Considering rewiring your home? The cost of such a project can vary, with electricians charging between R350 and R700 per hour. When you factor in the essentials like cabling and the installation of a new switchboard, the total expense could range from R30,000 to R80,000. This investment not only secures your home’s electrical integrity but also brings peace of mind, knowing your living space meets current safety standards.
Get your quote from a vetted Local Pros partner near you!
Rewiring a must for older homes
If you have an older home, having it rewired can be a major improvement ensuring your and your family’s safety. Older homes might have damaged wires that can present a fire risk and they typically do not have adequate circuitry for today’s requirements.
Having a house rewired can be pricey, however it will provide you with the comfort of knowing your house is not at risk of an electrical fire and your installation will be able to supply sufficient power to all your appliances. In this article we will cover the following topics:
- Why should you rewire a home?
- When rewiring your home is needed?
- How often do you need to rewire a home?
- Getting the right quotes for rewiring a home
- Just how much does it cost to rewire a home?
- How long does it take to rewire a home?
Why should you rewire a home?
Fire risk might be the primary factor for having a home rewired. Electrical requirements have changed a lot over the last few years. Often, older houses simply aren’t up to scratch to supply electricity to all of our modern appliances.
The fire threat increases if you utilize excessive electrical energy for your existing circuitry. This can consist of having extension cables with additional plugs, which can overload the system. Instead of improvising and running the risk of a fire, having your home rewired is the smart choice.
How often do you need to rewire a home?
Even if your home isn’t revealing any of the indicators that it requires to be rewired, it’s much better to rewire a home now than to wait until a fire presents itself.
Electrical wiring requires significant modifications every number of years, so it’s most likely that you should rewire your house every 2 or 3 decades. To be safe, you ought to get an electrical expert to examine it every few years to ensure it still fulfils South African electrical requirements and your individual requirements.
The Cost of Rewiring a Home
When considering the rewiring of your home, cost is a significant factor, but it’s crucial to remember that a high-quality job is worth the investment to avoid the dangers of faulty wiring. Additionally, you may need to factor in the cost of a new switchboard, which can add to the overall expense. Here’s a breakdown of what you might expect to pay:
- Cabling Costs: For an average-sized home, cabling alone can range from R6000 to R12000.
- Hourly Rates for Electricians: The cost for professional electricians can vary, with rates typically between R350 and R700 per hour.
- New Switchboard: Installing a new switchboard can cost between R7000 and R8000.
- Comprehensive Rewiring: Including cabling and a new switchboard, the total cost could escalate to between R30,000 and R80,000.
- Additional Outlets: Installing new power outlets can cost between R500 and R2000 per outlet, depending on the complexity of the installation.
For a complete rewiring project that includes a new switchboard, cabling, and additional power outlets, the total cost could range from R50,000 to R150,000.
What’s Involved in Rewiring a Home?
Rewiring your home basically means taking out old wiring and putting in new, higher-capacity wires. It often includes updating things like sockets and installing new power points too.
Accessing the wiring can be tricky. Electricians might have to navigate through hard-to-reach spots without harming your walls. Sometimes, they’ll need to drill through wood to lay new wires or use existing paths to thread them through. If new wiring needs to go into walls, some wall coverings might have to come off, which could mean extra repair costs.
Electricians usually want to see your place before giving a quote. When asking for estimates online, give as much detail as you can about what you need.
A seasoned electrician can give you a ballpark figure based on their previous jobs. But remember, every home is different, so costs can vary based on the size of your house and the work required.
Don’t just jump at the cheapest quote. If an electrician has a solid reputation and knows your area well, it might be worth paying a bit more. Sometimes, going cheap can mean getting minimal work done. It’s better to pay for a job well done and have peace of mind than to save a few bucks and worry about the quality.
How long does it take to rewire a home?
There are lots of aspects that come into play, but it might take anywhere from a couple of days to a number of weeks to entirely rewire a house all depending on the scale of the renovation and the size of the house.
Ready to rewire your home? get a quote from a vetted electrician near you today!
