Before you begin, read these top suggestions if you’re thinking about house rewiring. Although rewiring may not be the most glamorous aspect of home renovation, it is a definite necessity.
Our electrical systems, which are designed to meet these requirements, evolve along with our changing electricity needs. Before starting any rewiring project, you should be aware of the 10 house rewiring tips that are detailed in this guide.
1. Hire a registered electrician
A registered installer must inspect, approve, and certify any electrical work you perform inside your home. Building control bodies, such as the local authority in your area, or “registered third-party certifiers,” such as licensed electricians, can grant approval.
Registered and certified electricians are well aware of local regulations. For instance, Part P of the Buildings Regulations regulates significant alterations and new additions (such as new kitchens and extensions) to UK homes that affect electrical safety in residential buildings.
2. Understand when rewiring is needed
Homes that haven’t been renovated or rewired in more than 20 to 30 years typically need work. This is due to the wiring’s potential for danger as well as the fact that more outdated wiring systems cannot keep up with contemporary living demands.
A house needs to be rewired if it has outdated round switches, rubber or fabric cabling that was last installed in the 1960s, or sockets that are fixed to the skirting boards. Circuit breakers and residual circuit devices will be present in a modern consumer unit (RCDs).
There are fuses in an old fuse box with replaceable wires. It needs to be replaced if you have a fuse box with a wooden back and a variety of fuses, possibly even cast iron.
Some notifiable electrical installation jobs are:
- a new consumer unit or fuse box
- a new circuit for a stove, shower, or immersion heater
- current circuits that require modification
3. Plan carefully before work starts
Planning is essential for a successful house rewiring project. There are safety requirements that must be followed for all electrical installations, but you also have the option to redesign your home’s electrical system to meet your contemporary needs. Planning should take these factors into account;
- Accommodation during works
- locations of new power points
- Restoration projects such as decorating
- Making the installation future-proof
4. Try to not have add-ons midway through
They take a lot of money and time. Drawing a floor plan of your house on graph paper, labelling the locations of the beds, sofas, kitchen cabinets, and other furniture, is one way to prevent them.
The necessary switches and lighting can then be taken into account. When planned ahead of time, small tasks like installing under-cabinet and bedside lighting are simple to complete but expensive to complete later. Keep in mind smoke and heat detectors, garden RCD safety sockets, and exterior security lights in addition to task, mood, and feature lighting.
5. Consider futureproofing
We live in a highly consumerist culture that is addicted to “tech.” Mood lighting, surround sound, fast Wi-Fi, kitchen gadgets, and TVs in the bathroom are examples of electrics that fall under this category.
Electrical circuits must be capable of handling the task, and you must make a plan.
To ensure uninterruptible Wi-Fi, do you want ethernet cable installed in every room, or just in the living and sleeping areas? Do you want a security system or speakers in every room?
6. Move away from the property if possible
Full rewires usually happen when homes are empty, but for hardened homeowners it is possible to live in one room while having work happen around you. If you can’t move out, dust-cover furniture and expensive items, preferably moving electrical equipment into a separate room, as this is not your electrician’s responsibility.
Get your electrician to install the new consumer unit and prep your habitable room with a temporary supply of sockets.
7. Create a budget for house rewiring costs
How much does the house rewiring cost is possibly a question that most people have. The price is affected by things like the size and location of your home. In general, the cost ranges from £6,000 to £9,000 for homes with four to five bedrooms, which are considered to be larger homes.
Your house’s rewiring will cost more to do and take more time as it gets bigger. Rewiring a one-bedroom home typically takes 4–7 days, while rewiring a three-bedroom home typically takes 6–10 days.
Due to variations in contractor costs, your region in the UK will also have an impact on prices.
7. Try to learn how electricians work
For domestic work, the majority of skilled and qualified electricians use a fixed price before adding charges for modifications. The majority include first fix supply and installation, which comes with cabling and back boxes as standard, and then discuss the second fix’s specification with the client.
With a helpful electrician, you can try to reduce costs by doing all the preparation work for them, such as removing plasterwork, lifting floorboards, and generally making access simple to save time. The skilled renovator can chase plaster out to precisely where they want sockets and switches, purchase the switches, sockets, and lighting, and possibly even assist with the installation as long as both you and your electrician are aware of the division of tasks prior to the start of work.
Although a professional frequently receives preferential trade rates, you should double-check whose prices are the best. You might find some good prices online.
8. Look into doing certain work yourself
We do not recommend doing any of the work yourself. Doing any form of electrical work yourself carries a significant risk, both from a financial and health and safety standpoint. If you would like to do any of the preparation work then please feel more than welcome. For example, lifting carpets, loosening floorboards, moving furniture, etc.
9.Saving costs by getting it done right the first time
In so many cases we have seen our customers hire an electrician because their quote came in much cheaper. Similarly to plumbing, electrics is something you do not want to go cheap on because of the extra cost involved in correcting poor installations.
For example, a customer of ours hired a local electrician because their quote came in £1,500 cheaper. 6 months later we were called in to rectify mistakes made and shortcuts taken. In the end, this cost the customer £2,500 more compared to if they had accepted the most expensive quote initially.
10. Ignore generic quotes
It is crucial to request a range of written quotes rather than a single estimate when getting your rewiring costs.
If you choose an immediate and straightforward quote, it could have unfavourable effects, like electricians later adding extra hidden fees.
An itemised list and a cost breakdown should be included in a good quote to provide transparency and ensure a smooth project.
Looking to rewire your house?
Are you looking for an electrician to rewire your house? If you are then please contact us for a free quote and consultation today!
