Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Occupied rewire, what to expect?

65 replies

PowerTulle · 30/09/2024 16:47

Has anyone had their older home completely rewired, without fully moving out? We’re in a very quirky house, 100+ yrs old, loads of original features like panelling, parquet floors everywhere, very crumbly walls etc. It’s looking inevitable the diy 1960’s wiring will have to be fully replaced. Local electrician has already told us it’s a Big Job.

How do you manage all the disruption while not being able to move everything out? Realistically, while the work is being done, we could juggle packing off the kids/dogs to family over school holidays but we can’t move out lock stock and barrel. Has anyone done this and got any advice?

OP posts:
Reallybadidea · 01/10/2024 07:24

Ours starts today, we're not moving out. TBF it's only the original half of the house and we will still have an operational kitchen. This particular electrician has chased cables into other places in the house and he uses a hoover extractor which is really good and leaves hardly any dust. Hoping for the same this time!

PowerTulle · 01/10/2024 07:53

Thank you everyone this is such good info. It really does sound like an ordeal in some cases.

My heart over head house purchase all those years ago is coming back to bite me square on the arse now!

OP posts:
PowerTulle · 01/10/2024 07:54

@Netaporter

No we haven’t had an asbestos survey, very good point.

OP posts:
PowerTulle · 01/10/2024 08:11

Reallybadidea · 01/10/2024 07:24

Ours starts today, we're not moving out. TBF it's only the original half of the house and we will still have an operational kitchen. This particular electrician has chased cables into other places in the house and he uses a hoover extractor which is really good and leaves hardly any dust. Hoping for the same this time!

This is sort of what we’ll be doing, hopefully leaving the kitchen alone as it’s the newest part of the house. But I’m starting to think we need to clear out completely.

Kids and pets and me to family. Park DH in local air b&b. Everything goes in storage.

Im dreading it tbh.

Also the cost makes me want to cry!

OP posts:
Netaporter · 01/10/2024 08:15

I’d also leave a set of drawings for each room marked exactly where you want everything. You don’t need the 17yo apprentice deciding where he’d like your sockets to go 😂

YellowSubmarine994 · 01/10/2024 08:16

PowerTulle · 01/10/2024 08:11

This is sort of what we’ll be doing, hopefully leaving the kitchen alone as it’s the newest part of the house. But I’m starting to think we need to clear out completely.

Kids and pets and me to family. Park DH in local air b&b. Everything goes in storage.

Im dreading it tbh.

Also the cost makes me want to cry!

How much have you been quoted? About £6-10k is pretty standard it seems. Absolutely eye watering though, I agree

PowerTulle · 01/10/2024 08:27

I’ve had nothing back yet @YellowSubmarine994 but yes been told upwards of 8k. It’s not a big house, but just fiddly. Then there’s the cost of getting up and relaying all the bloody gorgeous sodding parquet that I love so much.
Got a budget of £15k to include rewire, garden lighting, making good the damage, floors and decoration. Not previously factored in storage or renting though.

OP posts:
PowerTulle · 01/10/2024 08:33

You don’t need the 17yo apprentice deciding where he’d like your sockets to go

Yes! Drawings for each room is absolutely what I need. Thank you.

OP posts:
CrepuscularCritter · 01/10/2024 08:43

We left the detailed drawings for socket locations and went on holiday for 2 weeks while they did their stuff. Three floors of Victorian semi with a cellar here, and I think they finished about 4am the night we flew home.

They told me they worked from the top down, and hired some extra labour to move things as needed (we have a lot of bookshelves, a piano and other heavy stuff). It wasn't particularly dusty when we got back, so I think they were careful. In fact I have more plaster dust from having the kitchen sink replaced this week than I did from the rewire. If you have a cellar, it may mean they can get to the ground floor from underneath, reducing the amount of channeling needed.

Good luck!

user1471505356 · 01/10/2024 08:55

We stayed in our 150 year old house during a rewire, some of the wiring was lead lined something many of the electricians had never seen, was a bit inconvenient but manageable.

PowerTulle · 01/10/2024 09:14

Thanks @CrepuscularCritter
Yours sounded epic! We seem to have a lot of furniture and heavy bookshelves too. As the walls are not great at holding shelves/curtains/units etc so everything is free standing. No cellar unfortunately but a crawl space we might be able to use.

OP posts:
PowerTulle · 01/10/2024 09:15

I’m impressed with the people who’ve managed to stay whilst the work is done.

OP posts:
Reallybadidea · 01/10/2024 11:35

We waited until all the kids were back at university so that it's just us and the dogs. Hopefully it will be bearable. He's just told me that we're going to be without lights for a while 😭

CrepuscularCritter · 01/10/2024 12:07

With all the inconvenience, don't forget to add the sockets and lights that will work well for you @PowerTulle - might as well get some benefits from the process. We had 3 double sockets in a stack in the sitting room for the digibox, router etc, meaning we still have 2 always spare for the hoover/random chargers. We also had extras along the back of the kitchen worktop for the blender/mixer, so we don't need to move things like the kettle. Outside lights?

I will be sending extra vibes for your parquet. That sounds stunning.

Lemonbalm8 · 01/10/2024 12:36

PowerTulle · 01/10/2024 08:11

This is sort of what we’ll be doing, hopefully leaving the kitchen alone as it’s the newest part of the house. But I’m starting to think we need to clear out completely.

Kids and pets and me to family. Park DH in local air b&b. Everything goes in storage.

Im dreading it tbh.

Also the cost makes me want to cry!

