House Rewiring in Birmingham

We check first, then advise

A rewire is a big job and a big cost. So we don't start by selling you one. We start by looking at what you have. If it isn't clear, an EICR (a full test with a written report) shows what needs doing. Plenty of older homes only need a few repairs or a new fuse board. Others need one floor or one room done. Some really do need the whole house rewired. We'll tell you which, and why.

If you're not sure, the simplest first step is an EICR (electrical safety report). It checks every circuit and lists any problems. You then decide with the facts in front of you.

Full or part rewire?

Full house rewire

In a full rewire, we replace all the cables in the house. That means every socket, switch, light and circuit. You also get a new consumer unit. It's the right choice when the wiring is old all the way through, or when you're renovating the whole house.

Part rewire

A part rewire replaces only some circuits. It might be the kitchen, an extension, a loft conversion or the upstairs. It makes sense when the rest of the wiring tests well. Part rewires don't have a fixed price, because each one is different. We survey for free and then quote.

Signs your wiring may be past its best

• Cable with a black rubber or cloth outer layer, often seen in the loft or under the stairs
• Old round-pin sockets, or light switches made of brown or black plastic
• A fuse box with fuse wire, a wooden back, or no test button
• Fuses or switches that trip often with no clear reason
• An EICR that found problems in lots of circuits

Modern PVC cable often lasts 25 to 30 years or more. Age alone doesn't mean you need a rewire, though. Condition matters more, which is why an EICR is the best check.

Scorch marks, a burning smell or a hot socket are more urgent. Switch off at the fuse box and call our emergency electrician line. We're open 24/7.

How a rewire works, step by step

A typical house rewire takes 7 to 10 days. Every house is different, but most jobs follow this rough order.

1. Free survey and plan. Before the job, we walk round the house with you. We agree where every socket, switch and light should go. Then you get your quote.
2. First fix (the first few days). "First fix" means running the new cables. We lift some floorboards and cut narrow channels in the plaster, called chases. The cables go into these, out of sight.
3. Making good. Once the cables are in, we make good the chases and put the floorboards back.
4. Second fix (later in the job). "Second fix" means fitting the parts you see. We fit the new sockets, switches, lights and the new consumer unit.
5. Testing and paperwork (last day). We test every circuit to make sure it's safe. Then we show you round the new fuse board and explain your paperwork.

A rewire is a good time to add things you've wanted for a while. That might be extra sockets, USB sockets, outside lights, mains-wired smoke and CO alarms, or cable ready for an EV charger. Our socket installation page shows the types of socket we fit.

Living at home during a rewire

You can stay in the house while we rewire it. We'll be honest, though. It isn't a quiet week. There will be dust and drilling. The power will be off at times, and we'll tell you when.

A few simple things help it go smoothly:

• Clear small items from the rooms we're working in
• Lift rugs and move furniture away from the walls where you can

Certificates and Building Control

When the job is done, you get an Electrical Installation Certificate. It records the new wiring and the test results for every circuit. Keep it safe, because buyers and their solicitors will ask for it when you sell.

A rewire is also notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations. Part P is the part that covers electrics in homes in England. Notifiable means Building Control must be told about it. We're NICEIC approved, so we notify Building Control for you. You don't have to apply or pay for an inspection yourself. A Building Regulations compliance certificate then arrives by post.

Rewiring older homes in Birmingham

Birmingham has a lot of older housing. There are rows of Victorian and Edwardian terraces in areas like Small Heath, Sparkhill and Moseley. There are also streets of 1930s semis in places such as Hall Green, Kingstanding and Erdington.

Many of these homes have had wiring added bit by bit over the years. Old circuits often sit next to newer ones, along with untested DIY work. Older lime plaster can also come away when we cut chases, so we take care in those rooms. We have over 20 years of experience with houses like these, across the whole city.

Live in Erdington? Our Erdington electrician page covers the area in more detail.

Other help with your electrics

• Only the fuse box is a problem? See consumer unit replacement.
• Letting a home? Our landlord safety checks page explains EICRs and gas checks.
• Shops and offices: we do commercial electrical work too, but not industrial. Get in touch.
• For everything else, see our main electrician page.