Planning and first fix: which decisions have to be made before plaster?

Planning and first fix cover every lighting and wiring decision that becomes permanent once plaster covers the conduit: circuit splits, switch positions, socket heights, cable sizes and breaker ratings. The two notes filed here price that difference at about 40 AED per drop before plaster and 400 to 700 AED per wall afterwards.

Three lighting layers that make a room work after dark

4 August 2026

A 20 square metre living room needs 1500 to 2000 lumens of ambient light across four or more sources, three switched circuits and every layer within 200 K of the others. The full scheme draws 56 W and costs about 1.80 AED a month at 0.29 AED per kWh.

First fix cable planning: the decisions you cannot redo later

7 July 2026

Switches at 1050 mm, general sockets at 300 mm, worktop sockets at 1150 mm, lighting on 1.5 mm2 cable at 6 A and sockets on 2.5 mm2 at 20 A. A spare capped drop costs 40 AED before plaster and 400 to 700 AED per wall afterwards.