If your property has not been rewired within the last 35 – 40 years that you know of, the chances are it will need rewiring to bring it up to current standards. The existing wiring may be potentially dangerous and may not be able to cope with the demands of modern living.
If you are moving into an older house, then the wiring is something that needs to be checked. Finding an old fuse box is a tell-tale sign that a rewire might be needed but for peace of mind, it’s always worth having a qualified electrician to check this for you. This is a service we offer. See our article regarding EICR’s
It is important to know early on if any rewiring work will be necessary, as it can be disruptive to the fabric and decor of the building, so is best completed before any re-plastering or redecorating takes place.
There are two stages to a rewire. The first part is when all the cables and wiring are installed, and second part is when everything is connected and made ‘live’, when the front faces of sockets, switches and lights are fitted.
The runs of wires go everywhere, under floors, through walls and across ceilings, so the first fix is best done without carpets or furniture, so floorboards can be lifted, ceilings cut into and ‘chases’ cut into walls for the wiring, so sockets and switches can be placed at the correct heights.
At the same time as installing the standard circuits we also install other cabling and wiring, such as data cabling, smoke detectors, wiring to security systems, Ethernet, central heating controls, outdoor lighting and any other extras you may have requested.
What if I currently live there?
If you are currently living in your property, we can plan this out with you, so we cause the minimum amount of upheaval possible. We will always make sure you have some power in the house as we work, including a working router for Wi-Fi and your fridge/boiler etc.
We usually start at the top of the house with the top lighting circuit and work through the upstairs rooms, moving furniture, rolling back carpets and lifting floorboards where necessary. We also chase for new wall switches, in preparation for new boxes to be placed at the required height. Then we will work down through the house in the same manner.
This ensures that the circuits that the kitchen and living areas remain on, so you have power to the kitchen, access to a hot cuppa and all the normal kitchen appliances.
Whatever we move, we put back at the end of the day and make sure everything is left clean and tidy.
Throughout the property, we will put in new faceplates, light switches and fittings and we will replace standard ceiling light pendants.
All the chases we create we fill to 3mm from the wall surface, which can then easily be replastered. We don’t do this ourselves, but we work with a plasterer who we highly recommend and who works on most jobs with us.
We then finish off with changing and connecting the new Consumer Unit. We will also take care of any planned data cabling, doorbells, smoke alarms & SMART systems.
How long will it take?
We estimate that an average three bed house will take two working weeks for a complete rewire if you are living there. If it is empty, then we can reduce this to 8 working days.
How much will it cost?
For a 3 bedroom house, this is around £4,500. (approx. cost as of Jan 2021)
As a rough guide this is made up of £1,000 per bedroom, then £1,500 to cover the other rooms.
Sometimes we are asked if any costs can be saved by the property owner doing some work themselves, but due to the complexity of the building & electrical regulations and the efficiency rate of our work, this is never the case. We are highly qualified professionals and have over twenty years’ experience of rewiring houses, and we keep our prices competitive.
We will make sure that we leave your home in a liveable standard each time we finish for the day, replacing floorboards, keeping the workplace clean and tidy, being mindful that you live there, and you want the least mess possible.
Call us now on 0117 4034 023 to Future-proof your home, for peace of mind and worry-free electrics, all backed by our 10 Year guarantee.
Did you know?
If you are extending your home, or converting an attic or garage, this will constitute new work and therefore all the new wiring will have to conform to Part P: Electrical Safety. This means all the existing wiring will have to be checked to ensure that it is able to carry the additional loads safely.