the standard heating and hot water system is heated by what is known as a “conventional boiler.” That is, a boiler, usually found in the kitchen, and a separate hot water storage tank, usually found in the bathroom or landing cupboard.
Evaluating Future Heating Requirements
When fitting a new boiler, one must evaluate the future requirements. There are generally two systems, though the more modern air and ground source heat pumps will eventually supersede.
Combi Boiler vs. Megaflow System
The ‘Combi” boiler is a standalone unit that heats the hot water when a tap is turned on. There is no requirement for stored hot water as with a conventional system.
Pros of a Combi Boiler:
- No need for a bulky hot water storage tank.
Cons of a Combi Boiler:
- Not capable of supplying hot water to multiple bathrooms simultaneously.
A pressurised or “megaflow” setup is usually more suitable. This comprises a conventional boiler and a pressurised hot water storage tank. Much like the original conventional system, there is a separate tank, but the water is stored under pressure, thus able to supply the increasing demands of modern living.
The Importance of Mains Pressure
In both cases, the system will allow the removal of the cold water storage tanks from the loft, as neither system requires gravity. Both use mains pressure to operate. There are a few variables to the megaflow setup, but I won’t go into them now. Suffice it to say, if at some point the property will have more than one bathroom, a megaflow system would be best.
Power Flushing and Radiator Maintenance
When installing a new heating system, it is advisable to “power flush” all the old radiators and heating pipes to remove the years of sediment and buildup. We fitted a “magna clean” filter, but we also power-flushed to clean the years of buildup of sludge.
Flooring Considerations During a Re-Wire
Because the full re-wire and heating system requires a lot of the flooring to come up, it is a good time to consider what is going on under the floor. Often, there is no insulation below the floorboards.
The Importance of Floor Insulation
It is good practice to insulate below the floor on any level, be it ground floor or above (or even below!). When heating a property, you want to know the room you are heating will retain that heat as much as possible.
Preparing for Underfloor Heating
In this instance, we insulated below all floors and prepared for an underfloor heating system for the ground floor, which I will cover in the next installment!