Rewiring old house

Carmk2008

We have just had an offer accepted on our next house, which needs a lot of work, don't mind as I am fairly handy. It is going to require rewiring, to what extent I don't know, I will find out in a few weeks. Question is how hard is it even just to do first fix and then get sparky to connect, trying to keep costs down to a minimum, any info much appreciated.

fezster

If you have floorboards upstairs and downstairs, then it's a case of lifting those to run the cables. Then the cables need to be chased into the walls for sockets and light switches, which is extremely messy. You can then try to patch up the chases, which is very time consuming, or you can have the walls skimmed again (which is obviously expensive).

baldelectrician

Carmk2008 wrote: »

Question is how hard is it even just to do first fix and then get sparky to connect, trying to keep costs down to a minimum, any info much appreciated.

I would not recommend this- if an electrican does ALL the electical work and buys ALL the materials then he / she is responsible

If you buy / do some of the work then it is unclear who is responsible when / if something happens.

When looking for an electrican look for a registered contractor

In Scotland
https://www.select.org.uk

Rest of UK

https://www.niceic.com or
http://www.electricalcompetentperson.co.uk/

Carmk2008

Don't mind doing the plastering, full house will be getting upgraded and will be looking to future proof so all tips welcome.

Heedtheadvice

I am see the logic behind baldleccy's advice and is surely the safest way to get a complete professional install with comeback if anything goes wrong.

However that does not really answer the question? Several things to consider before going down that route.
Are you willing to take responsibility if there is a problem?
Are you able to properly plan the rewire?
Can you do an install at first fit to a good standard that is good enough to meet regs?
Can you get a registered electrician to inspect the fit (when cable runs etc. can still be seen) and then finalise the install and test to give you a certificate.

If you can do or get agreement to do these then you have a fighting chance to save some money which is your aim. Some electrical engineers will not touch work done by others being a mixture of protectionism, the difficulty and ability to ensure everything meets regs and complications if tests are not passed as to who rectifies (unquantifiable costs possibly) and the consequential extra unplanned visits.

Mind you some might just be glad of the work!
Certainly parts can be purchased at significant savings compared to what you could be charged and the labour aspects for running in cables and making good can be worthwhile but you still need to have the competence to plan and install properly!

stator

Will you be needing the electrics whilst you do the rewire? If so it could get messy. You would need to make new holes in the joists for the new cables before removing the old ones, which isn't good. Holes in joists should be kept to a minimum.

If the house isn't occupied then I don't see any reason why you can do a lot of the hard work yourself. You just need to do the research to find which cables to use (LSZH Twin core & Earth for most of it, various grades).

Essentially you pull up all the floor boards and carpets and pull new cables through the old holes. Finding out which cable to use isn't hard. Then you pay an electrician to fit the devices on the end of the cables. Junction boxes may also be needed so you might need to leave some floor boards up for him. If the cables are already run through the walls you shouldn't need to replaster, just pull the new cable through the old cable holes.

Carmk2008

I do agree with bald electrician to some extent as there is nothing worse than following someone else's mess.
That said I work I am fairly confident that I can do a good enough job that can be connected and signed off as I have done quite a few renovations just not a rewire.

martinthebandit

Carmk2008 wrote: »

I do agree with bald electrician to some extent as there is nothing worse than following someone else's mess.
That said I work I am fairly confident that I can do a good enough job that can be connected and signed off as I have done quite a few renovations just not a rewire.

If it was me I would be tempted to do all of the 'grunt work' lifting floorboards, chasing the walls, making good etc and leave all the wiring type stuff to the sparkie.

Risteard

baldelectrician wrote: »

Rest of UK

www.niceic.com or
http://www.electricalcompetentperson.co.uk/

To be clear the electricalcompetentperson website is ONLY valid in England and Wales. It only lists Domestic Installers for Part P of the Building Regulations in England & Wales and has no merit elsewhere.

In the Six Counties the NICEIC website should be used to find Approved Contractors or alternatively the ECA website.

(The NICEIC website can also be used in Scotland as well as SELECT.)