Did complete rewire on 1940s villa in Opawa where couple buying house failed electrical inspection. Old wiring was cloth covered, some aluminum, no earthing anywhere, fuse box ancient. Insurance company refused coverage without rewiring. We stripped out all old wiring, installed new switchboard with RCD protection, ran new cable to every outlet and light, upgraded to 80 amp service, installed proper earthing system, added heaps more outlets for modern needs. Took two weeks working around their renovation schedule. House now completely safe with modern electrical system that passed inspection with flying colors. They can use heat pump, multiple appliances, charge phones everywhere without worry.
Complete home rewiring is major project but necessary for older houses. Modern electrical needs way exceed what houses were built with 50-80 years ago. Safety issues multiply over decades making old wiring dangerous.
Signs Your Home Needs Rewiring
Several indicators suggest house needs rewiring.
Frequent circuit breaker trips mean overloaded circuits. Older homes have too few circuits for modern use. Running microwave and toaster together shouldnt trip breaker.
Flickering lights when appliances start indicates voltage drop. Undersized or deteriorated wiring causes this. Sign of inadequate electrical system.
Discolored outlets or switches show overheating. Loose connections or damaged wiring creates heat. Fire hazard that needs immediate attention.
Burning smell from outlets or panel is emergency. Means active arcing or overheating. Turn off power and call electrician immediately.
Two prong outlets throughout house means no earthing. Pre-1960s houses often lack earth wire. Major safety issue for modern appliances.
Aluminum wiring common in 1970s is problematic. Connections loosen over time creating fire risk. Should be replaced or specially maintained.
Cloth covered wiring from pre-1950s is degraded. Insulation becomes brittle and falls off exposing bare wire. Dangerous and should be replaced.
Fuse box instead of circuit breakers is outdated. Fuses work but modern breakers much safer. Usually indicates entire system is old.
Not enough outlets forcing heavy extension cord use. Modern homes need outlets every few meters. Older homes might have one per room.
Insurance company requiring upgrade for coverage. They know old wiring is fire risk. Wont insure without upgrade or charge massive premium.
Types of Problem Wiring
Different eras had different wiring problems.
Knob and tube wiring from pre-1950s is most concerning. Individual wires run through porcelain knobs and tubes. No earth wire, no protection, insulation degraded. Should be completely replaced.
Cloth covered wiring from 1920s-1960s has fabric insulation. Over time fabric becomes brittle and crumbles away. Leaves bare copper exposed in walls. Fire hazard.
Aluminum wiring from 1960s-1970s expands and contracts differently than copper. Connections work loose causing arcing and fires. Either replace completely or have proper aluminum connections installed.
Early plastic wiring sometimes has issues. Some batches from certain periods had defective insulation. We check condition of plastic insulation during inspection.
Ungrounded wiring lacks third earth wire. Two wire system from before earthing was required. Modern appliances need earth for safety.
Complete vs Partial Rewiring
Two approaches depending on house condition and budget.
Complete rewire replaces everything. Pull out all old wiring, install new cables throughout house, new switchboard, proper earthing. House left with brand new electrical system. Most thorough and safest option.
Partial rewire addresses worst problems. Maybe replace main circuits but leave some lighting circuits. Or rewire downstairs but leave upstairs for later. Cheaper but still leaves some old wiring.
Room by room rewiring spreads cost over time. Rewire kitchen this year, bathrooms next year. Works for occupied homes being gradually renovated. Takes longer overall.
Complete rewiring recommended when possible. Mixed old and new systems create complications. Complete job leaves no question about safety.
Rewiring Process
Home rewiring follows specific sequence.
Initial inspection and assessment. We examine existing wiring, identify problems, plan new layout. Determine scope of work needed.
Design new electrical layout. Plan circuit layout, outlet locations, lighting positions. Make sure adequate capacity for modern needs. Add circuits for specific needs like heat pump, EV charger.
Install new switchboard first. Modern board with proper RCD protection, circuit breakers for every circuit, room for expansion. Temporary power keeps house functional during work.
