Maybe flooring which can't be taken up without destroying it is not the cleverest idea.
Old wiring
- Thread starter jetsetwilly58
- Start date
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I would agree. However, I did not install the floor, it was the previous owner
Deleted as op took no notice.
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Crawl space is too small for an adult to get down there although possibly at a push. Flooring is on landing and hall and lounge. Hopefully most or all won't need destroying. And even better if we go for double insulated option
But large enough for a child?
That's what apprentices are for. You'd be amazed at the voids I used to get into. 
Still waiting for the electrical survey of the house (broken down van yesterday!!!!!)
If it does confirm what I said before (sockets ok, lighting no earth), do you think many electricians would be happy to fix the area with no lights by installing/enuring all installed switches/lights are double insulated?
I know some are insisting that current regs demand a rewire, but in an old property this is not the case.
Having only lived here for a year, not got a lot of contacts and worry that going into winter we may end up with no lights in landing and bathroom if we can't get someone to fix the problem as opposed to a rewire??
If it does confirm what I said before (sockets ok, lighting no earth), do you think many electricians would be happy to fix the area with no lights by installing/enuring all installed switches/lights are double insulated?
I know some are insisting that current regs demand a rewire, but in an old property this is not the case.
Having only lived here for a year, not got a lot of contacts and worry that going into winter we may end up with no lights in landing and bathroom if we can't get someone to fix the problem as opposed to a rewire??
You're really asking about the length of a piece of string, but I'm sure that there are some electricians who would be prepared to do that. There is some guidance out there for electricians about how to deal with no-earth lighting circuits without re-wiring them, so it's certainly not a general 'no-no'.
If the rest of the electrical installation is OK, another option would,of course, be to have just the lighting circuits re-wired.
Kind Regards, John
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You really need to find out if you have rubber cable installed. My house was built year commencing 1960 and it had rubber cable originally: twin and earth for the sockets (black sheath) and double insulated singles (red and black) for the lighting with no earth.
If you have rubber, it is well overdue for replacement. I am retired now, albeit early. But I spent coming up to 30 years in the trade. My boss and I were advising rubber cable was due for replacement when I started as an apprentice!
And no, it wasn't just a sales scare tactic.
As for the lack of earthing in the 90's extension, I have seen an extension like this before. It was tacked on to a building with no cpc in the lighting and they hooked up to the existing circuit and left the cpc floating.
If you have rubber, it is well overdue for replacement. I am retired now, albeit early. But I spent coming up to 30 years in the trade. My boss and I were advising rubber cable was due for replacement when I started as an apprentice!
And no, it wasn't just a sales scare tactic.
As for the lack of earthing in the 90's extension, I have seen an extension like this before. It was tacked on to a building with no cpc in the lighting and they hooked up to the existing circuit and left the cpc floating.
Thanks, I am 99% sure it is PVC NOT rubber. The wires do not look worn in the slightest.
The first electrician who came to look was puzzled by the set up. The 1997 extension (Garage and 2 bedrooms) was not as clear cut. The garage has a fuse box but none of the switches seem to relate to the lights in the garage.
So not sure if the lights in the 2 bedrooms run off the fuse box in the garage as a separate unit (in which case not sure why the lights were not earthed) or were just attached to the rest of the lighting circuit in the rest of the house (against building regs)?
Wish we had done a full electrical survey now but hindsight is a fine thing!!!
The first electrician who came to look was puzzled by the set up. The 1997 extension (Garage and 2 bedrooms) was not as clear cut. The garage has a fuse box but none of the switches seem to relate to the lights in the garage.
So not sure if the lights in the 2 bedrooms run off the fuse box in the garage as a separate unit (in which case not sure why the lights were not earthed) or were just attached to the rest of the lighting circuit in the rest of the house (against building regs)?
Wish we had done a full electrical survey now but hindsight is a fine thing!!!
Looking at the pics, I am still sure they are not rubber, but will ask the electrician to verify.
Will young sparky's (25 years old) no about such old things???
Will young sparky's (25 years old) no about such old things???
As I said before, it is, IMO, close-to-unbelievable that new lighting (even if an extension to an existing circuit) would have been installed in 1997 without an earth - but maybe I'm being naive!
Kind Regards, John
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