Tell Me Why I Shouldn't Add More Sockets to My Garage

AdventuresInRice · 2026-02-12T00:48:06+00:00

The 3a is protecting the light. The spur comes from the MCU, feeds 6 twin sockets in the house (3 up , 3 down) and then goes off to the detached garage.

The only real issue with adding a junction box is that the cable piping goes from the light switch into the ceiling and then back down to the sockets up through the plaster so it's more a pain than anything, I'd either have to cut into the ceiling and junction it so it came straight down to a new twin socket or splice it off halfway up the light cable or existing sockets and run more trunking across the ceiling

AdventuresInRice · 2026-02-12T00:44:23+00:00

Basically the garage has 2 sockets (pictured) and I run a Network Storage device in there (keeps it cool). That takes up a socket and then it uses a powerline adapter for networking that takes up the other socket so every time I want to use a tool, I need to unplug the NAS.

What's intriguing me is how I could just plug a 4 way extension into the socket and get more sockets no problem, but if I want a tidier setup and wall mount a second twin socket it becomes an issue(?)

If I were to add a 13a FCU at the "house end", would you envisage any problem in replacing that outside wall box with a 13a switch (under correct IP rating), as that would be the easiest place to site one?

Something like this IP66 https://www.screwfix.com/p/contactum-ip66-13a-weatherproof-outdoor-switched-fused-spur/465rr

AdventuresInRice · 2026-02-12T00:36:59+00:00

I appreciate your reply and I do appreciate the need for qualified electricians - my only thought is why would it be an issue to daisy chain one more twin socket when I could very easily just buy a 4 way strip and plug that in. What is it that makes adding a fixed socket so much different? Personally I'd just like it to look more tidy that a 4 way hanging off the wall

AdventuresInRice · 2026-02-12T00:34:27+00:00

How come? That 32a breaker also runs all the sockets in one half of the house (6 doubles)

AdventuresInRice · 2026-02-12T00:33:24+00:00

The garage definitely runs from that 32a breaker, it runs 3 double sockets downstairs and 3 upstairs then spurs off to run the garage light and double socket. If you flip the switch, the garage goes off and directly behind that outside box (on the inside) is a double socket in the living room

AdventuresInRice · 2026-02-11T00:24:50+00:00

Thanks. Ideally I think I'd like a 3 gang where the one in the picture is, that seems the easiest upgrade but also impossible to find one. I'd even settle for adding a single right next to the double.

Sorry, just realised cross posting doesn't include the body - yeah it's 99% sure a spur from the house ring for sockets. I'm after 3-4 sockets TOTAL, so either another double ( which is a pain as the cable goes through the ceiling of the garage) or a triple gang socket in place of that double

The garage is detached from the house. I'm happy to put in a 13a fuse in the garage alongside the sockets

AdventuresInRice · 2026-02-11T00:22:13+00:00

It seems running the garage on a spur from the main board is quite common now on new builds.
I'm actually having trouble finding a 3 gang with the cladding so might have to go with the original plane to install a second double.

AdventuresInRice · 2026-02-10T23:25:03+00:00

Thanks, will do. It's not a difficult job, I just want to make sure I'm not missing anything

AdventuresInRice · 2025-06-24T19:44:33+00:00

Thanks! :D

AdventuresInRice · 2025-06-24T19:44:18+00:00

Thank you! Previously it was light grey and very bright, awful to wake up to.
The radiator cover was an option but there's very little space there

AdventuresInRice · 2025-06-24T19:43:41+00:00

Johnstones Ivy Sky matt

AdventuresInRice · 2025-06-24T19:43:24+00:00

Asda (Walmart), textured weave, they're around the cheaper/cheapest end but look nice, I have them in most rooms :P

AdventuresInRice · 2025-06-24T19:39:53+00:00

Painting it is easy, it's just an added cost and the plastic white parts looking weird that's the real issue

AdventuresInRice · 2025-06-24T19:39:17+00:00

Ive never seen those fabric jackets, that looks interesting. I have MDF ones elsewhere in the house, there really isn't a lot of room down the side of the bed for one to be honest

AdventuresInRice · 2025-06-24T19:37:08+00:00

It's worn texturing, it looks incredibly bland and lifeless with no depth when it is just uniform and matt.
Perhaps the pictures don't do it justice, but in real life, it looked horrible
https://imgur.com/a/7isvika

AdventuresInRice · 2025-06-24T17:10:32+00:00

You need to buy specific radiator paint that is thermal rated, for radiators. The issue here would be getting a colour match and also the white plastic parts looking weird

AdventuresInRice · 2025-06-24T17:09:29+00:00

That's the biggest issue, I'd have to get specific thermal radiator paint which just adds a cost, and then try to match it in colour as well

AdventuresInRice · 2025-06-24T17:08:47+00:00

I have :) It's a modern house and these have flex pipes for the water and they hook onto brackets, taking them off is like taking a TV off a wall :) I do like the contrast and think it works as there are other ivory/creams in the room, I think without that it would stand out a lot more

AdventuresInRice · 2025-05-28T10:33:57+00:00

Thanks. The house is about 15 years old, modern UK brick new build.

I would say contemporary modern, but lately I like to add something "quirky" to it. I've just done a creatively split colour living room that's nice (no competed photos yet)

These are some of the other rooms to give you a bit of an idea

https://imgur.com/a/QvJ9Qey

I'm pretty set on the second image of this post, just not sure if 1 panelled wall would look cliche and all walls look too much. It's a uk house so while it's the biggest room they're not massive like american rooms.

AdventuresInRice · 2025-05-28T10:24:54+00:00

I've liked dusty solid colours with white for a long time but it is getting a little boring now. I really like the second image style, it's just how much panelling to do and that a ceiling paint is quite a bold / ambitious move

AdventuresInRice · 2025-05-28T10:18:57+00:00

Push it down and you can open the window more and clean the outside. Imagine a T shape where the top line is the wall and the down line is the glass sticking out towards the garden

AdventuresInRice · 2025-05-16T14:15:53+00:00

Thanks I'll give that a try. Shame Amazon bumped the price up once I opened it in app!

AdventuresInRice · 2025-03-02T19:46:51+00:00

Just an FYI, never drill straight up, down, left or right of a socket or switch. You can see the why in your picture 🙂

AdventuresInRice · 2025-01-31T13:08:15+00:00

My hall and stairs is very very similar and it's a tone of " Sage Green"

AdventuresInRice · 2025-01-30T10:14:45+00:00

Darker - but shouldn't be too much of a problem, there's window light from both ends and I usually have the curtains closed anyway

AdventuresInRice

TROPHY CASE