How many Downlights can an electrician install in a day?

[Mworks89]

Hi

I have an electrician over and he took over from an incompetent builder. The builder already installed the wiring but the electrician told me that he will need to test the electrical wiring that was done in my extension, which I thought was fair.

I wanted to know how long would it take to cut the holes and install 8 downlights (bearing in mind the wiring was already done and he already spent a whole day to test the wiring in the extension area and he noted where the downlights need to be installed). This is because once the ceiling was plastered and painted he came again to install the lights. He took 4 hours just to install 8 downlights.

Was the electrician doing this on purpose as I was paying him a daily rate? And if the wiring and testing were already done shouldn't the installation of the downlights be a bit quicker?

Also how many downlights can an electrician install from start to finish in a day?

 

[buzzlightyear]

This is because once the ceiling was plastered and painted he came again to install the lights. He took 4 hours just to install 8 downlights.

Was the electrician doing this on purpose as I was paying him a daily rate? And if the wiring and testing were already done shouldn't the installation of the downlights be a bit quicker?

Also how many downlights can an electrician install from start to finish in a day?

Maybe you sould ask the spark that question considerning the builder made was it a mess of the wiring in the beginning or did the sparks work come for free
Did you put a time clock on him
It is best to pay a person once then to pay twice or may be three times.

 

[Electric Magic]

On average it would take less time to do that for most of us but there are a lot of variables and yours may not be an average job, for example:

1. The wiring for the downlights would likely not have been accessible or tested the day before. Could some of it needed replacing?

2. Some downlights take longer to wire up than others

3. The ceiling is already painted, making a mistake and hitting a joist is more of a problem to sort and your electrician wasn't there when the ceilings went up I presume? Employing techniques to ensure there are no joists above where holes are going to be drilled adds time.

Perhaps have a chat with your electrician.

 

[Electric Magic]

Also for what it's worth I charge almost half an hour labour when I'm changing existing downlights with existing holes (unless I'm doing loads of them) so I don't think you'd have saved much by going fixed rate (unless my prices are untypical, but they certainly don't prevent me getting work).

 

[Timbo]

Whether he took 2 hours or 4, he's going to charge for at least ½ a day.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

It took me an entire day to fit zero downlights once.

Large dining room. Ceiling joists literally everywhere, crossing over each other, attached to each other, zig zagging all over the place (no access above). I eventually figured out an acceptable pattern that the husband liked (after 5 hours or so), all good. The wife came home 10 minutes later and didn't like the proposed positions. Start again.

The point being, downlights can be an absolute pain to fit, or they can be very simple.

4 hours to cut and fix 8 downlights. Half an hour per light. Perfectly acceptable.

 

[DefyG]

There is 'dead' testing and 'live' testing (which he wouldn't have been able to do until the fittings are terminated and installed). But it doesn't end there, there is paperwork (certification to do) and building control notification Part P (if say bathroom) which he would have had to include in his time.
Some sparks (and other trades) charge by the 'half day' which he may also have done?
Best to ask the sparks you employed.

 

[Rockingit]

If it was from scratch, I'd say 30 mins a downlight is pretty quick once you take into account the measuring and marking, drilling out, hunt the cable in the insulation, usual fiddle of doing loop in/out with terminals designed by midgets, dead test, live test, go back to the start and push them all in with glean gloves on......

Maybe the OP would like to tell us how long it would have taken them to do?

 

[Mworks89]

Maybe you sould ask the spark that question considerning the builder made was it a mess of the wiring in the beginning or did the sparks work come for free
Did you put a time clock on him
It is best to pay a person once then to pay twice or may be three times.

I paid the Spark a day rate.

For the mess he took 1 day to test/sort out, which is fair. But the wiring was already installed by the builder, so I’m not sure if he changed or installed any new wiring or if he just tested the wiring.

But in that period surely he would have mapped out where the downlights are going to be positioned??

So for the 2nd fix when he came back on another day I would have expected 2 hours to add the downlights. Since the prep should have been done during the previous time he came?

The lights are working but the switch hasn’t been installed yet.

 

[GBDamo]

I paid the Spark a day rate.

For the mess he took 1 day to test/sort out, which is fair. But the wiring was already installed by the builder, so I’m not sure if he changed or installed any new wiring or if he just tested the wiring.

But in that period surely he would have mapped out where the downlights are going to be positioned??