Remove old wiring. Pull out old cables where accessible. Some might stay in walls if not accessible but disconnected and abandoned safely.
Run new cables. Fish cables through walls where possible. Some wall opening required for outlets and switches. Route cables properly securing to studs.
Install earthing system. Earth rod driven outside, earthing conductor to panel, earth wire to every outlet. Proper bonding of water pipes and gas lines.
Install outlets, switches, and light fixtures. New devices in new locations or replacing old ones. Three prong outlets throughout.
Testing everything. Check every circuit for proper operation, correct polarity, good earthing. Use specialized testers to verify safety.
Inspection and certification. Building inspector examines work, we provide certificate of compliance. Required for insurance and resale.
Access and Wall Opening
Running new wiring requires access.
Ceiling space access ideal. Can run cables through ceiling to walls. Minimal damage to finished walls. Not all houses have accessible ceiling space.
Floor access from basement or crawlspace. Run cables under floor then up through walls. Good access makes job easier. Concrete slab foundation makes this impossible.
Wall opening sometimes necessary. Cut holes to fish cables vertically. Patch and paint after wiring complete. Try to minimize holes but sometimes unavoidable.
Working in occupied homes requires care. We protect furnishings, contain dust, work room by room. Coordinate with homeowners to minimize disruption.
Renovation timing ideal for rewiring. If youre already renovating and opening walls perfect time to rewire. Access is easy and patching gets done with renovation.
Upgrading Service Capacity
Most rewiring projects include service upgrade.
Old houses often have 40-60 amp service. Barely adequate decades ago but insufficient now. Heat pump alone might need 30-40 amps.
Modern service typically 80-100 amps. Handles heat pump, hot water, cooking, appliances all running together. Room for future additions like EV charger.
Service upgrade requires power company involvement. They install new meter and connection. We coordinate timing and do internal work.
Upgrading from overhead to underground service common. Newer areas have underground power. More reliable and looks better. Power company handles connection.
Mains cable from street to house might need upgrade. Old cable might be undersized or damaged. Power company replaces their portion, we do house end.
Adding Modern Features
Rewiring opportunity to modernize electrical system.
More outlets everywhere. Modern standard is outlet every 2 meters. Put them where actually needed - beside beds, behind TV, in hallways.
USB outlets in bedrooms and living areas. Charge phones and tablets directly without adapters. Popular modern convenience.
Dedicated circuits for high load items. Heat pump gets own circuit. Kitchen appliances on separate circuits. Computer equipment on dedicated circuits.
Outdoor outlets for garden and entertainment. Proper weatherproof outlets with RCD protection. Maybe add several around property.
Exterior lighting circuits. Add security lights, garden lights, driveway lights. Plan locations during rewire.
Data network wiring. Run ethernet cable while walls open. WiFi is convenient but wired network better for reliability.
Smart home pre-wiring. Neutral wires at all switches, extra circuits for automation, structured wiring hub. Sets up house for smart home features.
Safety Features
Modern electrical systems include important safety features.
RCD protection on all circuits. Residual current devices detect current leaks and trip instantly. Required by code and life saving.
AFCI protection for bedrooms. Arc fault circuit interrupters detect dangerous arcing. Prevents electrical fires. Required in newer installations.
Proper earthing throughout. Earth wire to every outlet, light, switch. Bonding of metal pipes and fittings. Ensures faults trip breakers instead of shocking people.
Surge protection at panel. Whole house surge protector guards against power surges. Protects expensive electronics and appliances.
Smoke alarm hard wiring. Interconnected smoke alarms wired into electrical system. One goes off they all go off. Battery backup keeps them working during power out.
Working Around Building Construction
Different building types affect rewiring difficulty.
Wooden framed houses easiest to rewire. Can usually fish cables through wall cavities. Access from ceiling or floor helps tremendously.
Brick veneer over timber frame not too bad. Brick is just exterior cladding. Interior walls still timber frame so fishing cables works.
