Install of polished chrome/silver sockets in the house

Chief99

Hi All,

I'm in the final stages in my self build (thank God!), all the tips on this site were invaluable, but I have a quick question.

The electrican said he'll be finishing up today (and so wants to get paid) but he was supposed to fit polished chrome/silver sockets in the house, he said that these are the very last thing you install in the house and so he'd have to come back again after everyone is finished in order to fit them. Is this true?

I wanted to get them installed straight away but he said due to the moisture levels in the house it wasn't advisable until the heat was o. I can kind of understand this but why do you have to do it at the very end? (The heat has been on for the past 2 months)

Thanks

creedp

Chief99 wrote: »

Hi All,

I'm in the final stages in my self build (thank God!), all the tips on this site were invaluable, but I have a quick question.

The electrican said he'll be finishing up today (and so wants to get paid) but he was supposed to fit polished chrome/silver sockets in the house, he said that these are the very last thing you install in the house and so he'd have to come back again after everyone is finished in order to fit them. Is this true?

I wanted to get them installed straight away but he said due to the moisture levels in the house it wasn't advisable until the heat was o. I can kind of understand this but why do you have to do it at the very end? (The heat has been on for the past 2 months)

Thanks

I got the same line from my builder and instead he went ahead and installed the cheapest, nastiest looking switches/sockets he could find. When I queried this he said he would fit the chrome fittings later once house was fully dried out. Unfortunately however given his track record I can't see this happening unless I pay him more. If I was you I wouldn't pay him full amount due unless he finishes the job including the installation of the fittings you have agreed. In any case if your heating has been on for over 2 months there should be no difficulty with fitting chrome switches. If it was still a problem then I'd be afraid to boil the spuds if I had with chrome fittings in kitchen:)

At this point if all I had to worry about was switches/sockets I'd be over the moon!

Chief99

Thanks CreedP, we don't have the same electrican by any chance!!

I had/have a feeling this is what he wants to do, I just wanted to be sure there was no good reason for not doing it. I'll be holding back part of the money today.

Don't worry theres loads off other little things apart from this that needs sorted but the end is in sight!!!

hohojojo

no you should maybe pay him for first fixing and then when he is finished second fixing ie face plats switch spurs etc then thats when you pay sure whats to make him come back

creedp

Thanks CreedP, we don't have the same electrican by any chance!!

Actually its not the electrician that's the problem here .. its the main contractor

Good luck with your build

tred

Last thing u want in a house, thats driying out from wetplaster and floors is those fittings id say. Id put them in after for sure.

Chief99

Thanks Guys

Hes changed his story to "They're not changed because I haven't supplied him with the sockets"....ah the joys!

Hohojojo - The problem is he thinks hes finished 2nd fix and wants to be paid in full (albeit he says he can't finish some things because of plumber/kitchen guy/eircom)

mrshappy

My hubby is an electrican and if the heating is on 2 months there is no reason for them not to be fitted. He often has to go back to finish up a few bits after other trades have been in but doesn't ask for money until job is totally done so I wouldn't be just holding back a bit, I would hold back half or whatever the cost would be to get another electrican in to do the work

After saying all that DH does normally get paid the last day of the job when the main work is finished but he would be well known and trusted in those jobs, they would know he would come back - so if you are not sure whether to trust him don't get caught!

Solair

He probably has some mark-up on the white, cheap and nasty ones he installed. We had that issue with a plumber who was kicking up a huge fuss about installing the bathroom fittings we had purchased!

He point blank refused to put in the Grohe thermostatic mixer tap we bought. So, we'd no choice but to get a different plumber.

The guy we got did a great job and explained that the first plumber probably wanted to sell us cheap stuff at a significant mark-up as he saw that as part of the usual income he got for such jobs.

Chief99

Thanks for the replys guys. Managed to sort this out with him, he'll fit the sockets in the next week or so. Long story but there were extra costs involved (legitimate for materials/extra work) so managed to hold this back till everything is done.

creedp

Chief99 wrote: »

Thanks for the replys guys. Managed to sort this out with him, he'll fit the sockets in the next week or so. Long story but there were extra costs involved (legitimate for materials/extra work) so managed to hold this back till everything is done.

Seems like a good result for all concerned