Signs your home may need a rewire
Wiring doesn't last forever. An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is the reliable way to find out, but these are common signs that it's worth checking:
- Old rubber, lead or fabric-covered cables
- An old fuse box with rewireable fuses and no RCD protection
- Round-pin sockets, or sockets mounted on skirting boards
- Scorch marks, warm sockets or a burning smell
- Lights that flicker or circuits that trip regularly
- Too few sockets, with extension leads everywhere
How a rewire works
We start with a survey and agree a full plan with you: where every socket, switch and light will go, and what you'd like to add, such as outdoor sockets, USB outlets or data points. The work is usually done in two stages. First fix runs the new cables while floors are up and walls are open. Second fix connects the new consumer unit, sockets and fittings once plastering is done.
A partial rewire is sometimes all that's needed, for example a kitchen, an extension or one floor of a house. We'll tell you honestly which you need.
Living with a rewire
A rewire is disruptive, so we plan it with you. We can work room by room so you keep power to part of the house, protect floors and furniture, and keep the house safe and tidy at the end of every day. When we finish, you receive an Electrical Installation Certificate and the work is notified under Part P.
Common questions
How long does a house rewire take?
It depends on the size of the property and whether it's occupied. A typical occupied three-bedroom house usually takes around one to two weeks. We'll give you a realistic timescale in your quote.
Can I stay in the house during a rewire?
Usually, yes. We plan the work so you have power in part of the house each night wherever possible, and we tidy up at the end of every day.
Will my walls need replastering?
Some chasing of walls is normally needed for new cables. Making good is usually included up to a ready-to-decorate standard, but we'll confirm exactly what's included before you agree to anything.
Do I need a rewire or just a new fuse board?
Not always a full rewire. An EICR tells us the condition of your existing wiring, and sometimes a consumer unit upgrade and some repairs are enough.