Rewiring, what do we need to think about

[Lemonylemony]

We’re in the process of buying a house, and it’s become obvious that it needs rewiring, so we’re thinking we’ll do this before we move in. Therefore we need to make all the decisions relating to this ASAP when we complete, so I’m trying to do all the prep work research now. Watching YouTube videos of electricians rewiring houses....what a mess!

What do we need to think about to be ready to make decisions?

I’ve got:

• placement of plug sockets
• type of plug sockets (singles, doubles, USB ports? Smart sockets are a thing too apparently?)
• location & height of light switches
• style of sockets and switches - white plastic, chrome, brushed steel, copper, black nickel....argh
• do we want to move any lights - have wall lights anywhere?
• there’s a hard wired smoke alarm system - should we be updating this at the same time?
• DP wants some kind of security system, is this an opportunity to get something hardwired in at the same time?

Also not sure how to approach the kitchen/dining/rear extension area, at the moment this is 3 connected rooms, the original galley kitchen has a hatch in the wall to the dining room, and both rooms have large archways on to the full width rear extension opening on to the garden. We plan to take down the wall between the kitchen and dining room to open the space up, and have the kitchen going along the remaining kitchen wall through the arch and out into extension, maybe with an island around the pillar that will be left between the archways. But weren’t planning on doing that for a while, so if we’re rewiring now, how do we account for future changes?

Sorry we are FTBers. And hopefully not planning to move for a long long time if ever. I really want to get this right.

"Do not hide switches and sockets inside cupboards."

let's suppose, say, your washing machine counterweight breaks, and it starts dancing round the kitchen. Or the tumbledrier catches fire and flames are pouring out around the control panel. Or your cat's tail get's caught in the cakemixer. Or the deep frier catches fire and burning fat is spilling out.

you want to turn it off without getting close enough to injure you.

Open the cupboards. Pull out the cornflakes and christmas puddings. Look towards the back. Is it that one? Nope. Try the cupboard with the kitchen mixer and the crate of baked beans. Lift them out. Stick your head inside and grope about. Is it that one? Nope. Maybe the one on the other side?

I’m sure you don’t mean to, but that post came across as pretty patronising. You could just say “for ease of accessibility when needing to shut off in an emergency situation”. Perhaps you meant to be funny, sorry, it didn’t come across as amusing to me. Switches in cupboards is very standard everywhere I’ve ever lived, we just make sure we know where they are and don’t block them!

Anyway. Thanks all for the input. I’ve compiled a big list of considerations with a master list & specific thoughts for each room, which we’ll have ready to fine tune once we’re actually in the property and discuss with the electricians.

@Lemonylemony

I’m sure you don’t mean to, but that post came across as pretty patronising. You could just say “for ease of accessibility when needing to shut off in an emergency situation”. Perhaps you meant to be funny, sorry, it didn’t come across as amusing to me. Switches in cupboards is very standard everywhere I’ve ever lived, we just make sure we know where they are and don’t block them!

Anyway. Thanks all for the input. I’ve compiled a big list of considerations with a master list & specific thoughts for each room, which we’ll have ready to fine tune once we’re actually in the property and discuss with the electricians.

Its quite standard currently to put them in a accessible cupboard as that's the fashionable thing to do in kitchens right now. Obviously for accessibility its better off out, other options being a large grid plate on the wall with all the appliances on it or double pole switches/fused connection units above the counter near to each appliance.

I’m not quite sure how to approach the kitchen electrics at this time - we’ll be replacing it in a few years anyway, including taking a wall down, so it seems silly to put much effort into it now, but equally want to do as much ground work at this stage as is practical/possible.

If there is somewhere accessible above the kitchen your electrician could run a coil of cable out and leave it conveniently placed ready to be brought down when the kitchen is done, or connect your existing kitchen circuit to a new cable from the distribution board at the easiest points and alter the rest in the future, that goes for sockets, cooker, oven etc. When it comes to lights if you want down-lights either put them in where you think you'll want them now or you may have to drop the ceiling or lift the floors above when the kitchen is done.

The previous poster was spot on about neutrals in your light switch back boxes for smart terminals etc.

Think about getting deeper back boxes put in as well, for the light switches and sockets. You can then change sockets over in future without worrying if they are deep enough.

Maybe think about spare slots in the consumer unit in case you need an electric car charger in the future or electrics in the garden.

Also would support idea of having extra sockets than you think you need initially. I had some added to landings and bottom of the stairs etc for ease of hoovering instead of reaching behind sofas etc and the porch for battery charging the car/ pressure washing etc.

Sockets in an under the stairs or similar type walk in cupboard are useful for cordless vacuum. Outdoor sockets for lawnmower/garden lighting. Triple sockets at bedside (lamps, chargers, alexa type devices). I decided against usb sockets, would rather just have a charger that I can switch off. Think carefully about ceiling lighting - friends have bedside ceiling lights with wall switches next to bed (hotel room style) instead of bedside lamps which looks very smart and stylish in their very modern home. Lighting over a dining area, kitchen island etc. Are you likely to now, or in future mount tv's on the wall? If so, think about where sockets would go. Sockets in entrance, hallway, landings for lamps/plugging in a hoover etc.

I’m trying to persuade DP of the attraction of hotel-style lighting/sockets/switches in the bedroom. I think it’s relaxing and luxurious. He thinks it’s impersonal and unhomely. I think this reflects our respective opinions on hotels!

There is a bit of a tendency, with the advent of low energy appliances, to use 16A radial circuits. Resist this and go for 32A rings.

@rslsys

There is a bit of a tendency, with the advent of low energy appliances, to use 16A radial circuits. Resist this and go for 32A rings.

Rings are outdated the only rooms ever likely to need a 32A socket circuit generally are a kitchen/utility, a 20A radial is more than sufficient for use in general rooms unless your planning a cannabis grow.