downlighters on ground floor!

[HappyHippyDad]

I have been asked to fit downlighters to a hallway and also a kitchen all on the ground floor.

The customer would prefer me not to take up the carpet and floor boards above, but I cant see anyway around this? I might be lucky with the hallway and have them all in a straight line running the same way as the joists and manage it with cable rods but the kitchen will have the lights all over the place.

Is there anyway of doing this without taking up the floorboards?

Cheers all...

 

[kingeri]

You canna change the laws of physics!

Sometimes you need access from above, or you just can't do the job. If you work out where all the joists are and visualise the required cable run, then explain to the customer. Maybe they can come up with a way to do the impossible!

Edit: In cases where you do need to lift boards, the art is then trying to do the job lifting as few as possible. Trusty cable rods and fishing wire will help. If you can get access to the joist space at one end you should be able to get the cable to all the lights along that line from there. Each job is different but as I said, we can't do the impossible. Punters seem to think sometimes that we can work magic. Like the time I was asked to install a wireless socket outlet......

 

[HappyHippyDad]

You canna change the laws of physics!

Sometimes you need access from above, or you just can't do the job. If you work out where all the joists are and visualise the required cable run, then explain to the customer. Maybe they can come up with a way to do the impossible!

Edit: In cases where you do need to lift boards, the art is then trying to do the job lifting as few as possible. Trusty cable rods and fishing wire will help. If you can get access to the joist space at one end you should be able to get the cable to all the lights along that line from there. Each job is different but as I said, we can't do the impossible. Punters seem to think sometimes that we can work magic. Like the time I was asked to install a wireless socket outlet......

Thanks kingeri, I like your reply :biggrin:

I kind of new the answer but someone sometimes comes up with some magical answer!!

 

[telectrix]

it's either lift carpets and floor or make a few nice big holes in the ceiling. customer's choice.

 

[KFH]

Holes in the ceiling may be easier. Then drill the joists from the hole. Depends on how good you are at making good.

 

[telectrix]

and if it's a newish build, some pratt may have stuffed a couple of acres of kingspan in there.

 

[ayjay]

if its plaster& lathe ceilings you,ll have a nightmare of a job

 

[Octopus]

if its plaster& lathe ceilings you,ll have a nightmare of a job

so run a mile!

 

[telectrix]

i'd not even try if it was lath.

 

[marcusone]

i'd not even try if it was lath.

Agreed. From experience.

 

[daniel198207]

get a quote off a joiner/plasterer to drop the ceiling, and do it that way, maybe be abit more expensive but thats the best way

 

[bk81]

When I had to do it, I made it clear they would need to replaster the ceiling afterwards and to get a quote then decide if they still wanted it. In most newer houses it's the only way as they don't have the floorboards that are easy to lift...

I used to cut holes with a 4" hole cutter, then drill the joists with an extension piece to get the cable roughly the middle of the joist, still needed cable rods to make it work though!

 

[KAS1]

You have to be a bit stronger to the customer and say NO IT CAN'T BE DONE tell them you are an electrician not a magician.

I have been asked to fit downlighters to a hallway and also a kitchen all on the ground floor.

The customer would prefer me not to take up the carpet and floor boards above, but I cant see anyway around this? I might be lucky with the hallway and have them all in a straight line running the same way as the joists and manage it with cable rods but the kitchen will have the lights all over the place.

Is there anyway of doing this without taking up the floorboards?

Cheers all...

 

[KAS1]

I've never had a floor board yet that I can't lift even when it's the chip board sheets, all you need is a good circular saw set to the correct depth and cut out a few traps piece of cake lol

When I had to do it, I made it clear they would need to replaster the ceiling afterwards and to get a quote then decide if they still wanted it. In most newer houses it's the only way as they don't have the floorboards that are easy to lift...

I used to cut holes with a 4" hole cutter, then drill the joists with an extension piece to get the cable roughly the middle of the joist, still needed cable rods to make it work though!

 

[bk81]

KAS1 it can still be done without lifting the floor though...and I don't trust myself with a circular saw! lol