If you own a property that is between 25-50 years old, you may be in danger: The effects of poor or worn out wiring could be potentially devastating. Even if the property you own is being renovated, it is essential that you know if any rewiring work is necessary, in order to alleviate any possible risks or hazards from faulty wires; faulty wires and appliances can also lead to injuries such as electrocution and potential fire hazards, which emphasises the importance of properly tending to and rewiring a property correctly. Read on to find out more about how your property can be rewired quickly and efficiently with our expert electricians.
Does my house need rewiring?
There are a number of noticeable factors when a property is in need of rewiring. As mentioned before, a property that is 50 years old and has its original wiring will most likely need to be rewired, not just for safety reasons, but also in order to meet modern standards. If you are interested in purchasing an older property, a thorough check must be completed by a electrician before buying, to make sure the wiring is safe. The recommendation for an inspection is every 10 years for a property owned by you and every five years for a rented property; if you are extending part of your house or converting it, all new and updated wiring will need to comply with the latest Building Regulations to ensure safety and security. As well as improving safety in a household, rewiring also creates the chance to improve your quality of life. For example, a larger number of switches and plugs can be installed with a rewire, which means that the number of appliances in a household can increase, including televisions, radios and home computers. There are several warning signs if you are unsure whether of not your property needs rewiring- circuit breakers that trip regularly are a major sign, as they can lead to an overload in current, which means that appliances will receive too much energy from the plug. In addition, flickering or dimming lights indicate a fault in the wiring including damaged or exposed wires. If you spot any of these warning signs, call our expert electricians to get the best experience when rewiring your property.
01795 484 115 or email us rjaelectricalservices@live.co.uk
Costs to rewire a house in 2020 in the UK
One of the most frequent questions asked by clients is "How much does it cost to rewire a property?" The cost is dependent on a number of factors that you will have to consider. For example, if your property is larger, such as a 4 or 5 bedroom house, the average cost will be between £3,500 and £6,500. As size of a property increases, so does cost and the amount of time needed in order to rewire the entire property: a 1 bedroom house will take on average between 4-5 days, whereas a 3 bedroom house will take 5-7 days to rewire.
In addition, it is essential that you plan this out carefully, as electricians will often work faster in an empty, quiet environment, which means you must be prepared for all circumstances. Furthermore, your location in the UK can also have an effect on the overall cost because of the regional differences in contractor costs. Scroll down to find out more about rewiring costs and average time taken to rewire a property.
Property type, Time & Costs
2 Bedroom house 4-5 days Between £2,400 and £4500
3 Bedroom house 5-7 days Between £3,000 and £5500
4 Bedroom house 6-8 days Between £3,750 and £6500
Please note: Costs and times are estimates based on previous projects completion and may vary depending on the complexity of the work required and the age of the property
What is involved in a full house rewire
As a client, one of the most significant things to understand about rewiring is what is included in a full house rewire, as there will be changes in sockets and cables as well as wires. A full house rewire is made up of two processes: the first process is usually completed before walls are plastered and ideally should be done without furniture or carpets, so if you are moving into a new property, we would advise that you have the property rewired before adding furniture, to avoid any future problems. Generally, this process is called the "First Fix"; actual wiring is installed as well as back boxes for all sockets and switches in your property.
This should only be done by a licensed electrician due to safety reasons. The second process is known as the "Second Fix" which is mainly made up of connecting the electrics by fitting the switches, sockets and lights. A consumer unit will also need to be connected, which you can find out more about on our "Fuse Box Replacement Service" page. During a full house rewire, all existing wiring will need to be taken out and replaced with new wiring to ensure safety and alleviate any hazards. In addition, all sockets will be fixed, including on heat detectors, cooker points and lighting.
Rewiring a house yourself? Although it is possible to do the job yourself, we highly recommend that you get a licensed, qualified electrician to rewire your property, as it will need to be verified under all circumstances by an electrician anyway. Rewiring a property is not for amateurs and can have serious consequences if not done properly, including fires and electrocution. Not only could this put lives in danger, but insurance companies may not pay out in the event of a fire, due to the fact that the wiring was poorly and incorrectly done by an amateur. Rewiring your property is not illegal, however, it is regulated by law under "Part P" of Building Regulations; the council will also have to check that you have done the job correctly which they will need to do at different points of the installation. They do charge you for this service, which emphasises that you will be better off getting your property correctly rewired by a qualified electrician, to ensure safety and security.
How long does the wiring in a house last? Generally, the life expectancy of wiring is dependent on the wiring's insulation, which can differ. You can expect a life expectation of a full rewiring to be up to 30 years depending on usage. If you are unsure of the wiring your property has, we highly recommend that you get your property checked by our licensed electricians.
Does rewiring a house make a mess? It is all dependent on the size and layout of your property. If you own a larger property, it is likely that floorboards will have to come up in order to rewire the entire property correctly which is why we recommend that you rewire before moving into a new property.
Do I need to rewire my house to sell it? The best option is to get a periodic inspection by a qualified electrician in order to highlight any abnormalities; any outdated electric wiring means you won't pass the inspection and may need to rewire the property. However, if the wiring is relatively new (1-5 years old), then rewiring is not necessary.
Does rewiring a house save energy? Rewiring your property will not save energy in itself, but the process of replacing old material such as plug sockets and installing more durable and efficient led lighting will.
Does rewiring a house add value? Updated electrical wiring improves the value of your property, as functional modern wiring is essential for any new homeowner. By having your property properly rewired, the value will increase.
