Dr Mike
Puddephat
Online

Another weekend of DIY

Posted: 17th October 2011

Tagged:

Purley
DIY

This weekend I fixed a security light to the garage, hung a blind and changed the light in our bedroom.

The garage Here's the garage before the security light goes up. (I know, the door does need cleaning!)
Security light in place A wooden batten already exists behind the pastic garage door surround. So, fixing the light in place was easy. I just had to drill 2 x 6mm holes to hold the light in place and 1 x 12mm hole for the lighting cable.
Security light with bulb Another shot of the security light, now with bulb in place.
Electrical connections in place A close up of the electrical connections. The light will plug in to an existing mains socket in the garage.
Does it work? Yes, it works! As dusk approaches, the light switches on automatically. Job done!
Next job - hang blind in main bedroom The blind must hang in front of the window surround, so a batten is needed above the window, which will ensure the blind clears the window when it drops.
Wooden batten in place 7 x 6mm holes are drilled above the window, which are fitted with rawlplugs. Next the batten is screwed into place. The blind fixings have already been attached to the batten.
Blind slotted into position Finally, the blind is slotted into the mountings.
Final job - change light in main bedroom The next job on the list is to change the light in the main bedroom. But the new light is heavy and must be properly supported.
In the loft above the bedroom light First of all, I need to get above the bedroom light to ensure the new light can be appropriately supported.
Existing light mounting is inaccessible Due to roof overhanging the first floor (see sloped angle of bedroom ceiling in photo 9), it's nigh on impossible to reach existing light mounting. (See red arrow).
With a camera, existing power supply to light is visible By pointing a camera over the horizontal roof supporting beam, the power supply to the existing light can be seen.
Repositioning the light I decide to move light to a more accessible position, but I still have to lift a floorboard.
A nogging will support the new light The nogging will be positioned between joists and two screws at 45 degrees will hold it in place. Power is switched off.
New position of light Using the new light's metal mounting bracket as a template, from the roof downwards, I drill 2 x 6mm holes where the light will be attached and 1 x 12mm hole for the lighting cable.
Nogging secured The nogging is secured and the power cable is pushed through the 12mm hole into the main bedroom.
Mounting bracket in place The light mounting bracket is screwed into the nogging.
Voila! The new light is fixed to the mounting bracket. Power is switched back on and it works!
The bedroom A photo of the bedroom, with light and blind in place. (I still have to polyfill the holes where the previous light used to be).
Noah admires the new light Noah looks up at the new light and helps with the clearing up.
Noah tidying up Noah helps collect all of the rubbish.
The end Everything's been tidied up and it's time to go to bed!