What Does a Full House Rewire Involve? | Step-by-Step Guide | Reading Electrical
A full house rewire is one of those jobs most homeowners hope they’ll never need — but for many properties across Reading, it’s an essential step in keeping your home safe. If your house is more than 25 years old, still has its original wiring, or has started showing signs of electrical trouble, a rewire could be long overdue.
Despite being one of the bigger electrical jobs you can undertake, a rewire doesn’t have to be stressful. Understanding what’s involved, how long it takes, and what to expect at each stage can make the whole process far more manageable. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything that happens during a full house rewire, from the first inspection right through to final testing and certification.
Why Would You Need a Full Rewire?
Before we get into the process itself, it’s worth understanding why rewires are necessary in the first place. Electrical wiring doesn’t last forever. Over time, cables degrade, insulation breaks down, and older systems simply can’t cope with the demands of modern living. Properties built before the 1980s are particularly likely to have wiring that no longer meets current safety standards.
Common signs that a rewire might be needed include frequently tripping fuses or circuit breakers, discoloured or cracked sockets and switches, a burning smell with no obvious source, flickering lights, and the presence of old round-pin sockets or fabric-covered cables. If you’ve noticed any of these in your Reading home, it’s well worth having a qualified electrician carry out an inspection.
Beyond safety, a rewire also gives you the opportunity to upgrade your electrical system to suit how you actually live. That might mean adding more sockets in the kitchen, running data cabling to a home office, or installing dedicated circuits for high-demand appliances like electric showers or EV chargers.
Step One: Initial Inspection and Assessment
Every rewire starts with a thorough inspection of your existing electrical system. A qualified local electrician will visit your property to assess the age and condition of your wiring, your consumer unit, and your overall electrical setup. This is usually done through a combination of visual checks and testing at key points throughout the house.
During this visit, we’ll also talk to you about how you use your home. Where do you need more sockets? Are you planning a kitchen renovation or loft conversion? Do you want outdoor lighting or EV charging provision? The more we understand about your needs upfront, the better we can plan the new installation to work perfectly for your household.
At the end of this stage, you’ll receive a clear recommendation on whether a full rewire is necessary, or whether a partial rewire or targeted upgrades might be sufficient. You’ll also get a detailed, no-obligation quote so you know exactly what to expect.
Step Two: Planning the New Installation
Once you’ve decided to go ahead, the next step is planning. This is where we map out the new wiring layout for your entire property. We’ll decide on circuit routes, socket and switch positions, lighting layouts, and the location of your new consumer unit.
Good planning is crucial. It’s much easier and cheaper to make changes on paper than once cables are in the walls. This is also the time to think about any future-proofing you’d like to do. Even if you’re not installing an EV charger right now, for example, running the cabling during a rewire is far more cost-effective than retrofitting it later.
For properties in Reading — where you’ll find everything from compact Victorian terraces in the town centre to larger detached homes in areas like Earley and Caversham — the planning stage is also where we account for the specific characteristics of your property. Older buildings may need a more careful approach to avoid unnecessary damage to period features, while newer properties might have different access considerations.
Step Three: First Fix — Running the New Cables
The first fix is the most disruptive part of a rewire, but it’s also where the bulk of the work gets done. This stage involves running all the new cabling throughout the property, which typically means lifting some floorboards, chasing channels into walls, and drilling through joists to route cables between floors.
We work room by room to keep things as organised as possible and to minimise the impact on your daily routine. In many cases, you can continue living in the property during a rewire, though it does require some flexibility — there will be dust, noise, and temporary loss of power to certain areas as we work through the house.
During first fix, we install the new back boxes for sockets and switches, mount the new consumer unit, and run cabling to every point in the house. This includes lighting circuits, power circuits, dedicated circuits for high-load appliances, and any additional runs for things like outdoor sockets, data cabling, or smoke alarm systems.
For a typical three-bedroom house in Reading, the first fix stage usually takes around three to five days, depending on the size of the property and the complexity of the installation. Larger homes or those with loft conversions and extensions may take a little longer.
Step Four: Second Fix — Fitting the Finishing Touches
Once the new cabling is in place and any plastering or making good has been done, we move on to the second fix. This is the stage where everything starts to come together visually. We fit all the new sockets, switches, light fittings, and the front plate of your consumer unit.
This is also when we connect up any appliances that need hardwiring, such as cookers, electric showers, or heated towel rails. If you’ve chosen specific faceplates or switch designs to match your interiors, this is when they go in.
Second fix is far less disruptive than first fix. There’s no major structural work involved — it’s essentially the finishing and connection stage. For most properties, this takes one to two days.
Step Five: Testing and Certification
Once everything is installed and connected, we carry out a comprehensive programme of testing across the entire installation. This includes dead testing to check the integrity of the circuits before they’re powered up, followed by live testing to verify that everything is functioning correctly and safely.
We test every circuit for continuity, insulation resistance, polarity, and earth fault loop impedance, among other things. We also verify that your RCDs — the life-saving devices in your new consumer unit — are tripping within the required timeframes.
When we’re satisfied that everything meets the required standards, we issue you with an Electrical Installation Certificate. This is an official document that confirms your new wiring has been installed and tested in accordance with BS 7671, the current edition of the IET Wiring Regulations. This certificate is important — you’ll need it if you ever sell your property, and it provides formal proof that the work has been carried out safely and to the correct standard.
We also notify your local Building Control body, as a full rewire falls under Part P of the Building Regulations. This is handled on your behalf as part of the service, so there’s nothing extra for you to arrange.
Step Six: Making Good
A rewire inevitably involves some disruption to walls, ceilings, and floors. While we always aim to keep this to a minimum, there will be areas that need patching and plastering once the electrical work is complete. Some electricians include basic making good as part of their service, while others leave it for your decorator.
At Reading Electrical, we carry out basic making good as part of the job, filling chases and patching around back boxes so your walls are ready for decoration. For more extensive plastering or redecoration, we can recommend trusted local tradespeople in Reading to pick up where we leave off.
How Long Does a Full Rewire Take?
Timescales depend on the size and complexity of your property, but as a rough guide, a typical three-bedroom house in Reading takes around five to seven working days from start to finish. Larger properties, or those with additional complications like lath and plaster walls or limited access, may take a little longer.
We’ll always give you a clear timeline before we start so you can plan accordingly. If you’re combining a rewire with other renovation work, we’re happy to coordinate with other tradespeople to keep everything running smoothly.
How Much Does a Rewire Cost?
Cost varies depending on the size of your home, the number of circuits required, and any additional features you’d like included. As a ballpark, a full rewire for a three-bedroom house in Reading typically falls in the region of three to five thousand pounds, though this can vary. We always provide a detailed, itemised quote before any work begins, so you’ll know exactly what you’re paying for.
Is It Worth It?
In short, yes. A full house rewire is an investment in your home’s safety, functionality, and value. It eliminates the risks associated with old, degraded wiring, gives you a modern electrical system that can handle the demands of today’s lifestyle, and provides certification that reassures you, future buyers, and insurers alike.
If you’re a homeowner in Reading and you think your property might be due a rewire, the best first step is to book an inspection. We’ll give you an honest assessment of your wiring, a clear recommendation, and a no-obligation quote. Get in touch with Reading Electrical today and let’s make sure your home is safe, efficient, and ready for the future.