Rewire house using existing cable runs?

[Kamikazie Minotaur]

When rewiring a house is it necessary for electricians to chase walls and ceilings, can't they existing cables runs to pull new cables through?

 

[7029 dave]

Pull through anything me where you can.

 

[Pete999]

Pull through anything me where you can.

?????

 

[Wes1000]

How many costumers have you chased lately?

Only the good looking ones, they can run fast though!

 

[telectrix]

How many costumers have you chased lately?

is that film costumers or TV costumers. i know they get a mention in the credits after the show, just before the make-up artists, but after the chief electrician (gaffer).

 

[Squid]

Years back with my Uncle we had to rewire 1920's flat in Barons Court, parquet flooring, chandeliers and concrete thank god no additional lights or sockets so managed to use the old cables as draw wires through the embedded conduit in the walls and floors.

 

[AJshep]

Used to do a lot of rewires. If done correctly in the first place you can generally pull though switch/ socket drops, even if it's been originally installed in capping. If your careful and keep your cables nice and flat you can have a fairly high success rate especially if you the electrician has a sensible helper that can pull and push the other end. ( not hang off it)
You get the odd drop where the capping or tube is cut a bit short of the ceiling or box but you can chop up or down a couple of inches if need be, you can slice wall paper and fold it back once filled sometimes too.

The old split conduit is always nice to see on a rewire. As long as the person doing the rewire has good experience and knows how to 3 plate lighting you shouldn't have to much of an issue.

Would fancy re-wiring a new build in 50 years though. A lot of house slashers don't use any capping or tube now days it's all about price.

 

[Midwest]

Would fancy re-wiring a new build in 50 years though. A lot of house slashers don't use any capping or tube now days it's all about price.

Who knows what will happen in fifty years time, other than I won't be around to find out