Full House Rewire

If you are moving into a property with outdated electrics it is a good time to consider a full house rewire. Not only is it an opportunity to improve the electrical safety of your home, it is also a chance to tailor the setup to meet your specific needs. Nearly all electrical installations that are more than 30 years old, and have undergone no subsequent additions, will not have enough socket outlets to cope with modern demands.

why rewire a house?

There are many reasons why you might need to invest in a full house rewire: you might have just moved into an old or period property that has not had its wiring updated, and, as such, it cannot cope with the demands of modern living, for example; or, you may be planning a major home renovation project, extension or conversion, and need to make sure all the wiring within the property is up to standard. Whatever your reasons, here’s what to expect:

two-stage process

There are two main stages to fully rewiring a house. Stage one is generally called the ‘first fix’, and involves installing the actual wiring, as well as back boxes for all the sockets and switches within the home. This is usually done before the walls are plastered and, ideally, without carpets or furniture. Stage two is known as the ‘second fix’, and is all about joining up the electrics by fitting the sockets, switches, lights and consumer unit (fuse box).

old wiring is replaced

Modern twin-earthed wiring is coated with uPVC, so any rubber-insulated, fabric-insulated or lead-insulated cabling (or uPVC cabling that it not twin earthed) needs to be replaced during the first fix. This is to stop safety issues like short circuiting, which can be caused when old wiring rots, which can lead to dangers like electrical fires and electric shocks.

the benefits of rewiring your home

If you're hoping to sell your home, buy an older home, or expand your current home, rewiring is one of the most necessary (and complex) projects you'll need to finish. But even if you're not doing any of that, rewiring your home has some serious benefits for your long-term safety and reliability.