Have you had a rewire done? Looking for tips on what to do/not do & handy to haves

[Anne75D]

We're getting a rewire done in our house and I've spent a lot of time thinking about where the new switches & sockets should go. I'm just not sure if I've got everything covered and whether there's anything I may not have thought about yet.

I'd be grateful for any tips. Maybe there's something you're glad you've done or wish you had/ hadn't done?

Thanks!

Always more sockets than you think need, also if you have DC - i would recommend an ethernet connection close to the sockets. These are super handy for connecting xbox/playstation/computers to!

Hello OP

I completely agree with having more sockets than you think you'll need!

I've gone for sockets with separate USB charging ports built in, they are really handy.

If you've got wall-mounted TV's, mount the electric sockets on the wall directly behind them (high up).

Go for sockets on each side of beds, very handy for lights/gadget charging.

Think about how you want your bathroom light/extractor to work. Do you want them wired separately, so you can have the light on without the extractor? I put the switches on the outside because I don't like pull cords, but you may prefer motion sensor lights that don't need a switch.

Also - bathroom mirror/cabinet. It's definitely worth getting an anti-fog lighted version with an integrated shaving socket.

Would you need or like sockets in your hall or landing? Very handy for vacuum cleaning and for plugging in Christmas decorations!

Any utility rooms/cupboards that would benefit from installing a socket?

Do you have a kitchen island? Always great to have at least one double socket as the island is usually a gathering spot. Someone will want to plug something in!

Also - have a think whether you'd like to hard-wire something in that you're currently running on battery or solar. I had some garden lights hard-wired in and they are so much brighter, plus I can have them on for longer.

in most rooms I'd have a double socket in every corner; and at intervals of not more than three metres along each wall of larger rooms.

One each side of each bed

One each side of each chimneybreast

One at each end of halls and landings

One every 600mm above the worktop (and switches for appliances connected under or above worktop height)

The same in workrooms or home offices where you may have a desk or workbench

One at each end of the loft

An external one close to the front and back door

LAN sockets in each room, and one at each end of a larger family room, and at the TV point. If you have one in the loft or under the stairs you can put your LAN cabinet there....

Include wiring for burgar alarm and surroundsound speakers

You still need wired telephone points because cordless will not work in a power cut, nor cellphones in a Major Incident.

Get plug sockets with USB ports in. Saves hunting for an adapter for every room

We went on holiday when the rewiring was done! That would be my top tip, get out if you can.
We didn’t realise how messy it would be so I’m glad the electrician suggested it.

Just a few ideas, in no particular order.

Design and install a hard-wired linked smoke alarm system. Put a heat alarm in your loft too as a lot of fires start in the roof. It may well save your life. You never have to change batteries and because they are hard linked when one goes off, they all go off. Put one in Kitchen, living room, utility, landing and loft.

In the master bedroom put two double sockets each side of the bed. Amazing how often you need more than two plugs.

Don't bother with LAN cables. Invariably they get put in the wrong position. Invest in a decent MESH wireless (such as BT Whole Home) and you'll get fantastic (100Mb+) everywhere you want in the house.

We've wired an extension recently and put in the wiring for an electric car charging point, to be connected up at a future point when needed.

Think about external lights and cameras too.

Get the sparky to put deep back boxes in for your light switches and run a neutral feed into them too.
The vast majority of ‘smart’ light switches need a neutral to function. You can then have the flexibility to have Alexa/Google/Apple control your lighting but still have ‘traditional’ type wall mounted switches too.

LAN cable between where your internet comes into the house & wherever you will put WIFI extenders; probably upstairs hallway.

Dual gang light switches on all the bedrooms with pendant & LED downlights on separate circuits.

Lots of sockets, including loft, airing cuboard etc. I doubled them up either side of the bed - phone charger/lamp/clock/baby monitor & that's 4 used!

Surge protected consumer unit & separate RCD's for each circuit (RCBO's) - cost's a bit more but it's just a better installation.