So for the 2nd fix when he came back on another day I would have expected 2 hours to add the downlights. Since the prep should have been done during the previous time he came?

The lights are working but the switch hasn’t been installed yet.

30 mins a light is perfectly acceptable especially on a finished ceiling.

I do love how some people know how long other people's job "should" take. You sir have the makings of a real nightmare customer.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

I paid the Spark a day rate.

For the mess he took 1 day to test/sort out, which is fair. But the wiring was already installed by the builder, so I’m not sure if he changed or installed any new wiring or if he just tested the wiring.

But in that period surely he would have mapped out where the downlights are going to be positioned??

So for the 2nd fix when he came back on another day I would have expected 2 hours to add the downlights. Since the prep should have been done during the previous time he came?

The lights are working but the switch hasn’t been installed yet.

I think your question has already been answered. One person has said they may do it more quickly and the other posts have said 4 hours is about right or perhaps quite quick.

 

[buzzlightyear]

The lights are working but the switch hasn’t been installed yet.

You are on the clock now, quick has you can, whip ready.

 

[Mworks89]

30 mins a light is perfectly acceptable especially on a finished ceiling.

I do love how some people know how long other people's job "should" take. You sir have the makings of a real nightmare customer.

I am not a nightmare customer, since I did not say a word to him when he carried out other electrical works in the extension area. I just let him carry on. But I wanted to ask another professional if the electrician was taking advantage of me since I was paying a day rate instead of a fixed price.

But I have seen in the past people do 30 plus downlights a day. That’s why I was asking.

 

[GBDamo]

I am not a nightmare customer, since I did not say a word to him when he carried out other electrical works in the extension area. I just let him carry on. But I wanted to ask another professional if the electrician was taking advantage of me since I was paying a day rate instead of a fixed price.

But I have seen in the past people do 30 plus downlights a day. That’s why I was asking.

I did say the "makings of", The Customer doth protest too much me thinks.

 

[buzzlightyear]

I am not a nightmare customer, since I did not say a word to him when he carried out other electrical works in the extension area. I just let him carry on. But I wanted to ask another professional if the electrician was taking advantage of me since I was paying a day rate instead of a fixed price.

But I have seen in the past people do 30 plus downlights a day. That’s why I was asking.

It hiss me off when people asking am I
Being over charged.
Next time you take car to a garage and see what they charge.

 

[Mworks89]

You are on the clock now, quick has you can, whip ready.

Put yourself in my position if you were not a specialist in this field and in the past you have seen electricians complete tasks quicker than what I experienced this time. (Btw all the lights installed by the previous electrician work exceptionally well for more than 15 years) Surely you would want to ask why it took him longer than what I have seen in the past. Especially if he is taking daily rates.

A lot of customers are getting exploited by tradesman because “Customers don’t know the trade” and taking advantage of the customers is not ethically right is it?.

 

[westward10]

Did he have to plot the holes or were they already identified?

 

[Mworks89]

It hiss me off when people asking am I
Being over charged.
Next time you take car to a garage and see what they charge.

You can charge a million pounds an hour if you want to, but be clear how long it would take to complete the task or give a fixed rate. If we are happy to we can proceed if not then thats fine we can ask another tradesperson.
Customers have budgets, money is not free my friend. As you would know from your hard work.

A lot of trades people do this, they insult the customer and take advantage. It’s not fair at all.
Btw not all do this. I had an electrician few years back and he was honest about his price and kept to his timeframe and did a wonderful job. He charged £400/day which was fair. But he has retired now otherwise he was my go to electrician.

Sadly they don’t make the older generation electricians anymore who are honest and trustworthy.

 

[Mworks89]

Did he have to plot the holes or were they already identified?

So the ceiling was not plastered nor did it have plaster board when he did his tests. Im pretty sure he told me that he has taken pictures so he knows where the wires were after the area has been plastered and painted.

 

[buzzlightyear]

A lot of trades people do this, they insult the customer and take advantage. It’s not fair at all.
Btw not all do this. I had an electrician few years back and he was honest about his price and kept to his timeframe and did a wonderful job. He charged £400/day which was fair. But he has retired now otherwise he was my go to electrician

There is a contrbuting factor here, some people north of UK charge less then London,you could go on check a trade see what they say on the Webb page.
Me if the spark has not given you the correct price to which you want you should have got a few qoutes.