ELECTRAGUARD.UK

A rewire is one of the biggest electrical jobs you can have done in your home — and while it brings huge safety and reliability benefits, it can also be disruptive.
The good news? With proper preparation, you can make the job run smoother, faster, and with far less stress.

Here’s exactly how to prepare your home before your electrician arrives.

✅ 1. Understand What’s Involved
A full rewire usually includes:
-Lifting floorboards
-Chasing (cutting channels) into walls
R-unning new cables
-Installing new sockets, switches, lights
-Upgrading the consumer unit
-Testing & certification
It's dusty, noisy and involves access to almost every room — so preparation matters.

✅ 2. Decide Where You Want Sockets, Switches & Lighting
Before work begins, think about how you actually use your home:
📌 Plan for:
-Extra sockets (especially in living rooms, kitchens & bedrooms)
-USB or USB-C charging points
-Smart light switches
-Outside lights & power
-EV charger or future EV use
-Garden office/shed supply
-TV/media unit positions
-Appliances that need dedicated circuits
-Oven/hob locations
-Internet and data cabling
Good planning now avoids expensive changes later.

✅ 3. Clear Access to All Rooms
Electricians need access to every part of the house. Make it easier by:
-Moving furniture away from walls
-Clearing space around sockets and switches
-Emptying under-stairs cupboards
-Opening loft access and clearing a walkway
The more the electrician can access, the quicker the job goes.

✅ 4. Protect Your Belongings
Rewiring creates dust — fine, plaster-like dust that gets everywhere.
Protect your home by:
-Covering furniture with dust sheets
-Removing valuables, electronics, and ornaments
-Taking down pictures and shelves
-Packing away belongings in rooms being worked on
If possible, store items in rooms the electrician won’t need access to.

✅ 5. Lift Carpets (If Agreed)
Some electricians will do this, others ask homeowners to organise it.
Carpets may need:
-Lifting at the edges
-Rolling back for access to floorboards
Check with your electrician in advance who is responsible — especially if carpets are glued down.

✅ 6. Prepare for Temporary Power Disruption
During a rewire, power to parts of the home will be turned off.
Good ideas:
-Charge phones and devices
-Prepare meals in advance
-Have extension leads ready for temporary supply
-Use alternative heating if necessary
-Move the fridge/freezer to a powered circuit if possible
Most electricians try to leave the home with working sockets each evening, but it’s still wise to be prepared.

✅ 7. Consider Staying Elsewhere (If Possible)
You can live in a house during a rewire, but it’s not always pleasant due to:
-Noise
-Dust
-Lack of power
-Lifted floorboards
-Temporary lighting
If you have young children, pets, or work from home, staying elsewhere for part of the job may be more comfortable.

✅ 8. Remove or Protect Flooring
Some flooring needs special attention:
-Laminate may need lifting
-Tiles can crack during chasing
-Wooden floors need careful access
-Rugs should be removed entirely
Ask your electrician what they recommend based on your home.

✅ 9. Confirm What Your Electrician Will Handle
Before the job starts, confirm:
-Will they chase and plaster the walls?
-Will they lift and relay carpets?
-Are they patch-plastering only, or smoothing for decoration?
-Will they tidy each day?
-How long the power will be off
-Their planned schedule
Clear expectations prevent misunderstandings.

✅ 10. Warn Neighbours
Rewiring can be noisy (chasing walls, drilling, power tools).
A quick heads-up to neighbours is polite — especially in flats or terraced homes.

Final Thoughts
Preparing properly for a rewire makes the job faster, cleaner, and far less stressful. The end result is a safer, more modern home that’s ready for today’s electrical loads — and future-proofed for years to come.

Our customers choose us because we’re:
-Trusted and recommended
-Local and responsive
-Qualified and insured

Call today for a free, no-obligation estimate and see why so many homeowners and businesses rate us as their go-to electrician.

14/11/2025

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