You've got to turn these things into a positive!

[HappyHippyDad]

I'm all set to fit my 8 downlights at the customers house. I texted the builder the night before to make sure he wouldn't be in the way, he's already said he wouldn't but I wanted to double check. No reply so I assume all is well.

I get to the job and he's plastering right were I need to work!

So... I grumble a bit, then calm down, then go home, go for a cycle ride in the country, drink a coffee, read my book and then write about it to you lot

The builder has just lent me his SDS max and also a few other tools as well so I can't really moan can I, he's a pretty decent chap and I get to have a day off

 

[LankyWill]

On one job where we couldn't trust the dry-liners to leave our cables in situ we ended up cutting out before plaster. It actually worked a treat and didn't make fitting the down-lights or fans any more difficult. Any mistakes were quickly filled before plastering and we could drop a board if needed, i prefer it this way now.

 

[Dave OCD]

The best way for us really would be to do the holes in the plasterboard before skimming but you try to help others, they then proceed to reduce your 75mm hole to about 20mm with plaster so you can't really win anyway.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Bit of coat hanger bent at 90 degrees into an L shape with the short bit the same as the radius of your downlight hole. Insert short end into centre hole and rotate to check for obstructions.

The old metal coat hanger. If my van got stolen I could replace the £1000 megger and £1000's of tools, but...... I'd have to revisit old Mrs Adington from a job 4 years ago to replace the old metal coat hanger. She was more than happy to give me a couple but I think she thought I was a bit odd for asking

 

[Octopus]

Bit of coat hanger bent at 90 degrees into an L shape with the short bit the same as the radius of your downlight hole. Insert short end into centre hole and rotate to check for obstructions.

I don't carry coat hangers but always have 2.5mm cable - so 1 core bent at the radius of the "breathing" space for the downlight and check it rotates 360 degrees ............

 

[Dave OCD]

The old metal coat hanger. If my van got stolen I could replace the £1000 megger and £1000's of tools, but...... I'd have to revisit old Mrs Adington from a job 4 years ago to replace the old metal coat hanger. She was more than happy to give me a couple but I think she thought I was a bit odd for asking

You're not alone mate, I've asked for one on a job before too, not Mrs Adington though, she'd given away her last two apparently....

 

[Squid]

How do you lot do it?

Fit trimless lights......... spreads love them........

 

[bigspark17]

I always cut spots after plasterboarding & before skimming makes my life a ehole lot easier come 2nd fix i know the cable is there and im not going to hit a choice. Only the bad plasterers complain any decent one can skim with a 70mm hole there.

 

[buzzlightyear]

I always try to drill holes after the boards go up. which make life easer.
then to start pulling cables and fishing for them like a Eskimo on the ceiling fishing for a seal.

 

[Midwest]

The old metal coat hanger. If my van got stolen I could replace the £1000 megger and £1000's of tools, but...... I'd have to revisit old Mrs Adington from a job 4 years ago to replace the old metal coat hanger. She was more than happy to give me a couple but I think she thought I was a bit odd for asking

I had a collection of those coat hangers from my time getting my uniform trousers dry cleaned. Don't seem to see those things these days. Look after the one I have left

 

[pirate]

Plasterboard up first, skimmed, coat-hanger...but seriously, bang a few nails in the joists first, near where you might drill holes...a powerful magnet will find them...and a pic of the joists on your phone, taken from ground level, is a great help.

 

[Jjc]

I always try and find a permanent point of reference, especially if walls are being dot dabbed & plastered. Like a window pane for example. For me, this is where a laser measure makes things so easy, especially on long runs.
I also take a pic of any diagrams and email it to myself, just in case things get lost.

Lazers are invaluable

 

[GLENNSPARK]

I had a plasterer trap all my cables in a ceiling on a job not too long ago....
I just smashed holes in his plaster and pulled my loops free...




I don't care these days...

 

[dksanders]

I use wall ties with one end opened up to 90 degrees, they are compact in length, the other end acts as a handle or cable hook so they serve many purposes for checking and fishing cables, hence they're my MFT....multi fangled tool