What is a House Rewire?
A house rewire is the process of replacing outdated or faulty electrical wiring to ensure the home’s electrical system is safe and compliant with UK wiring regulations (BS7671).
- Old or damaged electrical cables
- Modern Consumer unit (fuse board) with RCD protection
- New switches, sockets, and lighting points
- Earthing and bonding upgrades
Signs You Need a Rewire
- Frequent tripping of circuit breakers
- Persistent burning smells or scorch marks on sockets
- Flickering lights even after changing bulbs
- Dated fuse box with wooden back or ceramic fuses
Spotting the Old vs. The New
Since you can't see behind your walls, here is a descriptive guide to what we look for versus what we install:
- The Fuse Box: If you have a wooden-backed box with "rewirable" ceramic fuses (where you have to wrap wire around a bridge), you are looking at technology from the 1950s. We replace these with metal-clad 18th Edition Consumer Units featuring SPD (Surge Protection) and RCBOs, which act like a "brain" for your home, shutting off power in milliseconds if a fault is detected.
- The Cables: Old wiring is often wrapped in black rubber (which cracks when bent) or grey lead. Modern wiring uses Twin and Earth PVC-insulated cabling, which is designed to last 30-50 years and includes a dedicated copper earth wire for every single point in the house.
- The Sockets: Many older Bristol homes have just one or two sockets per room, often mounted on high skirting boards. A modern rewire allows us to install flush-mounted, multi-point sockets with integrated USB ports, positioned exactly where you need them for modern life.
Why BS-Postcodes are Unique
Bristol is a city of architectural history, and that history is reflected in your walls. At Burridge Electrical, we have specialised knowledge of the specific housing stocks in East Bristol and beyond:
- Victorian & Edwardian Terraces (Kingswood, St George, Staple Hill): These homes often feature "plaster and lath" walls. These are delicate and can crumble if handled roughly. We use specialised masonry blades to ensure clean cuts, preserving your period features as much as possible.
- 1930s Semi-Detached Homes (Downend, Emersons Green): These often still contain original lead-sheathed or black rubber cabling hidden in the floor voids. These materials are now well past their shelf life and can become brittle and dangerous when touched.
- Post-War Builds (Longwell Green): We frequently find "borrowed neutrals" in these homes—a common 1950s wiring shortcut that causes modern RCD safety switches to trip constantly. Our rewire process eliminates these legacy faults entirely.
Living Through a Rewire: What to Expect
Many homeowners put off a rewire because they dread the disruption. While a full rewire is an invasive project, it is entirely manageable with the right team.
- Can you stay in the house? Yes, most of our clients stay in their homes during the process. We work room-by-room to ensure you have a "safe zone" to relax in at the end of the day.
- The Power Situation: We won't leave you in the dark. We ensure that your fridge, freezer, and essential circuits are back on every evening before we leave the site.
- Dust and Floor Protection: This is our priority. We use heavy-duty floor protection and dust sheets on all furniture. While "chasing" walls (cutting into the plaster) is naturally dusty, we use vacuum-integrated tools to capture the majority of debris at the source.
- The Noise: It is a construction environment. There will be drilling and hammering between 8 AM and 4:30 PM, so if you work from home, we recommend a pair of noise-canceling headphones or a temporary workspace change for the first few days.
Watch: The Full Rewire Process
The Process Breakdown: First Fix vs. Second Fix
We break our rewires down into a clear, two-stage process so you know exactly what is happening in your home:
- Stage 1: The First Fix (The "Heavy" Lifting) This is where the magic happens behind the scenes. We remove the old wiring and "chase" the walls to create channels for the new cables. We install the "back boxes" (the metal boxes behind your switches) and pull all the new circuitry through the floors and ceilings. This is the messiest stage, but it's where the safety foundation is built.
- Stage 2: The Second Fix (The "Finish") Once the walls are made good (plastered), we return to fit the visible parts. We connect your new sockets, light switches, dimmers, and the new consumer unit. Every circuit is then energized and tested.
- Stage 3: Testing & Certification We don't just "turn it on." We use calibrated multi-function testers to verify every circuit. Once satisfied, we issue your NAPIT-backed Electrical Installation Certificate and notify Building Control on your behalf.