The 12 Steps of Self Build: Electrics

Time was, as recently as 20 years ago, when an article on house wiring would have been very short and simple. You would run electric cable around the house for lighting and appliances, fit a phone line and maybe a bell cable for the front door — and job done. Now things have changed — making decisions about services in the home one of the most complex of the self-build process. Here, we summarise some of the technologies and issues you need to know about.

House Wiring

The electrical wiring is the backbone of the services in every home. There is often very little input required when specifying a design. Outlets are required for the kitchen appliances, and sockets are required all over the house — the more the better. There are also a number of additional outlets that are either required by regulation or are well worth having:

• Smoke detectors
• Ventilation system
• Loft circuits
• Garages and outbuildings
• External lighting
• Security
• Waste disposals/water softeners
• Shaver sockets

It is always worth thinking through not only what you require but what might reasonably be required by future owners of your property — known as ‘future-proofing’.

Connection

Electricity connection to new homes is organised by regional electricity companies (RECs). They are free to set their own connection fees — and they tend to charge a lot. Even a straightforward connection is likely to cost around £300. If you are considering electric heating or an electric heat pump in your house, you may find that the REC offers to halve or even waive the entire connection fee as a sweetener. Long cable runs (say, in excess of 50m) can be prohibitively expensive, costing thousands, and should be carefully costed when assessing the plot. Each REC has a New Supplies Department, which is where you should look for quotations; you don’t need to own the plot before getting a quotation.

Gas connections are dealt with by the National Grid, whilst water connections are the province of your local water company.

Find out more about electrics:

• Lighting
• Smart Homes
• Ventilation and Built-in Vacuums

The 12 Steps of Self Build:

• Step One: Starting Out
• Step Two: Your Route
• Step Three: Construction Systems
• Step Four: Groundworks & Foundations
• Step Five: Roofs
• Step Six: Windows & Doors
• Step Seven: External Appearance
• Step Eight: Heating & Plumbing
• Step Nine: Electrics
• Step Ten: Kitchens & Bathrooms
• Step Eleven: Internal Finishes
• Step Twelve: Outside Spaces