When was the last time you had rewiring done at your home? If you can’t remember, the chances are it’s about time you investigated having it done.
But why is rewiring important? It’s because old or faulty electrics can be a fire hazard and could cause electrocution. We’ve put together the top 4 reasons why it might be time to have your home rewired.
If you’re planning major remodelling work
If you’re planning on carrying out major remodelling work that Building Regulations would define as a material alteration, you’ll probably need a part or even full rewiring job done.
You’ll also need to consider upgrading the consumer unit, or fuse box, to ensure that it’s safe and capable to cope with the new wiring.
If your current wiring is 30 years old
If your home hasn’t been rewired in the last 25-30 years, it’s likely that it will need rewiring at least in part. Standards have moved on a lot in that time, and your current wiring could be dangerous.
Older wiring has to work much harder to keep up with the demands of modern life. Think about all the appliances we have now compared to 30 years ago.
Rewiring is needed for extensions or conversions
If you’re extendening your home or converting your loft or garage, all the new wiring will have to meet Part P regulations. But you’ll need to get all your existing wiring updated.
This is because extra rooms means additional loads, so your wiring needs to be able to cope.
If Building Regulations requires upgrades
When you’re extending or remodelling, the rest of your existing wiring doesn’t need to be upgraded. But the exception is where Building Regulations states that upgrading is needed by the energy efficiency requirements they outline. That means if you need central heating controls but your wiring can’t handle it, you’ll need rewiring work done.
How much will rewiring cost? Rewiring is a substantial job and it isn’t cheap. But it is necessary once a generation.
The average price for a kitchen extension rewire, including first and second fix and standard sockets with switches is between £1,000 and £1,500.
Rewire your whole three-bedroom semi detached house and you’re looking at an average of £3,200. The prices will vary depending on where you live and make sure you shop around amongst reputable electricians.
Since rewiring is a large job, you want to make sure that you get a trusted electrician to do this work on your home. Fill in our form below and we’ll put you in touch with up to 4 local electricians who can help you.