Full or partial rewire? Which does my Colyton home need

When considering a rewire, we know it may seem confusing whether it’s a partial or a full rewire that you need. The answer depends on a few things: the condition of your current wiring, it’s age and how safe it is deemed to be - it’s also worth factoring in if you have any plans to do renovation. You can find out what kind of condition your wiring is and whether you’ll need a full rewire or partial by booking an EICR with your local electrician in Colyton.

We were recently contacted by a couple who were buying an 17th century home on Hillhead, Colyton - the property was beautiful but from a distance you could spot the signs straight away that it was running off an extremely dated electrical system - the lights would frequently flicker and some sockets appeared to have burn marks on. After completing an EICR we were able to confirm that the wiring was from the 70’s, so the home was well due a rewire! We have scheduled in with the couple to complete a full rewire before they continue with their renovation works in the charming property.

Why would I only need a partial rewire?

People in Colyton often opt for a partial rewire if they have recently renovated their kitchen, or had an extension. Often we may discover that only part of the customer's home has damage to the wiring, this could be from water, rats or just general wear and tear - this is the best option if the rest of your home's wiring is up to date and in good condition. This may also be an option if a certain room or area in your home demands power electric and therefore needs new outlets and circuits - permitting the current fuseboard or consumer unit can handle the load.

Whilst we understand that rewiring isn’t a cheap job, we wouldn’t advise you to only rewire part of the property to save money. Rewiring can be an incredibly messy and disruptive job, it would be more expensive and more of a pain to do 2 partial rewires over time than to just complete a full require in one go.

What happens during a full rewire?

A full rewire would mean every single part of your homes current electrical wiring would be replaced.This process involves lifting flooring, chasing cables through walls, upgrading the consumer unit to ensure the home has modern RCD protection and ensuring earthing and bonding meets the current regulations - all sockets, switches and light fittings would also be replaced.

A good electrician will carry a dust extractor to minimise the mess as best as possible, but it’s recommended that all furniture is removed and you move out during this time - as the home is unlikely to be livable during this period. It’s one of those jobs that has to get worse before it can get better.