House Rewires • Newcastle, Gateshead & the North East
Full & Partial House Rewires
Old or worn wiring is one of the most common causes of electrical faults and fires in UK homes. We carry out full and partial rewires for homeowners, landlords and people renovating, with the work tested, certified and notified to Building Control when it's done.
4.9/5 • Verified Rating
10/10 ratingVerified Tradesperson- NICEIC Approved Contractor
- Commercial & Domestic Certified
- Full Public Liability Protection
Who It's For
Homeowners
If your wiring is decades old, you've had warning signs, or you're planning work on the house, a rewire brings it up to today's safety standards.
Landlords
An EICR may have shown the wiring needs replacing. We can rewire between tenancies or plan the work to keep disruption to tenants down.
Buyers & renovators
Just bought an older house, or planning an extension or new kitchen? It's the best time to rewire, before plastering and decorating.
Signs You Might Need a Rewire
None of these on their own means you definitely need a rewire, but if you notice any of them it's worth having the wiring checked.
- An old fuse box with wire fuses instead of a modern consumer unit
- Rubber, fabric or lead-covered cables, or black and red wiring
- Lights that flicker or dim, or fuses and breakers that keep going
- Scorch marks, a burning smell, or sockets and switches that feel warm
- Sockets mounted on skirting boards, or old round-pin sockets
- Not enough sockets, with extension leads used all over the house
- The wiring is more than 25 to 30 years old and has never been checked
- An EICR has recommended rewiring or found serious faults
Rewiring Victorian and Edwardian Homes
Homes built before the First World War were wired long after they were built, often in stages, so it's common to find a mix of old and newer cables. Some may still have rubber or fabric-insulated cable, lead-sheathed cable or wiring with no earth on the lighting circuits. These houses also have the features people love about them, so we plan a rewire around them.
Older cabling
We trace and test what's there first, so you know which circuits need replacing and why, before any work starts.
Period features
We plan cable routes to avoid cornices, ceiling roses, picture rails and original fireplaces wherever we can, and talk you through any we can't.
Plaster and floorboards
Original boards are lifted carefully, kept and put back. We cut into lime or lath and plaster only where needed and keep chases neat for your plasterer.
Minimal disruption
We can work room by room or floor by floor, keep some power on each evening where possible and clear up at the end of each day.
If you'd like period-style switches and sockets, such as metal or dolly-style fittings, let us know when we quote and we'll include them.
What's Involved
1. Survey & quote
We look at the existing wiring, talk about where you want sockets, lights and switches, and give you a clear written quote.
2. First fix
Floorboards are lifted and cables run through walls, ceilings and floors for the new circuits. This is the dustiest and noisiest stage.
3. Second fix
Once plastering is done, we fit the new sockets, switches, lights and a modern consumer unit with RCD protection.
4. Testing & certificate
Everything is tested to BS 7671, you get an Electrical Installation Certificate, and the work is notified to Building Control.
How Long It Takes & the Disruption
A full rewire of a typical two or three bedroom house usually takes about five to ten working days. A partial rewire, such as a kitchen or one floor, can often be done in a day or two. You'll be without power at times, mainly while circuits are being changed over, and there will be dust and noise during first fix. We'll explain the plan before we start, keep you updated as it goes, and clear up at the end of each day.
Rewiring is easiest when the house is empty or before decorating, so if you're planning other work, let us know and we'll fit around it.
Rewiring Period Homes in Jesmond, Gosforth, Low Fell and Darras Hall
Jesmond, Gosforth and Low Fell have streets of Victorian and Edwardian terraces and villas, and Darras Hall has many larger older homes. Houses like these often still have some original wiring, or wiring added in stages over the years. We rewire them with care for the features that make them special, and plan the work so you can carry on living there where possible.
Why Choose Switch
NICEIC Approved Contractor
Our work is assessed by the NICEIC and carried out to BS 7671, the UK wiring regulations.
Clear quotes
Itemised quotations, honest advice and no hidden surprises.
Local to you
Based in Low Fell, Gateshead, covering Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland and the wider North East.
Certified and notified
Every rewire is tested, certified and notified to Building Control under Part P.
Ready to talk it through? Get a quote, book a job or give us a call.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a house rewire cost?
It depends on the size of the property, how many sockets, lights and circuits you want, whether it's a full or partial rewire and how easy it is to get to the cables. We'll visit, look at the property and give you a clear written quote before any work starts.
How long does a full house rewire take?
As a rough guide, a full rewire of a typical two or three bedroom house takes about five to ten working days, and a partial rewire can take a day or two. Larger or older properties can take longer. We'll give you a timescale with your quote.
Can I stay in my home during a rewire?
Many people do, especially for a partial rewire. During a full rewire there will be dust, noise and times without power, so some customers prefer to stay elsewhere for the busiest days. We'll talk it through with you and plan the work around your household where we can.
Will a rewire damage my walls and floors?
Cables have to be run inside walls, ceilings and under floors, so some floorboards will be lifted and some channels cut into plaster. We keep this to what's needed, put floorboards back and make good the cable routes ready for plastering and decorating.
Do I need a full rewire or just a partial rewire?
If the wiring throughout the house is old or in poor condition, a full rewire is usually the safest option. If most of it is sound and only part of the house is affected, such as a kitchen or an extension, a partial rewire may be enough. An inspection will tell us which is right.
Will I get a certificate when the rewire is finished?
Yes. When the work is finished and tested you'll get an Electrical Installation Certificate, and the work is notified to Building Control under Part P of the Building Regulations through our NICEIC registration.
Get Your Quote or Book a Job
Tell us what you need and we aim to reply within one working day. Our office hours are Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, and Saturdays are by pre-booking only.
Prefer to talk? Call us on 0191 905 2723.
We're based in Low Fell, Gateshead, and cover Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, the Tyneside towns, County Durham and south east Northumberland. Check the areas we cover.