DIY work can lead to many issues, including incorrect wiring, faulty connections, and overloaded circuits that can trigger electrical fires, which means that your reckless actions can endanger your family’s safety. Some repairs may strike as being just a small fix, but if done incorrectly, they can lead to much bigger and more costly problems. To avoid these headaches, you should always hire a professional electrician. If you’re looking to get electrical work done during a home renovation, you’ll want to engage a qualified electrician whose work is compliant with the building regulations. It can be a lifesaver.
If you have an electrical problem in your home or are embarking on a renovation project, work with a licensed and insured electrician to minimise the amount of disruption it causes in your daily life. Please continue reading if you want to learn more.
Develop A Clear Understanding Of What You Want To Change In Your Home
If you’re having electrical installation work performed in your home or garden, you must adhere to the rules set out in the building regulations, which have been introduced to help reduce the number of fatalities, injuries, and fires generated by faulty installations. Riskier jobs must be inspected, approved, and validated by an electrician registered with a third-party certification scheme. Examples include but aren’t limited to:
- The addition of a new fuse box
- The installation of a completely new electrical circuit
- The inclusion of an extra power point or lighting point
Minor electrical work can be carried out without informing the local authority building control team, though it can also present a risk to safety. Such work may include replacing a light fixture, adding a fused spur to an existing circuit (but not in the bathroom, kitchen, or outdoors), and installing cabling at extremely low voltage. Consult with your electrician from the very get-go and figure out where you’d like the furniture and the outlets to be. This way, they can come up with the best solution to match your needs.
Work With A Local Electrician For Better Results
Search for a qualified electrician in your area to have a guarantee you receive quality work and reliable service, a convenience that’s even more critical when an emergency arises. A local electrician is readily available and can respond promptly to your needs, reducing downtime and inconvenience because they’re well-versed, meaning all work is compliant and passes inspections quickly. An excellent place to start searching for someone who executes projects that require electrical expertise is via a registered search facility. Get at least three different estimates before reaching a decision on who to hire so you can compare prices and determine which one is the best fit for your needs.
Get an agreement in writing about how you’ll structure the costs, when to provide payment, and how fast the work should be completed; it should be signed by both parties. When the work is complete, you’ll receive an electrical installation certificate, regardless of how big or small the job is, confirming the expert has tested and acknowledged the wiring work in the installation is safe and meets the BS 7671 standards, which comprise both international and regulations and UK-specific requirements. Hold onto this certificate, as you may need to provide proof the work has been undertaken in a safe manner, especially if you’re looking to sell your property in the future.
Don’t stress if you don’t have time to search because Wave Electrical Solutions can take on any job and even design custom electrical systems that are in line with your requirements and specifications. Your home is the single biggest investment you’ll ever make, so make the process less painful by calling a professional electrician at the beginning of your project. Supporting your local business helps strengthen your community and leads to faster response times, to say nothing of the fact that you build a long-term relationship with someone who understands your electrical needs.
For Any Work That’s Notifiable, You Should Always Receive A Certificate
As discussed earlier, certain jobs are identified as notifiable, meaning that they require the submission of a Building Regulation application, and one of the following procedures must be used to ascertain the work complies with the requirements set out in the building regulations:
- Self-certification by a registered competent person
- Third-party certification by an independent organisation
- Certification by the local authority.
Perhaps your house needs rewiring. A full rewire occurs when structural renovation is undertaken, whether it’s an extension or a conversion, and can be very disruptive, mainly if the property is occupied, as it involves lifting the floor coverings, floorboards, and skirting boards. You’ll be amazed at the number of cables hidden all over your home.
In the past, England and Wales had identical Building Regulations, but in 2014, the Welsh Building Regulations were amended, deviating from those used in England. All electrical work, whether carried out professionally or as a DIY, has to meet the requirements of Part P, which is set in place to keep you and your family safe from potential hazards. A certificate shows the work has been correctly carried out.
Wrapping It Up
After the work is completed, the electrician will be glad to walk you through what they’ve done, explain any changes they’ve made, and address any concerns you might have. If you’re not happy with the result, give the electrician the opportunity to rectify the problem; the issue will be solved in a satisfactory manner. Quality workmanship must be safe and aesthetically pleasing. Take the electrician’s recommendations, qualifications, and professionalism into account.
All in all, it’s not a good idea to do your own electrical work. You should work with a professional to ensure the electrical wiring in your home is safe for you and your loved ones, so arrange a convenient time for the electrician to stop by. Electric shocks, burns, and falls are some of the most common hazards when working with electricity. An electrician has specialised skills and expertise in their field, which allows them to bring a high level of proficiency to your project.
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