Eventually, every home is going to require rewiring. Usually, it’s a home that has not been touched or rewired for over two or three decades. After this amount of time, the wiring can be potentially dangerous simply due to age, and it’s also worth considering that older wiring systems will often struggle to meet the demands of modern living as we are using more devices than ever before. If you feel that your house is in need of a rewire, here are some of the main things to consider before you start.
Plan Carefully
It’s important to be aware that rewiring a property can be a lot of messy work that can cause serious disruption. Typically, the rewire will happen in two separate stages. During the first stage, the cables and wiring will be installed, before the second stage where everything is joined up and new sockets and switches are fitted. During the rewire, expect ceilings to be cut into and floorboards to be lifted in order to ensure that the runs of wires are placed where they need to be.
Choose the Right Electrician
It’s important to take a careful approach to a rewire. Like any electrical work, it is subject to regulation and legislation, and you will need to find an experienced, knowledgeable electrician to carry out the work and make sure that it is up to safety standards. Your electrician will likely need to perform an Electrical Installation Condition Report after a rewire and on a regular basis afterwards to ensure that everything is safe and working as it should. You can learn more about this at Trades Facilities Services, who have plenty of information about the EICR and what it covers.
Avoid Additions Mid-Rewire
Adding on extras, or changing your plan mid-way through the rewire, can be a very costly and time-consuming process, so it’s important to make sure that you are happy with your plans before the work begins. One good way to do this is to draw up a plan of your home with each room on graph paper and decide where you are going to position your furniture and other belongings to make it easier for you to decide where you want to place electrical sockets and light switches.
Find Somewhere to Stay
A full rewire will usually happen when the home is empty, and if you’re currently living in the home that you plan to work on, confining yourself to just one room and being without electricity while the work is completed can be tough. It may be worth finding a friend that you can stay with or booking yourself into a nearby hotel so that you have somewhere comfortable to stay while the work is being carried out. Be sure to remove any expensive furniture and items from your home or ensure that they are protected with dust covers.
Rewiring your home is usually an essential job after the electrics have not been updated for 20-30 years. Before you begin, careful planning is crucial to ensure that this large job goes smoothly.
