The cost of rewiring a house depends on a number of factors, but it’s fair to say that it can be a large-scale and complex project that can understandably feel daunting.
As longstanding professional Melbourne electricians, we’ve helped many dozens of residents with emergency electrical rewiring or replacing their old household wiring. So we have a good understanding of how to do it most cost-effectively and with minimum disruption to you and your family.
Based on our experience, here’s a breakdown of the cost of rewiring a house, explaining what’s involved. First though, let’s quickly look at why you would want to rewire your house, and the benefits you’ll receive.
Why rewire your house?
There are usually two reasons why we’re called on to do home rewiring. The most common is some kind of serious electrical fault. Obviously the extent of the damage affects the cost of rewiring a house.
Signs of electrical wiring problems
Look out for the following warning signs of outdated electrical wiring , so that you can pre-empt any other damage to your home, and thus reduce the cost of house rewiring:
- Any strange odour, like a chemical or smoky smell
- Buzzing sounds from your light fittings or wall sockets
- Discoloured wall sockets
- Plugs getting hot when connected to power sockets
- Plug sockets in an extension cord show discolouration
- Your lights start flickering or dimming erratically
- Your light bulbs aren’t lasting as long as normal
- Your switchboard keeps tripping
- You notice exposed wiring in your house
Old houses with outdated electrical circuits
The other main kind of house rewiring work we see is with older houses. They often have outdated components. The biggest risk is that there are hidden faults, like frayed wiring in the ceiling that could cause a fire. The circuit might also not be robust enough to handle modern power demands, given the number of new appliances and devices we now use in our homes.
The benefits of house rewiring
First and foremost, fixing potentially hazardous faults helps to ensure your family’s safety and avoid damage to your home. These benefits alone far outweigh the cost of rewiring a house.
You’ll see a few other advantages too…
A newly rewired house will improve your energy efficiency. Your lights and appliances will function smoothly on optimal power, and your electrical system will also become more reliable overall.
You can rest assured that your house is fully compliant with the latest regulations in Victoria, avoiding any future issues and red tape should you wish to sell your home.
Lastly, and related to that, is that you’ll increase the value of your property. Prospective buyers won’t have any worries about safety or extra costs. Your home circuitry will also be able to power all the latest smart technology new owners might want to instal.
Key factors affecting the cost of rewiring a house
Rewiring house costs are affected by several factors, mostly related to your home’s infrastructure:
- The size of your property
The size of your home is possibly the biggest determining factor in the cost of house rewiring. Obviously, larger houses will cost more, both in terms of material and labour.
- The age of your house
An older house will typically require us to replace all the wiring circuits and upgrade all the electrical components, making it a full-scale job to bring it up to current regulatory codes.
- The wiring complexity
Some electrical systems are more complicated than others, and the complexity of your circuitry will impact the cost of rewiring a house.
- The materials you need
You can choose different types of wiring, depending on your power and safety requirements. Basic copper-clad aluminium wiring is a standard choice, but you can also get pure copper wiring with a higher safety rating. Other materials you may need to budget for include power outlets, light fittings and light switches. - The amount of labour
Once again, labour costs vary, as the work required depends on the abovementioned size, age and complexity of your current wiring system.
Estimating the cost of rewiring a house
Now let’s get down to the actual question – how much does rewiring a house cost? Unfortunately there’s no hard and fast answer to that. You can’t accurately predict the final costs, as they vary from house to house and depend on the factors listed above.
However, from our experience we can give you a decent guide to what to expect. In broad strokes, you can expect the total cost of rewiring a house to fall within these ranges.
For a 2-bedroom house, budget between $2,500 and $5,000. Rewiring a 3-bedroom house will cost between $4,000 and $10,000. To rewire a 4-bedroom house you can expect to pay $10,000 to R12,000.
Before you baulk at these numbers, they’re only estimates – you could pay less depending on the extent of the work. To help with that, here’s a rough breakdown of some of the most common variable costs:
- Copper wiring: $600 – $650
- Switchboard: $700 – $1000
- Switchboard cabling: $2000 – $3000
- A power plug outlet or switch: $65 – $120 each
- Labour costs: the average hourly electrician rate in Victoria is $65, but can vary from $35 – $110, depending on where your house is.
As you can see, these ranges are quite wide, so you’ll only get a more accurate cost once an electrician has scoped the work and gives you a full quote.
Lower the cost of rewiring a house
STL Electrical can help you to reduce the cost of house rewiring by providing advice on your upfront choices. We also work quickly and efficiently to keep labour costs as low as possible.
Before hiring any Melbourne electricians for house rewiring, speak to us about the kind of materials you need so we can help you find the most cost-effective options.
We’ll also carry out a detailed electrical inspection of your home to pinpoint the exact extent of the rewiring required. We always find the most efficient ways to carry out the work, to help save you money while ensuring that your home is safe to live in.
Feel free to contact us as soon as you notice any of the warning signs of an electrical wiring problem. Our certified professionals will quickly respond.
