The electrical wiring in any home is very important, so you need to ensure it’s modernised and up-to-date to avoid any faults. Of course, the electrics can be very dangerous and failure to upgrade old wiring could be hazardous. If you live in an older property then it’s more likely you’ll need to consider replacing the wiring.
Essentially, a house should be rewired every 25 years or so, which means if your property is over 25–years-old, it’s best to find out if you need to upgrade the electrical wiring. The older the property, the more chance it won’t meet electrical safety standards.
You shouldn’t need telling, but this isn’t a job to tackle yourself. Messing with the wires can be very dangerous and may even lead to a fatality. That’s why you should only consider bringing in a Part P registered electrician for the job.
But how much is this going to cost? It’s quite a big job, so let’s have a look at the prices.
House rewire costs
As with anything, the cost you can expect to pay will vary depending on the size of your home and how many rooms there are. Consumer service Which? believe the following to be a good estimation for house rewires:
- An average 2 bed terraced – £2,200 to £3,000
- An average 3 bed semi – £2,800 to £4,000
- An average 4 bed detached – £3,400 to £5,000
What happens during a house rewire?
House rewiring can take quite some time and depending on your home it could take anywhere between five and fifteen days to complete. Speaking with the electrician beforehand will help you get a better understanding of how long it’ll take.
All the old wires will be stripped out and replaced with modern fittings. This includes sockets and circuit boards too, so some properties will need more carried out than others.
How to tell if your home needs rewiring
As already mentioned rewiring should take place every 25 years. This is the best way to ensure safety standards are continually met. Modern wiring is coated in uPVC and will be white or grey. Meanwhile, the older wiring is black and coated in rubber.
It makes sense to take a look at your fuse box too as there are so many properties with older ones still in place. These will typically have wooden backs.