Solid brick or concrete walls difficult. Cant fish cables through solid walls. Need surface conduit or chase channels into walls. More invasive and expensive.
Lath and plaster walls fragile. Old plaster walls crack easily. Careful work required to avoid major plaster damage. Sometimes worth replastering after.
Modern plasterboard easier. Easier to patch than old lath and plaster. Can cut access holes, fish cables, patch and paint.
Timing and Disruption
Rewiring is significant disruption.
Duration depends on house size and scope. Small 2 bedroom house maybe 3-5 days. Large 4 bedroom might be 2 weeks. Complete rewire with major access issues could be 3-4 weeks.
Power off during parts of work. We maintain temporary power where possible but some circuits must be off while working. Coordinate with homeowners for critical needs.
Living in house during rewiring possible but inconvenient. Dust, noise, workers moving through house. Some people move out, others stay and work around us.
Room by room approach reduces disruption. Complete one area before moving to next. Keeps most of house functional at any time.
Renovation coordination ideal. If renovating anyway rewiring integrates smoothly. Walls already open, dust already happening, workers already on site.
Cost of Complete Rewiring
Rewiring is significant investment.
Small house (80-100 square meters) complete rewire runs $8000-12000. New switchboard, all new circuits, standard outlet and light locations. Straightforward access.
Medium house (120-150 square meters) typically $12000-18000. More circuits, more outlets, more light fixtures. Average rewiring job.
Large house (180+ square meters) runs $18000-30000. Multiple stories, complex layout, many circuits. More labor and materials.
Difficult access adds cost. Solid walls, no ceiling access, minimal floor access. Maybe add 30-50% for difficult construction.
Service upgrade included in most quotes. New meter box, upgraded mains cable, coordination with power company. Additional $2000-4000 if major upgrade needed.
Extensive patching and painting extra. We patch holes but not full repainting. Budget for painting after if house occupied. Maybe $3000-8000 for painter depending on scope.
Partial rewiring costs less. Maybe rewire half the house for 60% of full cost. Depends on exactly which areas and circuits included.
Cost seems high but consider value. Safe electrical system, insurance coverage, modern capacity, increased house value. Investment in safety and function.
Building Consent Requirements
Complete rewiring requires building consent.
Application before starting work. Submit plans showing electrical layout. Council reviews and issues consent.
Licensed electrician must do work. Only registered electricians can do prescribed electrical work. We provide our registration details.
Inspections during and after work. Inspector checks critical stages like board installation. Final inspection before occupation.
Certificate of compliance after completion. We certify work meets code. Required for consent completion. Council issues Code Compliance Certificate.
Documentation for future. Keep all paperwork for insurance and future resale. Proves electrical system safe and legal.
Insurance Considerations
Old wiring affects home insurance.
Insurance companies assess risk. Old wiring seen as fire risk. Might refuse coverage or charge high premium.
Pre-purchase inspection often reveals wiring issues. Buyer demands rewire or uses it for price negotiation. Seller might need rewire to sell house.
Insurance claim denied for old wiring. If fire traced to old wiring insurance might not pay. Rewiring protects your investment.
Certificate of compliance satisfies insurance. Documentation of modern safe wiring keeps insurance company happy. Normal rates instead of penalty rates.
Rewiring Investment Benefits
Complete rewire provides multiple benefits.
Safety is primary benefit. Eliminates fire risk from old damaged wiring. Protects family and property. Priceless peace of mind.
Modern capacity handles current needs. Run heat pump, multiple appliances, charge devices. No circuit overloading or breaker trips.
Future capacity for additions. Extra circuits in panel for EV charger, solar panels, spa pool. Easy to add later.
Increased property value. Modern electrical system attractive to buyers. House easier to sell and worth more with new wiring.
Lower insurance premiums. Safe wiring means normal insurance rates. Saves money every year.
Did house in St Albans built 1938 with original wiring. Owner preparing to sell and inspection revealed major issues. Complete rewire cost $14000 but house sold quickly because of documented safe electrical. Real estate agent said modern wiring added $20000-30000 to sale price.