How To Check if your Home needs Rewired

How do you know if your home needs rewired?

The electrical wires in our homes are hidden behind walls so we tend not to think about them.  If we plug in a device and it works or switch on a light switch and the lights come on, we accept that we have electricity in our home and it works. So how on earth do we know if our home needs rewired?

Signs your need an electrician to check the electrical wiring

Burn or smoke marks

If any of your switches or sockets have dark smoke or burn marks around them, you need to call an electrician as your home is at risk of fire.  Other problem signs are a burning smell or a strange buzzing noise coming from the socket.  They should be silent.

Flickering lights or bulbs blow

If the lights flicker when you switch them on, it may be a sign that the wiring is no longer sufficient to for your lighting. Another sign of a problem, is when you find you are having to replace light bulbs often.

Power outages regularly

Fuses or circuit breakers are supposed to trip when there is a problem to prevent fires from starting, however, if you find you are visiting your consumer unit on a regular basis to switch the circuit breaker back on, then it is time to call in an electrician. Of course, the problem can be due to using a faulty appliance or device so if this only happens when you try to use your hairdryer then it is time to buy a new one. If you don’t have a modern RCD consumer unit with circuit breakers that switch the power off when there is a problem but have an old fuse board that requires fuses to be replaced, it would be wise to call an electrician to install a modern RCD consumer unit.

Older and period homes

If you live in a home older than 25 years, you may need your home’s electrical wiring and consumer unit upgraded.  Signs that these have not been done recently are:

• Sockets at skirting board level
• Wires covered in black rubber, fabric or lead.
• Fewer than 2 sockets in each room.
• A fuse board with a wooden back plate.
• You still have an old fuse board, rather than a modern consumer unit. A consumer unit will have a horizontal row of switches, whereas a fuse board will look much simpler and you will see the wires going into the fuses.

Will your home need a full rewire?

Depending on the issue, you may not need a full house rewire. 

If you have just moved into an older property, it is worthwhile getting an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report).  Before you start decorating your new home, this report will tell you the state of your home’s electrics and what needs to be done to rectify the situation. Your electrician may tell you that everything is in order, your need a new RC consumer unit, a partial rewire or a full rewire.

If you have called out an electrician to fix an issue such as faulty socket, they will advise you on the state of your wiring and fuse board and what your next steps should be.

Faulty and old wiring does cause fire especially nowadays when we use so many electrical devices and appliances in our homes. So please, if you are unsure, call our your local, professional electrician.

 

 

 

 

Create New Rooms with a Loft Conversion in Edinburgh

Have you started looking at estate agent's windows every time you pass?  Or are you endlessly scrolling the ESPC for your dream home?  

There could be many reasons for this.  Perhaps, you just like looking for your perfect home if you had millions of pounds.  Or maybe you look at estate agency websites for inspiration for your own home.  However, it is more likely that you have outgrown your own home and need to move on.  Maybe you earn more now and you feel it would be good to have a spare room.  Or perhaps, your children are growing and you need a bigger house. 

Moving home can be stressful!  Some of the disadvantages include:

• Estate agency and legal costs
• Removal van costs
• Do you sell your current home first and then look for a new home or find your perfect home and then try to sell your current home?
• Do you love where you live but know moving means moving elsewhere?
• Will moving house mean changing schools for your children?

Expand Your Home With a Loft Conversion

One option available to many people in Edinburgh that provides you with more space without having to move home is converting your attic space to contain new rooms. 

This is possible in most bungalows and often in top floor flats.  Yes, it will cost you money but often not as much as moving home.

And the benefits are many:

• You get to stay in a home you already love
• Your children don't need to move school
• You get to stay in an area you love
• There is no stress about whether you will sell your house on time.
• There is no stress about finding the right house before your home is sold.
• More space in your home
• You get a design that you love.
• You create the rooms that you need whether it be a large living room with a view over the city, 2 new bedrooms, or a shower room, office and playroom. 

Loft Conversions Edinburgh

Choose a good all trades building company that specialises in loft conversions.  This means they will have all the people they need to complete the project and won't be outsourcing to other companies. 

Advantages of Hiring an All Trades Builder

As a homeowner you will need to call a tradesman at some point.  It could be for a small job like fixing a leaking tap or it could be for a full house renovation.  No matter the purpose, you will want a reliable, skilled tradesman or tradespeople who can finish your job to the required standard for a reasonable cost.

Each time you need a new trade you will have to go through the process of finding someone that is available and fits your criteria.  This is likely to involve asking your friends for recommendations and searching the internet for a local company.  Some people will start contacting some companies at this stage.  Others will check their social media accounts to see what people say and what their work looks like and they will check reviews on Google, Facebook and maybe Trustpilot.  All this takes time that you probably don't have!

Why You Need The Number of an All Trades Construction Company

Jack of all trades, master of none may come to mind but a good all trades company will have a team of specialists who are masters of their trade with the appropriate qualifications and endorsements to prove it. 

• Do your research once
  Search for a good local building company that offers all trades and check their reviews and credentials.  Getting a recommendation from a friend is really helpful. Once you have done this, get them to do a small job first. If you are happy with their communication, their workmanship, their price and you like their tradespeople, then keep their number for future work. 
  
  
• Saves time in an emergency
  Whether all your fuses have blown or your bathroom is leaking you have a number to call that you can trust.  Hopefully, as a repeat customer, they will find time for you and respond quickly or offer a recommendation of a trusted competitor. 
  
  
• Multiple trades available
  If, for example, you need a new bathroom fitted, then you may need a plumber, an electrician and a decorator.  Instead of doing research for each trade and then having to co-ordinate them yourself, you can call your builder and they will provide each trade as needed.
  
  
• Ability to take on large projects
  Having used a company for small projects, home maintenance and repairs, you can trust them to take on a large project such as a loft conversion or home extension. A multi-trade construction company is likely to have the number of staff required to take on a large project and complete it efficiently.
  

The number of an excellent local builder is one you want to keep and is a relationship you want to treasure for many years.