NICEIC · BS 7671 · MK + Hager + BG
Extra Sockets & Switches in Fraserburgh, AB43
Single socket from £85, USB-C combined from £115, outdoor IP65 from £140. MK, Hager, BG, Crabtree, Schneider. Smart sockets (Shelly, Tapo) and Lutron Caseta switches as standard options.
Whole-house lighting refresh? See lighting installation.
Single socket
£85
Double socket
£95
USB-C combo
£115
Outdoor IP65
£140
Light switch
£45
Dimmer switch
£85
Smart socket (Shelly)
£85
Smart switch (Lutron)
£165
The IET-recommended counts
How many sockets does each room actually need?
BS 7671 doesn't dictate a number. The IET recommended approach is "enough that you never need an extension lead". Below is the practical breakdown by room for a typical Fraserburgh 3-bed home, based on the last 100 socket installs we've done.
| Room | Recommended count | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | 10 to 14 doubles | Above worktop, plus dedicated for fridge, washing machine, dishwasher, oven, microwave. Modern kitchens often want USB-C in the island for charging. |
| Living room | 6 to 8 doubles | TV wall (3 to 4), reading lamp area (2), gaming/console area (2). USB sockets near the sofa save phone charger clutter. |
| Master bedroom | 5 to 6 doubles | Each side of the bed (with USB-C), dressing area, wardrobe area, plus a hidden one for vacuum or steam press. |
| Other bedrooms | 3 to 4 doubles each | Bedside, desk if used as study, plus one wall for general use. |
| Hallway / landing | 1 to 2 doubles | For vacuum cleaner, plus a low-level one for charging if it's a busy household. |
| Bathroom | 1 shaver socket only | Standard sockets are not allowed in bathroom Zone 0, 1, or 2. Shaver sockets (220V isolating transformer) only, fitted outside Zone 1. |
| Garage / workshop | 4 to 6 doubles minimum | 16A blue commando for power tools, multiple 13A doubles, plus an outdoor IP65 socket for the driveway side. |
| Outdoor / garden | 1 to 3 IP65 doubles | Patio, garage exterior, garden shed feed. Must be IP65 minimum, RCD protected, mounted under cover where possible. |
The 2024 socket decision
USB-A vs USB-C, which to fit?
The most common question we get on socket installs in 2024 onwards. Short answer: combined USB-A + USB-C, fitted as standard, £115 per double socket.
USB-A (rectangular)
The older standard. Still works for older cables but no longer the dominant phone or laptop connector. Most sockets still ship with at least one A port for legacy device support.
USB-C (oval, reversible)
The current standard. Used by all iPhones since 15 (Sept 2023), all modern Android phones, all modern laptops. Higher charging speed (up to 100W on USB-C PD vs 12W on USB-A). Future-proof.
Combined A + C
What we recommend for most installs. Covers legacy and current devices. £18 to £35 per combined socket fitting cost (vs £4 to £10 for plain socket).
5 switch types
Which switch is right for your room?
Standard 1-way and 2-way
£45 to £65The default. 1-way for a single switch, 2-way for two switches controlling the same light (top and bottom of stairs, both ends of a long hallway).
Best for: Most rooms, default choice
Dimmer switches
£85 to £105Variable light intensity. Compatibility matters: not every LED bulb works with every dimmer. We bring known compatible kit (Lutron, Varilight, BG NexaMatic) and confirm dimming range before leaving.
Best for: Living rooms, bedrooms, dining areas
Push-button retractive (smart switch friendly)
£85 plus relay £35Switch returns to centre after press. Used with smart relays (Shelly Plus 1, Sonoff) hidden in the back box. Lets you keep traditional switch aesthetic with smart control underneath.
Best for: Smart home retrofits without changing the switch faceplate
Smart switch (Lutron Caseta, Shelly, Sonoff)
£85 to £165 fittedReplaces the existing switch with a wifi or radio-controlled module. Lutron Caseta is premium (£75 to £95 per switch), Shelly Plus 1 is mid-tier hidden behind existing switch (£35 each), Sonoff is budget but reliable.
Best for: Whole-home smart control, voice integration
Time-delay or PIR switches
£95 to £125Switch turns off automatically after a set time, or PIR-activates lighting in hallways/lofts/cupboards. Useful in stairwells and rarely-visited spaces.
Best for: Loft, garage, communal hallways, HMO
5 socket brands we fit
MK vs BG vs Hager vs Crabtree vs Schneider
The brand of socket affects look, finish, faceplate options, and price. We fit all 5 mainstream UK brands. Here's the honest breakdown.
MK
The default UK premium brand. White moulded standard. £6 to £14 per double socket. Reliable, tight-tolerance moulding, what most quality builders default to.
BG
Mid-market alternative. Cheaper than MK, decent quality, screwless faceplate options popular for modern aesthetic. £4 to £10 per double socket.
Hager
Premium European brand. Sleek metal and glass faceplates for design-led homes. £15 to £35 per double socket. Common in salon and shop fit-outs.
Crabtree
Heritage UK brand, robust, widely available. Slightly more expensive than BG, slightly cheaper than MK. £5 to £12 per double socket.
