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Electrician chasing new cable routes into a wall during a house rewire
Full and partial rewires

House Rewiring in Colchester and North Essex

Old wiring rarely fails all at once. It shows up as tripping circuits, warm sockets, too few outlets and cable that crumbles when it is disturbed. Martin Kaine Electrical carries out full and partial house rewires across Colchester and North Essex, planned in stages so you know what happens in each room and when.

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600+
projects completed
Part P
rewires notified and certified
CO2
based in Colchester

Signs your house needs rewiring

Cable from the 1950s and 1960s was often rubber-insulated, and the rubber goes brittle with age until it cracks away from the copper. Even older properties can still have lead-sheathed cable hidden under floors. If your fuse box still has rewireable fuses and no RCD protection, the wiring behind it is often of a similar age and worth inspecting.

  • Black rubber or lead-sheathed cable visible in the loft or under floorboards
  • Old fuse box with rewireable fuses and no RCD protection
  • Scorch marks, buzzing or warmth around sockets and switches
  • Lighting circuits with no earth, which rules out metal fittings

Full rewire or partial rewire

A full rewire replaces every circuit, accessory and usually the consumer unit, and it is the right call when the cable throughout is perished or unsafe. A partial rewire suits a house where most of the wiring is sound but an extension, a kitchen or one floor has older or overloaded circuits. Testing the existing installation first tells us which one you actually need.

  • Existing circuits tested before a full rewire is recommended
  • Partial rewires often paired with a kitchen or extension project
  • New socket, lighting and data positions planned around how you use each room
  • Consumer unit replaced as part of a full rewire in most cases

First fix, second fix and making good

First fix is the disruptive stage: floorboards are lifted, walls are chased and new cables are run to every back box and ceiling point. Second fix comes after plastering, when sockets, switches and light fittings are connected and every circuit is tested. Chases are filled as we go, but a plasterer is usually needed afterwards for a smooth finish, so we can work around yours or advise on timing.

  • Floorboards lifted and re-fixed carefully rather than cut through where possible
  • Cable routes kept in safe zones so future drilling is less risky
  • Second fix booked once plastering and decorating prep is done
  • Electrical Installation Certificate issued and the work notified under Part P
How the job runs

From first call to finished work

  1. 01

    Inspect the existing wiring

    We test the current circuits and look under floors and in the loft to judge whether a full or partial rewire is needed.

  2. 02

    Plan every room

    Socket, switch and light positions are agreed with you room by room before any wall is chased.

  3. 03

    First fix

    Old cable is stripped out or isolated and new circuits are run to every point, ready for plastering.

  4. 04

    Second fix and certify

    Accessories are fitted, everything is tested, and you receive the certificate with Part P notification made.

Why customers choose Martin Kaine Electrical

  • Rewires scheduled room by room so you know what is happening and when
  • Thirty-plus years of rewiring homes that people are still living in
  • Every circuit tested and recorded before the job is signed off
Questions

Common questions

Can I stay in the house during a rewire?

Many people do, especially on a partial rewire. We work in stages and restore power to the occupied rooms at the end of each day where we can. A full rewire is dusty and noisy during first fix, so some households with young children or pets choose to stay elsewhere for that part.

What makes one house rewire cost more than another?

The size of the property and the number of circuits and points are the biggest factors. Access also matters: solid floors, finished decor, high ceilings and limited loft space all add time. Whether the consumer unit is being replaced and how much making good you want us to cover will also change the quote.

Will a rewire damage my walls and floors?

Some disruption is unavoidable, because cables have to be chased into walls and run under floors. We fill chases as we go and lift floorboards carefully, but walls usually need re-plastering or skimming before decorating, and that is best planned in from the start.

How do I know if my wiring is rubber-insulated?

Look at cable in the loft or behind the fuse box. Rubber-insulated cable is usually black with a cloth or rubber outer and may feel stiff or crack when bent. If you see that, avoid handling it and get it inspected by an electrician.

Related pages

Consumer unit upgradesKitchen electricsElectrician in BraintreeElectrician in HarwichElectrician in MaldonAll electrical servicesGet a free quote

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