How Much Does Kitchen Rewire Cost?

Factors in a Kitchen Rewire Cost

Old electrical wiring can be extremely dangerous, so it is vital your wiring is safe and reliable. There are lots of factors an electrician will bear in mind when quoting for a kitchen rewire:

• The size of the room – a small galley kitchen will doubtless be much cheaper to rewire than an extensive kitchen/dining area with a breakfast bar and multiple appliances. The bigger the space, the more sockets and fixtures there will be, and the longer the work will take.
• How many outlets you need. The electrician will need to know whether you are replacing existing wiring, lighting and plug outlets or installing new electrics in addition. An electrician will factor the number of sockets and any added lighting or powerpoints into the quote.
• Specification of the fixtures, with the cheapest options being standard white PVC sockets. If you want chrome or stainless steel, for example, the material costs will be higher.
• Where you live, with work in London and the southeast carrying higher contractor costs than in other regions. Electricians will also need to know whether you will be at home during the job since they can work faster in an empty property without taking as many breaks to allow you access.

The kitchen rewire work is split into two sections, called the first and second fix. A first fix includes the basics of installing circuits, wiring, back boxes, lighting, and any other hardwired electrics.

Second fixes are when the components are all connected with fixtures and faceplates added and tested.

Most contractors will quote based on materials and labour, and although you can sometimes buy the component parts yourself, these are usually only sold to the trade.

Supplying materials means that the electrician will have assurances about the quality and standards and that they have the right equipment on site.

You might prefer to buy second fix elements yourself, such as specific faceplates for your plug sockets, which contractors can usually accommodate, provided you let the electrician know and ensure you purchase the correct number and size.

While the average kitchen rewire cost is between £1,000 and £1,500, it will usually depend on whether the work is for an existing room, an extension or part of a renovation project.

New rooms can be more straightforward since the tradesperson can fix the circuits directly. Still, for pre-existing kitchens, the labour costs may be higher, including lifting flooring and chasing out plaster to access the wiring underneath.

Additional Considerations in Rewiring a Kitchen

Besides the labour and materials for the rewiring work, you will also need to budget for decorating. Rewiring usually means lifting the flooring and needing to replaster walls and ceilings – or filling holes and repainting.

Period buildings can be more expensive, and properties with oak frames, cob or stonework usually need a specialist electrician.

If you were to decide to rewire the whole house, or some significant issues were discovered during the kitchen rewire, your budget would be around:

• £1,900 – £3,000 for a one-bedroom property.
• £2,300 – £3,500 for a two-bed house.
• £3,000 – £4,500 for a three-bedroom home.
• £3,700 – £5,500 for a four-bed property.
• £4,400 – £6,500 for a five-bedroom house.

Many kitchen rewire jobs will be part of a general refresh or kitchen redecoration project, so additional costs could include:

• A Gas Engineer Callout to move your boiler or test the gas appliances in the kitchen (any repiping would be significantly cheaper to do simultaneously during the electrical rewiring!).
• Having a Boiler Inspection to make sure the central heating system is working correctly should any repairs be required.
• Hive Installation jobs can be a great way of upgrading your home heating and energy management after rewiring.
• Kitchen Wrapping to give a fresh look to your kitchen along with the rewiring.

While you have an electrician on-site, it’s also an excellent opportunity to have any other minor jobs carried out since you won’t need to pay a callout charge. If they can fit the job within their allocated day rate, the costs might only be for additional materials.

• Replacing light fittings usually costs between £30 and £50 and takes less than an hour.
• Upgrading a consumer unit to add extra circuits will cost around £300 to £450 and take about one additional day.
• Installing security lights with motion sensors costs between £80 and £120 and takes around three hours.
• Switching out old fluorescent lighting in the kitchen for LED downlights can take around a day for a large kitchen and costs between £250 and £400.

If you decide to install new outlets, new lights, extra switches or replacement sockets, these will be added to the pricing but be much easier to install during the rewiring work.

How Do I Know If My Kitchen Needs Rewiring?

The kitchen rewire cost can be essential if there are any problems with your electrics, and it’s vital to know the signs to look out for.

