Friendly advice after some quotes...

[Beefy]

Hi guys,

I'm new to the forum so go easy whilst i adjust to your ways If this post is in the wrong section, do let me know!

I need some advice.

I've recently bought a doer-upper in need of some general DIY and as a first point of call i've got to get the consumer board replaced. The property was built in 1956 and was extended 30 years ago, i dont think the board is original but it's certainly very old.

I'd originally written out a fairly long list of additional works that i'd like to have done on the property but am at a loss as to whether i should be looking at a rewire or not after speaking to a few electricians with varying success.

I've had quotes from £700-3000 just for the work i'd like done and guys saying i don't need any rewiring to guys saying i need a full rewire. I'm really looking for a good, solid unbiased opinion as to whether to partially or fully rewire the property or whether to simply just have the additional electrical work done. (switches/sockets/lights fitted etc)

From a basic visual inspection (Which i know is far from conclusive) i can tell all the cable used for lighting and power sockets is of upvc type so nothing too crusty. There's an interesting video on youtube of a guy who lists of the many types of cable that have been used from the 1920's to present day and mine dosn't seem to be too shabby, no rubber, horse hair or material sheathing etc!


What do you guys advise? I know i can always have a rewire, but i'd rather save the money if possible. I can grab pics of anything if it helps for what it's worth?

 

[Pete999]

Thanks guys, so some of the sparkys have said i should go for an EICR which i totally agree with. Some have said they i should just go ahead with the consumer unit replacement as part of the work involved would be to do an EICR at the end anyway and they dont see any point in charging me twice for an EICR -> consumer unit replacement -> EICR.

My concern over that would be blindly replacing the consumer unit and potentially ending up in a worst position with a twitchy sensitive consumer unit and having my hand twisted for the remediation work with no further negotiation opportunity.

Would an EICR give me an idea of the amount of safe load i could put on the circuits? Or just pull up wiring faults and inconsistencies?

An EICR would/should if done properly, will tell you the condition of the electrical installation in your property, just changing the CU will require some testing and an EIC.
Go for the EICR this will tell you what is OK and what isn't.

 

[Bob Geldoff1234]

Installations over 30 years old would generally need a rewire.

I strongly disagree with this statement.Over 30 years would take you back to the 90's. So if it was wired in the mid 70's it would be unsafe?
The main things I look for before doing a rewire is:-

1:-Is it wired in plastic?
2:-Are there earths in the lighting circuits?
3:-Are the sockets in the skirtings?
4:-Does the house have RCD protection?
5:-Does the house have gas and water bonding?

Usually if the house was wired after the mid 60's then most of the above can be met bar the RCD protection.If everything else is correct then maybe just a consumer unit change but I would do an insulation resistance test on it first to find out if there's any faults and also if they have borrowed the neutral for the landing two way light.

 

[littlespark]

You could also look out for alterations where a handy DIYer has added a socket or two. Wrong height, rough plaster work around the socket or mounted on a surface box rather than sitting flush.
Agree that an EICR should be done before a CU change, but a good electrician won’t charge you for a second one as a lot of the information will be identical. There will be some charge as part of the CU work.

If you are planning alterations then each of these may incur some rewiring anyway, so is it worth just having it all done, rather than some?

Cost is of course an issue, but if an initial EICR brings up a lot of faults, you’re going to have to pay to put them right anyway.

 

[Wilko]

Hi - an inspection done properly can be very helpful to work out what is best to be done next. There are so many possibilities that it's guessing to say what will be needed at your place. My guess is some wiring will be ok and some will not, sorry. Due to age, its possible there's no earth to the light fittings (for example) which I'd like to resolve.

 

[ferg]

It used to be the case that cabling had a 25yr expected life span but modern cables in a nice kind domestic environment will last much longer now.

 

[Cid]

I'm sure in a flat occupied by a minimalist the wiring would last a hundred years. Typical three bedroom family house wired in the 70s/80s or earlier would have undergone significant amount of hacking, alterations and stresses which would not have been forseen at the time.

 

[DPG]

I'm sure in a flat occupied by a minimalist the wiring would last a hundred years. Typical three bedroom family house wired in the 70s/80s or earlier would have undergone significant amount of hacking, alterations and stresses which would not have been forseen at the time.

Or it may never have had any alterations, and be perfectly sound. Or have had some alterations/additions done by a sparky which are fine. Advising a rewire just because a house was built before 1990 is nonsense.

 

[PEG]

I suppose if we stick to the thirty year rule....there are going to be a fair few on here,who can get their old invoice pads out...and add the "1" in the dialling prefix...and start canvassing those rewires...