Re: Ugly exterior cable installation
 

So you think it is right that you asked them to install the cables at a huge expense, and then change your mind? It's because of people like you that many companies are having financial difficulties. Someone has to pay for the install. So do you think that all the existing Virgin customers should pay because you didn't check first?

No you weren't being ironic, you were correct.

Re: Ugly exterior cable installation
 

If the proposed solution is to paint the cables white then there's absolutely nothing to prevent them having used white cables to begin with. If you can paint it on the wall you can paint it at the damn factory.

I agree with the OP here. Whoever did the business at VM didn't have half a brain or even bother thinking. Doesn't really take a genius to figure out... Hmm, conservation area. Illegal to modify appearance of building without planning permission. White building. Cable in hand. Not white. Hmm maybe we should... nah NEVER MIND!

As specifically stated, they took pictures of and surveyed the damn thing. It's not asking much to assume people who took photos of something must have LOOKED AT IT. No need to be psychic.

VM got to see the building before install. The OP did not get to see the cable or plans before install. Who's the one needs to be psychic here?

Re: Ugly exterior cable installation
 

The White internal cables go a horrible yellow Color if used on outside over time, also there is no White Siamese cable.
?

Re: Ugly exterior cable installation
 

UV resistant paint my friend. If the technology exists to cover a building in white stuff that doesn't go yellow, the technology exists to cover a cable in white stuff that does not go yellow. The only question is whether VM bother paying someone to do it for them at the factory or whether they expect (potential) customers to do it for them at their own expense. But that's not what we're debating here.

The point is nobody at VM seemed to have applied two brain cells to realise black != white.

Re: Ugly exterior cable installation
 

The vans aren't big enough to carry both. I'm guessing siameese cable is a virgin made to order cable, I imagine if virgin wanted just one reel of White the cost would be high, also if a drop needed replaced there would be no White to replace it with

Re: Ugly exterior cable installation
 

the cables arent painted, it is the plastic that is black.. and even if you overpaint black cables, it is still different to white.

because the cable underneath is still black, and still protected.

so even if the paint is breached or degrades the cable underneath is still protected.

Even if you have white and black cable with the same forumulation of plastic, it is the fact that white is more sensitive to UV than black, that causes the discolouration.. and if you start shoving chamicals and things into the plastic to make it resiliant then it changes the properties of it because it is a polymer.. might become less flexible, tougher or prone to cracking or splitting.

but you cant just paint black cables white... easy to paint a cable once it is in place.

but pre-paint a cable.. then shove it on a reel, then unwind it for installation and then flex it again once in place to clip it in place.. and most of the paint will have cracked or peeled off... paint doesnt lend itself to being resistant to flexing or movements very well.

Re: Ugly exterior cable installation
 

You really don't know much about cables and paint do you?

They don't paint cables to make them different colours you know.

---------- Post added at 23:10 ---------- Previous post was at 23:07 ----------

And they also start to go brittle and crack, causing broken insulation, and the need to replace the cable at the customers cost. I wonder how many people would be complaining to VM when that happened.

Re: Ugly exterior cable installation
 

Re: Ugly exterior cable installation
 

External cable is black...end of story.

The OP said that theirs was the only block in the road not to have VM, so they must have seen other properties. Also if it was such a big issue for the OP, then it is up to them to ask the questions. I mean how else do they expect VM to route the cables?

It's quite simple, you ask questions about any product or service before you buy.

Re: Ugly exterior cable installation
 

Last few posts removed, both of you behave.

Re: Ugly exterior cable installation
 

I think a photgraph of the installation would be useful to see exactly what is being discussed. I notice that somebody suggested this several posts back. So why hasn't it been done?

Re: Ugly exterior cable installation
 

Local property (white pebbledash), black cables have been painted with exterior paint.
Looks that owner had similar problems with appearance.

Re: Ugly exterior cable installation
 

Well that is the usual answer. But the OP didn't like the idea because the building has 4 storeys, and a scaffolding would be expensive. But it wouldn't need the expense of a scaffolding, because the painter coild use a cherry picker (which I should think is what VM used).

Re: Ugly exterior cable installation
 

it would have been stated in the site survey that black cable would have been ran and this would have been okayed for the planning permission to been given. So surely the OP should have asked questions during the site survey.
How is this VM's fault. Someone most hold a freelance of ownership on the building you should be taking this up with them as they would have agreed to the work bein carried out and would have overseen everything!

So obviously the planning permission was agreed for black cable to be ran.

Re: Ugly exterior cable installation
 

I work with painted pvcu all the time ,do you have any idea of how hard it is to get paint to stick to plastic without changing the structure of the plastic and allowing for movement of the material .The op is being ridiculous and moaning about nothing ,the cables will get painted over the next time the building gets painted .

---------- Post added at 19:03 ---------- Previous post was at 18:58 ----------

Not sure that planning permission is required for this as it's only a conservation area not listed properties .Conservation areas tend to be mainly concerned with structural alterations such replacement windows ,conservatories and extensions ,but yes the work would have been passed through the LA and agreed between them ,the building owner and VM so my advice to the op is to quit whining about this trivial matter and get onto the building owner to have it painted if it bugs the tennants that much