Replacing (RCD) fuse box

[Michael999]

How long would it take to replace a fuse box with a new(RCD) box?

Small 3 bed semi-detached house, with Aqualisa power showers,recently re-wired.

Why do I ask? I (upnorth) spoke to our trusted electrician who has done work for me and my familyfor the past 20 years and asked him for a price and he told me £100 for partsand 3 hours labour £100 total £200. Myson (down south) who is buying the house that needs (according to the surveyor)a new RCD unit has been quoted £350.

The price of materials is the same in the north as it is inthe south does the cost of labour vary across the country?

TIA

Mike

 

[Swicade]

£350 is around the average price for a board change.It's not just changeing the fuseboard it also involves a full test of the circuit's plus notification.

£200 sounds like your trusted electrician is doing you a favour with 'mates rates' as you always use him.

It's not so much a North/South divide thing though prices do obviously vary.

 

[telectrix]

agreed^^^^ £200 is a very good price. bear in mind that you have stated yours has been recently rewired, so the job may be more straightforward than your son's.

 

[RISElectrical]

£350 is average price in my opinion.

I have done CU changes for family etc for £100 cash with all materials at cost before but as said that a good price

 

[1shortcircuit]

£350 in Bristol from me:thumbsup

There are cheaper but what kind of job can be expected is unknown?

Just be sure to ensure the person carrying out the work can notify the work to local authority building control as per part P of the Building regulations as this is required by law:thumbsup

 

[Robertbaker63]

i do fuseboards for £200- £250 in devon but if the bonding needs doing it'd be £350, takes about 2-3 hours to change a fuseboard and 2 hours to test it if its about 6 circuits. a fuseboard to buy is between £80 - £120 depending if you want a duel rcd fully loaded board or a board populated with 8 rcbos (denmans - designa curve 93+vat)

 

[Amp David]

3 hours to change a CU and test everything, thats some going.

- - - Updated - - -

Also how long do you class a 'recently' rewired?

 

[Octopus]

£200 for a cu change, test and part p notification - one suspects its a cash job with no notification.

£350.00 is a reasonable cost and it should take about 1 full day, baring any issues being identified.

If its a recent rewire, why is a new CU required?

 

[StuSpiers]

I always allow 1 Day for a fuseboard change.

so I would be charging £350 - £400

Fuseboard changes are rarely plain sailing, however if you have had a recent re-wire then perhaps your sparky is confident there will be no problems.

 

[Amp David]

If its a recent rewire, why is a new CU required?

My thoughts exactly.

 

[Dave 85]

Im glad I don't live up there..... £350 all day long. Taking the old board off and putting a new one on is perfectly doable in 3 hours (or even an hour and a half) if the circumstances are good, but with testing, certing, rectifying, notifying and what not, anything much less than £350 is silly.

With regards to labour costs north and south....in my experience the sparkys working with 50 miles of london arn't particularly desperate for work, even now so can afford to charge the going rates. From what I hear, its not like that in much of the north these days.

 

[Guitarist]

Depends on the make of board, but for a standard dual-RCD board I would agree with the others... £350-£400 including testing and notification. Adding RCBO's is what tends to push the price up.

 

[Michael999]

Is there some 'body' which sets guidelines and standards on how long a job should take? I know, for example, that if I take my car in for a part to be removed and fitted some 'body' has agreed that will take x hours. It's all very well for you here to say I'll spend all day doing that, if it can be done in 3 hours or 4 hours why should I pay for someone (who may be less efficient) to spend 8 hours doing it?

 

[PC Electrics]

£400 is my "standard" charge for a board swap in a typical 3 bed.

£200 is way too cheap for my liking. I'd be wondering about those niggly hard to find faults that won't be detected. That's if there's any testing going on at all (other than the new RCDs "testing" the installation after fitting).

 

[Octopus]

It's all very well for you here to say I'll spend all day doing that, if it can be done in 3 hours or 4 hours why should I pay for someone (who may be less efficient) to spend 8 hours doing it?

May be the person who takes 7-8 hours is more thorough and dilligent.

Have you asked the sparky who's quoted you £200 what will you be getting for your money? To set your expectation you will get an EIC (electrical installation certificate) with a schedule of inspections completed for each circuit and if you live in England or Wales your Part P notification, plus of course an invoice!