Rewiring a house - what's involved?

bobh567

I've found lots of threads about quotes for rewiring electrics...but what is actually involved

Recently moved house and the electrics were last tested in 1989. But they appear to be very old. I'm pretty clueless to be honest!! I want to redecorate but makes sense to get this pricey procedure completed first, right?

The consumer unit uses plugs with fuse wire and there are black rubber insulated cables leading to the box (!). I know this is not a good sign!!

So do I need to get an electrical survey done? Do I need to get the house rewired?!

What's involved in the rewiring? Ripping through walls, taking up floorboards, replacing sockets/light fittings/switches? Is the house habitable while being done?!

Any help appreciated!! Thank you for reading!

MarkyMarkD

Plugs with fuse wire aren't necessarily a sign of an unsafe obsolete electrical system. Our house was built in 1983 and had plugs with fuse wire until I chose to replace them with contact breakers. But they didn't need replacing.

bobh567

Thanks Mark.

Our house is from the 1930s though!!

Anyway, I read somewhere that the rubber insulated cables are a no no.

totalsolutions

Rubber is dangerous and deteriorates in the wall out of sight. Have it checked out, and yes I would have thought ripping through walls, taking up floorboards, replacing sockets/light fittings/switches is about it.

MarkyMarkD

I would agree that if it's original 1930s cabling it's probably well overdue for replacement. I rewired my first (1930s or 1940s) house. But if the wiring's that old, I'm surprised you have standard sockets. As you haven't mentioned the sockets being old, either they've (wrongly) just replaced the sockets at some time, or they've had some rewiring done but quite a long time ago.

bobh567

Thanks guys.

I'm not too sure about the age of it all. I'd be very surprised too if it's the original cabling. All the sockets are moden and work fine. I haven't had any problems with the electrics but it just looks very old!!

I guess I will just get an electrical survey done and assume they will tell me that it needs to be done!!

Keefy_B

Those old TRS (tough rubber sheath) cables need replacing.I'm suprised it was'nt picked up on the 1989 test report.You do have it,...dont you?Or are you going by the sticker on the consumer unit?
An installation of that age will also probably mean the lighting circuits are not earthed and the earthing/bonding is non existant/inadequate.
You are going the right way by having a survey done.
It is possible to continue living in the house while any rewiring is being done.Bewarned though,it will make the job take about four times longer,as essential circuits will have to be energised again at the end of the working day.And yep,flooring,carpets will have to come up and furniture moved.

bobh567

Thanks Keefy

I've only recently moved in and the information was passed on by the previous owner. I don't have the actual report though.

Now looking for a good deal on a survey!!

I was planning on doing some major redecorating. But this will all have to go hold now...and instead will be a pricey bill for rewiring but I understand this is a priority!

I guess it may be cheaper to stay in some cheap hotel while it's being done to reduce the cost of the rewiring.

matbe

I wouldnt waste my money on an inspection if its as bad as you say. (Rubber cables) I would go straight to a decent spark ask his opinion and get a qoute for a rewire.

try to get someone recomended, do you know anyone in your area ?

Get a couple of other qoutes just for peace of mind

lilyann1

Moved inot our house built in 1950's and the survey said electrics MAY need looking
at.
When we got electricians in they al said it was dangerous as it is the old black wiring. They even condemned our garage and utility areas and said don't ever change a light bulb until it is rewired.
We got 3 quotes and they ranged from £3800 to £8000!!!!
Needless to say we chose the one for £3800 as he was also recommended to us.

It took about 4 weeks and did involve riping up carpets and channeling through walls but at least we are safe now for years to come.

27col

The problem with rewiring is that you have to have most of the floors up at the same time, it all tends to go back together near the end of the job. If you have to cut out apertures for sockets and switches, it makes a hell of a mess. I always used to try to persuade customers to leave the house for a few days as it is very difficult to provide them with some sort of continuity of supply while the work is being done, and definitely adds to the time taken on the job. I used to find that rubber wiring was all right until you disturbed it. Then the insulation, which had usually gone hard, would crack and fall off. This could be a nightmare if you were just trying put a new fitting of some sort on the old wiring. I tended to avoid this type of job, because it made it almost impossible to estimate. I agree with Matbe, don't bother with an inspection, just get it replaced. It was always reckoned that the life of rubber wiring was about 25 years, so yours is already geriatric.