• Burning smells (unrelated to cooking!) can be the first sign that something is wrong with the wiring. Electrical burning can smell a little like fish and means you need to turn off the power immediately and call an electrician.
• Tiny fires created due to loose connections behind the socket can cause discolouration on plug sockets or switches that look scorched. Even if there aren’t burn marks, the discolouration could indicate an error hidden behind the walls that requires urgent attention.
• Fuses blowing regularly often means that the house needs rewiring – although it could be due to a faulty appliance causing a circuit overload. If a fuse keeps blowing and you can’t work out why, it’s essential to have your wiring checked.
• Flickering lights may be due to problems with a bulb, but if the lights dim or flicker in several rooms or after replacing bulbs, there could be an underlying electrical wiring fault.
• Electrical shocks can be minor but will quickly turn into a more dangerous problem if not corrected. If a socket makes a buzzing sound, or you get a tiny shock when plugging something in, the socket needs to be checked.
• Hanging sockets with exposed wires can be a critical risk, especially if you have children or pets in the property.
• Older properties over 30 years old that have not been rewired should always be periodically inspected. If the switches or sockets look old and don’t have a test report within the last ten years, it is highly advisable to have the circuit checked. Older properties often have fewer plug outlets, meaning they are likely to be overloaded if you have extension leads in use.

Suppose you have moved into a new property that doesn’t have a history of wiring inspections or maintenance, or you have concerns about the safety of the electrics. In that case, it is essential to have this inspected to ensure any faults or malfunctioning wiring can be replaced.

FAQs - Rewiring a Kitchen

Here we’ll run through some of the most frequently asked questions about the costs of rewiring kitchens!

How Long Does it Take to Rewire a Kitchen?

It depends on the size of your kitchen and how many sockets or wires need placing, but the typical small job will take around two days. You’re looking at about two days for the first fix for a three-bedroom property and then another two days for the second fix.

More significant properties with more complex wiring will take longer, and a lot depends on whether you are having any plumbing or heating work carried out at the same time.

Can I Rewire a Kitchen Myself?

While you can undertake minor electrical work such as adding a fixture to existing circuits, it is wise to be very cautious when working on any electrical outlets or appliances in your properties.

Building regulations allow for DIY projects such as adding a new socket or installing a new light fitting without requiring an inspection – however, kitchens are excluded from this exemption, as are bathrooms.

Any repairs or replacements in a kitchen should always be carried out by an accredited professional, who can verify that the rewiring conforms to building regulations. Alternatively, an inspection can be organised, which usually costs around £150 per visit.

Qualified electricians registered with the competent person’s schemes will be able to issue a safety certificate following the rewire, which is essential to demonstrate that the work has been completed safely – and may be required if you come to sell the property.

Wiring regulations apply and mean that all cables within walls must run vertically or horizontally away from sockets. Even installing a wire at the wrong angle can cause a substantial safety risk. Therefore, unless you have electrical experience and qualifications, it is best to rely on the professionals to carry out work for you.

How Much Do Electricians Charge Per Hour?

Electricians commonly charge by the hour, with standard UK rates from £40 to £60 depending on the area and their specialism.

However, a kitchen rewire job would usually be quoted as an inclusive price for the labour and materials. Smaller jobs can be charged hourly, or you might pay a day rate (often £200 – £250) if you need work to be carried out in stages.

Usually, it is advisable to ask for a total job price to budget accurately for the rewiring and have a good idea about how long it is likely to take.

Many homeowners also prefer this since there is no likelihood that the contractor will do the work slower than possible to increase the labour charges – although that practice is extremely rare in qualified professionals.

What is the Best Way to Rewire a Kitchen?

Rewiring work can be complex and requires a trained electrician with the appropriate experience to manage the project.

Rewiring must comply with regulations and pass inspections. So it is never advisable to attempt this work yourself due to severe safety risks and the additional cost of appointing a professional to re-do any non-compliant work.

If you are redecorating or renovating a kitchen, it is advisable to have the rewiring work carried out first. Repairs will usually mean needing to replaster walls or fill holes, repainting, and relaying flooring. If you can combine the repair work with other decorating, it will reduce your overall budget.

In some cases, electricians can carry out rewiring without causing significant damage. Still, you will probably need to have some of the plastering dug out if the wires are concealed within the walls rather than being fixed externally, often inside trunking.

How Much Does it Cost to Rewire a Kitchen?

As we’ve found, the average UK cost to rewire a kitchen is around £1,000 to £1,500. However, that depends on many factors, such as the size of the kitchen, the age of the property and the condition of the existing electrical wiring system.

If you are replacing the sockets or units, these costs will be additional, as well as fitting any new light fixtures or perhaps moving sockets to be in a more convenient place.

It’s always advisable to ask for an itemised quote to make sure all the expected jobs are included in the rewiring cost.

The best way to ensure you are paying a competitive price for your kitchen rewiring project is to use our quote request form to receive pricing back from local electricians. We recommend looking for around three quotes for any home improvement works to compare the cost estimates.

References:

• https://www.hertsad.co.uk/lifestyle/property/7-signs-your-home-needs-rewiring-5180668
• https://loftera.co.uk/kitchen/rewire-cost/
• https://www.homebuilding.co.uk/advice/rewiring-explained