House Rewires
Full and partial rewires across Leeds and North Yorkshire, including an honest answer about whether you actually need one.
A rewire is the most disruptive electrical job there is, and a good proportion of the people who ask us for one do not need one.
That is worth saying first, because the alternative, quoting for a full rewire because that is what was asked for, is how the trade gets its reputation.
Do you actually need one?
Some genuine indicators:
- Rubber, lead or fabric-insulated cable. If your wiring predates the 1960s it needs replacing.
- A fuse box with rewireable fuses, or no RCD protection at all.
- Sockets and switches that are warm, discoloured or scorched.
- Recurring faults across multiple circuits rather than one.
- A full inspection and test returning multiple C1 or C2 codes across the installation.
And some things that are not on their own a reason to rewire: an old-looking consumer unit, which may just need replacing; too few sockets, which is usually additional circuits; one problematic circuit, which is a repair.
If you are unsure, a full inspection and test tells you the actual condition of the installation, and costs a fraction of a rewire.
What a rewire actually involves
Cables run in walls, floors and ceilings, which means lifting floorboards, chasing plaster and taking up carpet. There is no version of this that is not disruptive, and anyone suggesting otherwise is managing your expectations badly.
A typical three-bedroom house is around five to ten days depending on access, construction and whether you are living in it. Older solid-wall property takes longer than a modern build.
What we can control is how it is done: room by room where you are living there, dust-sheeted, cleared each evening, and with a realistic schedule given before we start rather than revised during.
We rewire to BS 7671 and test the installation fully, and you receive the test results at the end. A rewire is notifiable work under Part P, and we will confirm the notification route for your job before we start.
Partial rewires
Frequently the right answer. If a previous owner rewired the ground floor and left the upstairs on old cable, there is no sense redoing sound work.
We will tell you if a partial is genuinely appropriate. We will also tell you when it is false economy, mixing old and new can leave you paying twice.
Common questions
Usually not. Most rewires are done room by room around the occupants. It is not pleasant, but it is manageable. Larger jobs are sometimes easier for everyone if the house is empty.
Chased walls need making good. We leave the plaster ready for finishing, and can arrange plastering if you would rather it was handled in one go.
Around five to ten days for a typical three-bedroom house, longer for larger or solid-walled property. We give you a schedule before starting.
Sometimes, and it can spread the cost. We will explain where staging works and where it will cost more overall.
The installation is wired and tested to BS 7671 and you receive the full test results. A rewire is notifiable under Part P, and we will confirm before we start how notification will be handled on your job. Keep the paperwork. You will need it when you sell.
Request a quote
Tell us what you need and we will come and look. Straight advice, and a price before we start.