Making the most of unused space in your home

According to research carried out at the end of 2011, growing numbers of electrical contractors in London were reporting increasing numbers of enquiries from customers wanting to convert unused areas of their home into useful living spaces.

Areas such as garages, lofts, garden sheds and attics are being used to create spaces such as offices, bedrooms and play areas to not only add value and improve living standards in the home, but also to take into account the increasing numbers of people having flexible working patterns.

House holders and businesses alike are seeing the benefit and cost savings of home working and the uptake of off site office space is falling in favour of home working. Garages and lofts that have traditionally been used to store cars and old household items are now being put to better use as our homes begin to enter the modern age – and new ways of thinking.

Why appoint electrical services in London?

Generally speaking, providing power to your new space is one of the main considerations at the planning stage of your project. The electrical requirements will of course vary according to what your plans are for the space. Here at Fulcher Edwards we strongly recommend that you consult a qualified Part P registered electrical companies in London to discuss what your requirements are before proceeding with decorating and furnishing your new space.

We have seen an instance where heavy machinery was being used with the incorrect cable size in use. The cable was also airborne and simply hung between the house and garage. Is it essential that all cable and wiring is installed by an electrician whether indoors or outdoors. Of course, cable installed outdoors is also open to the elements even when buried underground, so it is important that the job is carried out correctly in order to avoid fire and electrocution.

Here at Fulcher Edwards, our electrical services in London cover everything from project conception to after care. We are more than happy to advice on your electrical needs for your new space and provide electrical installation design advice which will ensure you get the most out of your new space. We carry out all types of electrical installs in both homes and businesses and on completion issue you with an electrical certificate. This is a Part P requirement and the certificate will be needed if you decide to sell your home in the future.

We are also NICEIC registered and one of the main benefits of appointing an NICEIC electrician in London is the re-assurance of knowing that you are in safe hands. We are part of the Domestic Installer Scheme which is the NICEIC's approval for contractors undertaking work within the scope of the Part P Building Regulations.

If you want your new space to last a long time.....

Then our advice is to ensure your project is carried out properly to begin with. One of the best ways of ensuring your materials and space is going to stand the test of time is to find out what type of guarantee is on offer from the trades people carrying out the work. That way should anything fail (and unfortunately faults do occur from time to time) you have the peace of mind that you are covered by a guarantee. All reputable trades people offer a lengthy guarantee on their work so if no guarantee is offered, that would be a cause for concern.

The survey back in 2011 also revealed that customer prefer hard flooring to carpets as hard flooring is likely to last far longer than a carpet and spills and dirt can be managed far more easily.

Finally, don't leave electrical work too late

We have seen many instances where customers have finished off their home improvements complete with new carpet and wall paper to find that they have an electrical problem. Of course, this does not automatically mean that the wall paper needs to come back off, but it has been known.

Our top tip in our article today, is to ask your domestic electrician in London to carry out a test to check the condition of your electrical installation in your home. The test is known as an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report.) It is very well worth having this test done as not only will you have the peace of mind that everything is safe, it will also avoid an expensive mistake being made when your project is complete when discovering that there is a problem that means taking off your new wall paper in order to repair it!

Whatever your plans, whether they are simple or complex, don't forget about your electrics!