As Bedfordshire's leading specialist in full and partial rewiring of domestic properties we have answered many questions about rewiring over the years,.
please see below and if you cannot find the answer to your question please do get in touch and we'll endeavour to assist.
Does my house need to be rewired?
There are no set guidelines as to when a property should be rewired. Just because your wiring is old, does not mean that it is unsafe. However, if you answer yes to any of these questions then a rewiring may be needed:
Has the rubber encasing your electrical wires degraded since it was installed in the 1960’s?
Have the lights stopped working?
Has your home been flooded?
Are you moving into a property or extending your property and need to make sure the electrics are safe?
A rewire provides the perfect opportunity to start afresh, with a blank sheet of paper and design fixture and fittings to suit your requirements.
How old is the wiring in my home?
Even through your electrical cables are inside your walls there are clear signs that can help you tell the age of electrical installation in your home. As a general guide...
Cables coated in black rubber were phased out in the 1960s.
Cables coated in lead or fabric were installed before the1960s.
A fusebox with a wooden back, cast iron switches, or a haphazard mixture of fuse boxes was installed before the 1960s.
Older round pin sockets and round light switches, braided flex hanging from ceiling roses, brown and black switches and sockets mounted in skirting boards dates back to before the 1960s.
Wall-mounted light switches in bathrooms dates back to before the 1960s.
What should I do before the rewiring starts?
Rewiring requires significant preparatory work on your part before the project can start. There are 2 aspects to this:
Deciding what you want i.e. what fixtures and fittings you want moved / changed. In our experience costs go up because clients change their minds during the job. So we work with you at the outset to explore the options. We recommend that you take the time beforehand to do your research and explore options before deciding on what you want.
Packing away your precious items away for safe keeping. Whilst we do clean up after ourselves, a significant amount of dust particles will be dislodged in the process. This dust can take days to settle after we have finished the job.
On completion we do carry out a thorough clean up but as mentioned the dust usually takes days to settle so you will be noticing the effects after we have left.
What to expect during a rewiring project ?
Assuming you are living in the property you will find rewiring a messy, invasive process that can take between 5 – 8 days. A team of 2 to 3 electricians will be working in your home, starting at the roof level, working down. It is a stressful, disruptive and messy job.
In our experience the negatives are minimised when there is a clear understanding of your requirements at the outset, regular liaison with you and clear, open communications. Also worth noting that on completion even though we would carry out a thorough clean up, the dust does usually takes a further 2-3 days to settle so you will be noticing the effects even after we have left which may impact on entertaining.
What is the process Woolgar uses for rewiring projects?
We start the process with free quote visit. This is always a senior electrician usually a Director who ascertains the extent of the project and what your exact requirements are. When he visits your home he will explore options with you and discuss the cost ramifications so you can make an informed decision and avoid any surprises.
We then provide a comprehensive quotation by email detailing the schedule and all fittings and accessories to be used. If you want to proceed, we then agree a commencement date. Sometimes clients may move out during the job; we do not mind either way although ideally you are still available (even by phone) so that the lines of communication stay open throughout the project..
What issues do I need to consider?
Rewiring is disruptive and takes time – you need to allow at least 10 days of disruption that would include the preparatory work, the actual work and then the unpacking, clear up or redecorating afterwards.
Also if you have laminated flooring this is often an issue and you may find you have to relay that whole floor.
My house has been flooded, do I need to rewire?
If there is major flood damage to the electrics caused by either clean or contaminated water, then it is likely that parts of the electrical installation will need to be rewired.
Call us for a free consultation meeting on 01525 409917. If rewiring is necessary, you may want to ask about the possibility of raising the height of the newly installed electrical equipment, including raising the fuse box and sockets to above any future expected flood level.
How much does rewiring my home cost?
The cost of rewiring does depend on the extent, the fittings and the size of the property. Here is a rough guide for your information.
The rewiring of a typical two-bedroom home can cost anywhere between £1,800 – £3,000, depending on the size of your home and specification of your newly chosen fittings. For larger homes the price can raise to anything as high as £9,000. To request a quote call us on 01525 404880 or complete our feedback form.
Fyi as part of the preliminary consultation meeting we will discuss your ideas and help you find a suitable compromise between function and style and cost - making sure all your ideas are feasible. We then send you quote by email.
Why get your home rewired?
Most rewires happen on homes being renovated, extended or if the house is forty to fifty years old.
If is age related you may find that either there is an electrical breakdown or a shortage of outlets. Rewiring allows you to update your old fittings and choose how many sockets you require and where they are best located.
Most people also take the opportunity during rewiring to install energy efficient lighting and smart controls to reduce their electricity bills.
Why use Woolgar to rewire your home?
We have been established since 1952 with over 30 years of rewiring experience also because we are not a one man band we can dedicate a team to work on your project allowing us to work more efficiently.
We offer ongoing support and a 1 year warranty. Our team are available to answer queries long after the job is complete and you’ve forgotten the specifics of what to do if the system trips.
Our quibble-free guarantee on all Wylex or Hager parts plus our quality NIC approved workmanship – fyi NIC is the elite industry standard encompasses the latest innovations in electrical safety.
Can I part rewire my house?
You can part rewire a house but it is best to make sure the extent of the rewire is both clearly defined and documented. in most cases it is not worth doing half a job but our pricing surveys are free so it wont cost you anything to ask.
Can you find out when a house was rewired?
You should be able to tell if a house has been rewired recently just by looking. Look at the age of the switches and sockets. Look at the fuse box (consumer unit). You can ask to do this when being shown around a property you are thinking of buying, or by inspecting your home.
If there is an old style fuse box with a wooden base, with big white ceramic- style fuses or rewirable fuses, then the chances are that the property needs completely rewiring.
if the rewire was done by a reputable company there will be an 'important' notice on the fuse box detailing when it was last tested. it the period between the last test and the next recommended test is ten years then that will have been the rewire date.
Simply, a good job by a reputable firm with good engineers looks good. If you see a mix of socket styles at different heights, some surface & some chased in and a messy fuse box you need to consider our testing offer.
Old round pin sockets or original dolly switches, are a sign that a rewire may be necessary.
Unless the wiring is the modern PVCu coated type, then a rewire is likely to be necessary. If you see any old rubber insulated cabling, fabric insulated cabling (used until the 1960s), or lead insulated cabling (1950's) then it needs replacing as the insulation just crumble. If in doubt take a few picture and e-mail them to us.
Contact us
Contact us for all your commercial and large scale domestic electrical requirements. We are conveniently situated between Bedford, Luton and Milton Keynes next to the M1.
Feel free to contact us using the details below, or fill in our contact form here and a member of our team will be in touch shortly.
Main Telephone Number 01525 404880
Mobile Number (24 Hours) 07885 331325
Emergency Number 07746 243248