Schneider Electric (Lisse, Ultimate)
Premium tier. Stainless and metal finishes, clean modern lines. £25 to £60 per double socket. We fit these on harbour-front properties where the look matters.
Important regulatory note
Bathrooms have their own zoning rules
BS 7671 18th Edition Amendment 2 sets four zones for any room containing a bath or shower. Standard 13A sockets are not permitted in Zones 0, 1, or 2. The only socket type allowed adjacent to bath / shower fittings is a Shaver Socket (220V isolating transformer, manufacturer marked SELV).
- Zone 0Inside the bath or shower tray. No 13A sockets, no switches, no general accessories.
- Zone 1Above the bath or shower up to 2.25m. SELV (low voltage) accessories only.
- Zone 2Within 0.6m of Zone 1 boundary. Shaver sockets permitted, IP44 minimum on any accessory.
- Outside Zone 2More than 60cm from Zone 1. 13A sockets permitted (must be 3m from Zone 1 in practice). IP rating still recommended IP44+.
We follow these strictly even if a customer asks for a non-compliant install, because the regs exist for a reason and our certificate would fail any future inspection. If you need a bathroom socket, the answer is a Shaver Socket fitted outside Zone 1, £75 fitted.
Common questions
Sockets & Switches FAQs for Fraserburgh
How long does it take to fit one extra socket in Fraserburgh?
Single socket on an existing ring main, in a wall with accessible cable behind: 30 to 45 minutes. Same socket but requiring a new cable run from the consumer unit (no nearby ring): 90 to 150 minutes. Adding several sockets to one room: 3 to 4 hours typical. Granite cottages with solid stone walls add 30 to 60 minutes per socket because of the chasing time. We give a fixed price after photos.
Should I get USB-A or USB-C built into my new sockets?
USB-C, almost always. USB-A is the older standard (rectangular), USB-C is the newer reversible one used by all modern phones, tablets, and laptops. Modern combo sockets give you both (1× USB-A + 1× USB-C) for £18 to £35 each. Pure USB-C ports are coming but not yet dominant. We default to combined A+C for futureproofing.
What's the legal rule about sockets in bathrooms?
BS 7671 18th Edition Amendment 2 sets bathroom zones (Zones 0, 1, 2). Standard 13A sockets are NOT permitted in Zones 0 to 2 (essentially anywhere within 60cm of the bath, shower tray, or basin). Outside Zone 2 (further than 60cm), 13A sockets are permitted but must be 3 metres from Zone 1 boundary in practice. The only socket type allowed in a bathroom adjacent to fittings is a Shaver Socket (220V isolating transformer). We follow the regs strictly, won't fit non-compliant sockets even if asked.
How many sockets does my Fraserburgh kitchen actually need?
BS 7671 doesn't dictate a number, but the IET recommended approach is 'enough that you don't need extension leads'. For a typical 3-bed Fraserburgh kitchen, that's 10 to 14 doubles spread across: above worktop (8 to 10), under-counter (washing machine, dishwasher, fridge), oven dedicated circuit (separate), microwave dedicated, plus 1 in the kitchen island if applicable. Modern kitchens often add 2 to 3 USB-C sockets near the breakfast bar.
Are smart sockets and switches worth it?
Depends on use case. Smart sockets (Shelly Plus Plug, TP-Link Tapo, Sonoff) are worth it if you want energy monitoring of high-load appliances (kettle, oven, EV charger), or scheduled on/off (Christmas tree lights, holiday let appliances), or remote control. £18 to £35 per smart socket. Smart switches are worth it for whole-home lighting control, especially if you want voice control via Alexa, Google, or Apple HomeKit. £85 to £165 fitted per switch.
What's the brown / scorched socket I keep seeing?
Brown discolouration around a socket faceplate is heat damage. Caused by either loose terminals (most common, fixable by tightening), undersized cable for the load (more serious, may need rewiring), or a faulty appliance (sometimes the appliance is the problem, not the socket). Either way, stop using the socket. We diagnose and fix during a fault-finding visit (£85 first hour, often fixed in the same visit). See our fault finding page.
Can you fit outdoor sockets in Fraserburgh's coastal weather?
Yes, with marine grade hardware. IP65 minimum, IP66 preferred for harbour-front and Sandhaven properties. Stainless steel back box, sealed cable gland, RCD protected circuit, mounted under cover (eaves, soffit) where possible. Standard outdoor socket fitted: £140. Marine grade premium: £175. Two-gang for garden + driveway use: £180. We won't fit non-marine kit on coastal properties because of corrosion failure within 2 to 3 years.
Do you replace older sockets or just add new ones?
Both. Replacing old broken/loose/scorched sockets is straightforward, £45 to £65 per single socket replacement on an existing back box. If the back box itself needs replacing (cracked, undersized for modern accessories), £75. Whole-room socket refresh (replacing 6 to 10 sockets to match a new colour scheme): £280 to £450. We use MK, BG, Hager, Crabtree, or Schneider depending on what's already in the property.
Need extra sockets or switches in Fraserburgh? Free quote in 24 hours.
From £85 per socket. USB-C combos, outdoor IP65, smart sockets, dimmers, Lutron Caseta. MK, Hager, BG, Crabtree, Schneider all in stock.