How much were you quoted and how many bedrooms?

We did full rewire back in February. It was so disruptive, glad we did it before we moved in. We moved in after it every wall was plastered. I wouldn't leave carpets or any belongings in, I'm still cleaning them and finding dust after the fact (we left few bookcases only). Carpets needed to be changed. Electrician and plasterers are the messiest!

Lemonbalm8 · 01/10/2024 12:38

PowerTulle · 01/10/2024 08:27

I’ve had nothing back yet @YellowSubmarine994 but yes been told upwards of 8k. It’s not a big house, but just fiddly. Then there’s the cost of getting up and relaying all the bloody gorgeous sodding parquet that I love so much.
Got a budget of £15k to include rewire, garden lighting, making good the damage, floors and decoration. Not previously factored in storage or renting though.

Wow that's a good quote. Including plastering and decoration? I guess when you say floor, it's just relaying it not changing or restoring right?

We paid 8k, zone 2 London, it still was eyewatering

Lemonbalm8 · 01/10/2024 12:41

We removed the ceilings on the ground floor, so all the wiring went through the joists of the suspended floor. Channeling still happened (a lot), but this meant not touching any floors, which was great. We also replumbed and did full heating renovation, so the plumbers and electricians did it through the joists. Costly to replace ceilings but for us it was necessary as we had asbestos in every ceiling.

PowerTulle · 01/10/2024 13:21

We had 3 double sockets in a stack in the sitting room

My absolute dream @CrepuscularCritter is this very thing. We have 2 single sockets at opposite ends of the room and one pendant light. The extension lead spaghetti is ridiculous.

OP posts:
PowerTulle · 01/10/2024 13:26

Lemonbalm8 · 01/10/2024 12:38

Wow that's a good quote. Including plastering and decoration? I guess when you say floor, it's just relaying it not changing or restoring right?

We paid 8k, zone 2 London, it still was eyewatering

Well the 8k+ is not a written quote exactly, just a ball park from one electrician we’ve seen. Not including any plastering or any decoration.

Were a small 4 bed detached.

OP posts:
PowerTulle · 01/10/2024 13:30

I’m very nervous about asbestos as I swear this house has thrown up pretty much every other issue. Lead pipes, woodworm, rot, minor subsidance (trees). Do I get a survey now? What happens if they find it while doing the rewire?

I do love this house but all those who told me not to touch it with a barge pole had a point.

OP posts:
Netaporter · 01/10/2024 13:46

PowerTulle · 01/10/2024 13:30

I’m very nervous about asbestos as I swear this house has thrown up pretty much every other issue. Lead pipes, woodworm, rot, minor subsidance (trees). Do I get a survey now? What happens if they find it while doing the rewire?

I do love this house but all those who told me not to touch it with a barge pole had a point.

Survey before you start. The issue is not presence of Asbestos, it is the disturbance once someone makes it airborne.

schloss · 01/10/2024 14:00

@PowerTulle It is possible but may take longer and will be a pain but that doesn't mean it cannot be done. Planning and prep is the key. Work with the electricians as to what order rooms they would prefer to do, hopefully it will fit with you. If rooms cannot be empted move all the furniture to the middle of the rooms and cover with dust sheets and then plastic sheeting with duct tape around.

Use plastic sheeting at doors both sides, this will stop dust or will minimise it. You can still walk through the doors but it does stop some of the mess getting everywhere.

Written diagram and signed by both parties as to where sockets/lights will go. ALso mark on the walls where the sockets go including size eg double socket with usb etc. Also work out in advancelight switches, especially 2 way ones (allow you to turn the same light on and off from up and downstairs).

Decide which rooms you will live in and which order you will rotate to other rooms so they can be rewired.

If floorboards are up, tell the electricians to put them back when they leave everyday, no need for them to be screwed back in place but it is safer. Some workman will not like the extra effort but you need to be firm if you are staying in the property.

Ask how many circuits they suggest and work out if it works for you - google is your friend here.

Plastering, is it in the quote - remember electricians are not plasterers so do not do great jobs, maybe better getting a proper plasterer to do the work on completion of the rewire.

Be very clear if you have plaster mouldings, coving etc if you have a period property what they can cut through or remove.

Decide where you want the PCB and advise them, rather than they put it where it is the most convenient for them.

MeowCatPleaseMeowBack · 01/10/2024 14:03

I'm in the same boat so reading the responses with interest. I've only had one electrician round so far but he said there appear to be two circuits (or something) in my house so the back 4 rooms could be done and the other rooms left alone. But I worry about my cats getting injured during the works.

I'm arranging a full survey to make sure I really need a rewire and will go from there.

schloss · 01/10/2024 14:12

MeowCatPleaseMeowBack · 01/10/2024 14:03

I'm in the same boat so reading the responses with interest. I've only had one electrician round so far but he said there appear to be two circuits (or something) in my house so the back 4 rooms could be done and the other rooms left alone. But I worry about my cats getting injured during the works.

I'm arranging a full survey to make sure I really need a rewire and will go from there.

Book an EIRC (normally about £100) that will give you a certificate of safety for the electrics, and if it does not pass will tell you what needs doing. Sometimes a new PCB is all that is needed on the circuits, rather than a full rewire.

Greentreesandbushes · 01/10/2024 14:18

We planned everything, drew on walls where we wanted switches and sockets then went on holiday for 10 days. The devastation upon return was quite something, the company vacuumed and cleaned, can’t fault them. The boiler needed restarting, freezing cold house to come back to. Every wall needed plastering