dealing with wiring & lights in a C17 brick walled room

[Penners]

I guess it would be more authenitc to leave the original white plastic: you'll have to report me to SPAB!

Not me. Good decision.

 

[JoceAndChris]

An opinion, of course, and I know Joce will be horrified at the thought of modern brushed stainless steel adorning her walls!

Shhhhsh just tell her is a new F&B colour - what about "Pure Norfolk mist" she will be fine.

:lol: You're starting to know me far too well!

But actually, yes, stainless steel is even worse than white plastic and I might even have to cross you off the BBQ invitation list Feltwell. :wink:

And how can people not notice horrible white radiators in church? What are they all doing? Snoozing?

But then I have champagne tastes on a lemonade budget, as they say, so am a long way from being rid of my own white plastic.

BTW, if you haven't been, Hemswell Antique Centre just north of Lincoln have rooms full of bakelite knobs, old handles, picture hooks, sash window fittings, switches, escutcheons etc, and all very reasonably priced indeed. If you go, ask the helpful people at the front desk where to find brass fittings, as it's too big a place (actually there are around 10 antique centres on the same site) to pick them out easily.

 

[Feltwell]

But actually, yes, stainless steel is even worse than white plastic and I might even have to cross you off the BBQ invitation list Feltwell. :wink:

Right, that's it. I've a pretty good idea of where you live. I have a photo of your back door lock from a previous posting. I shall sneak around at the dead of night, armed only with a screwdriver and a big bucket of those rope edged "Georgian" brass light switches (which my firm still sells lots of :roll: ) - I'll choose the really cheap plated ones, not even the cast brass ones - and I shall change all your light switches in the dead of night. Be nice to me or I'll change your sockets to polished chrome at the same time :twisted:

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Feltwell]

But I have terrible worries about the environmental and human cost of --everything-- light switches made on the banks of the Yangtzee

Don't write off Chinese factories quite so quickly. It's a big, big topic I know, globalisation and environmental impact etc, but not all Chinese factories are full of children paid 20p a day to make goods. I deal with many factories on a regular basis, and have been sourcing goods out there for some years now - the majority of factories are ethically ran although of course you cannot directly compare renumeration etc with Western factories. I'm not that comfortable with it either but it's not always as bad out there as you may believe - there's little press interest in showing you a modern factory with acceptable working and living conditions.

Most big retailers in the UK audit all their Far East suppliers very thoroughly. The American retailers are less thorough from the little I've seen of their processes.

From experience of sourcing brassware, which mostly comes from India, I'd have more concerns about that region these days. The responsible retailers (and despite what you see in the media, most are) work with the factories to improve conditions.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

We went with these from Jim Lawrence.



I have a real loathing of white plastic. I understand the "invisibility through ubiquity" argument - I just don't agree; they stick out like a... well, white plastic lightswitch actually!. Sadly, the sockets/switches are eye-wateringly expensive if you buy more than a couple at a time... :roll:

 

[Penners]

Well, it's the phoney antique electrical fittings that I dislike. You've obviously got a genuine Tudor light switch there, so that's all right.

 

[Feltwell]

Well, it's the phoney antique electrical fittings that I dislike. You've obviously got a genuine Tudor light switch there, so that's all right.

Ouch!

No rights or wrongs of course, only opinions. I quite like the decent quality "antiqued" fittings like FamilyWiggs but am too tight to pay that much money for them! We have got wooden switches in our hallway, courtesy of a previous owner - I actually really like them as they sit well with the wood panelled staircase and they aren't trying to look old, they look similar to FamilyWiggs but with a plain stained ash backplate - the mini-toggle type switches on them look quite modern. Similarly white plastic does not offend, provided it is a reasnoble quality switch, MK or similar.

My real pet hates are where previous owners haven't bothered to loosen off switches and sockets when painting and have got paint on them, that bugs me! Similarly I hate cheap pressed steel brass plated fittings, especially the rope-edged variety - they just look cheap and horrible. If you really like polished rope edged brass then at least get better quality cast brass fittings, they're also mass produced and are not much more expensive.

 

[Penners]

Ouch!

Oh, dear. No insult intended FW - just teasing.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Hurrumph - where is the smiley for <deeply offended strop> ?

Penners - you cad!

Just joking - the point is that unless you house was built new with leccy - any switch you put in is a more modern invention; it just becomes a question of style as to what you think blends in best.

Actually the thing I like best about our switches is the chunky and positive "click" of the toggle switch. Plastic ones sound and feel like being beaten with damp lettuce.

 

[Hatster]

I'm now having real difficulties choosing what to go for in the way of light switches. In fact, I had a mini-breakdown in the kitchen at work, howling to a colleague who's just about to buy her first house: "You wouldn't believe it! You have to decide everything! Every single thing has to be researched and considered! Everything in the house!"

Anyway, in our dining room, we have ultra-modern designer Italian lights (yes, modern! ha! ha!) which are frosted glass and chrome. The door handles are tarnished brass, though. At the moment, we have exactly those foul pseudo-brass rope-edged light switches Feltwell described. So what to do? Chrome, brass or copper? :? Buy some chrome light switches for the kitchen and see how they look in the dining room?


Feltwell - thanks v much for your info on the factories - that's very informative. I suppose my concerns are that with the Chinese political structures, it's difficult to ensure responsible environmental and health measures take place, and that people's very natural concern to improve their lives in visible short-term ways may lead them to take measures which in the long-term may cause them or their neighbours harm, perhaps often without having full access to the known impacts. Mr Hatster in fact does have some links with UK companies' social / environmental auditing procedures and it seems that China is becoming increasingly interested in the matter. But then we come back to the vast scale of the country, the poverty in some areas, and the political structures. :? Still, it's a wonderful country and I love it.

Joce - obviously, everyone in church is praying with their eyes shut, and thus don't see the radiators! No, I think the actual thing is that the radiators are under the windows, and are largely concealed by the pews, and that since they are basically white panels against a white background, you don't really see much.

 

[Penners]

So what to do? Chrome, brass or copper?

The decision is easy. You buy what seems best to you. And if you find that you don't like it, you exchange it or live with it.

There. On to the next thing.... :wink:

 

[Hatster]

Bloody hell, I think he's got it!

I will return to considering more important matters 8)

 

[benmc]

All someone earlier mentioned floor boxes to hide sockets in the floor.

I have been looking into this as I have a large lounge with parquet floor and wanted some outlets in the middle of the floor.

I have found this company who will custom make the top lid to accept any thickness of floor covering.

http://www.cableductuk.com/

No experience yet, just placing an order.

Regards
Ben

 

[Hatster]

Thanks very much, Ben! We will have to take the floor up (concrete floor causing damp in walls grrr), so that would come in handy.