What is going on in New Build homes?
Mark Allison
Solar PV, battery storage, EV and electrical contracting nationwide. Host of two industry podcasts with 3 YouTube channels showcasing installation methods and equipment to an audience of installers and consumers.
What are others seeing in New Build homes standard of quality? Not just for electrical work but beyond.
We have worked in a number of new build homes since 2020 and we have found serious issues within all of them. From loose connections and burnt out breakers to ridiculous submains and cable glanding. Even simple things such as smoke alarms and lighting wired incorrectly.
I ask more widely as we have also had some horrendous leaks due to waste traps not getting connected correctly. I cant work out if we are just really unlucky or if we have a massive issue?!
It cant be due to a lack of funds as developers/house builders are churning out huge profits and dividends even during Covid19. I also do not blame the trades people working on these properties. Often they are rushed, stressed, pressured and just trying to survive.
I had a little chat about my thoughts in the end of my latest video which is my New Build play list here https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLofh8MZVdCPX4w7-BScZfDmxGaA-AO2v8
Speaking in regards the electrical industry I think the CPSs and trade associations could perhaps do more to help us raise awareness with consumers and property developers/house builders in what these things should cost to achieve the quality required. Along with the importance of looking after a supply chain bottom to top.
Let me know what you think in the comments and check the video out. Last 5 minutes especially.
Electrical Inspector QA QC
2 年Who controls the overall quality of the build if it is the builders then they should be footing the bill for any remedial on properties under 10 years old.
Investing in Sustainable Community Solutions
2 年Not sure what it's like now, but we worked for a few of the national housebuilders back in the day, & they'd tell us what we'd get paid. And it was basically about the same as our cost price for doing the work. Where we might charge ￡1,500 - ￡2,000 for the same house for regional developer, they were paying us ￡900 - ￡1,100 (inc materials). The only reason we did it, was just to build up capacity in a new area. We would do 2-3 first fixes a day, any less than 2, and you were losing money. But the work was always top quality regardless of how much they were paying, and we'd take NICEIC round those sites, mainly because it was easy to see multiple installs at each stage of the build. I guess if someone is working by themselves, self employed doing it, it might be a decent wage, but for a business with overheads it's impossible to survive if you're reliant on just that type of work.
Proprietor of SES- Swedwell Electrical Services & JP Photography Southwest
2 年New builds are absolutely shocking, thrown up in 6 weeks customers moving when the paint is still wet. It's not only the electrical work that's rubbish it's the whole build. Down in the south west an electrical company is to first fix a 3/4/&5 bed house in a day for the diabolical amount of ￡800 that includes the supply of cable, boxes and any and all accessories to complete a suitable installation. The low price removes quality from the standard as the only way you can make money on these types of installation is quantity. The second fix fee is ￡1200 again supplying all accessories to be fitted. Again this means the cheapest of the cheapest is fitted as fast as possible, again house to be second fixed and tested in 1 day. When you break down the cost of the sale price of the property it is the building company that makes massive profits while everyone else just about survives on end of month plus 90 day payment terms. It is the building companies to raise terms and conditions and generally build better.