House Rewiring Archives - MD Bespoke Solutions

22 May

What is the difference between the ‘first fix’ and the ‘second fix’ in a house rewire?

What does a first fix & a second fix mean?

We live in an age where the demand for power is ever increasing. Our electronic devices have become essential to our day-to-day living, and generally require plugging in – even if only for short periods of time.

To meet that demand for electricity, we need to ensure the wiring that provides our home with energy is in good condition. At best, poor wiring will cause you to lose power – at worst, faulty wires can be a potential fire hazard and could even lead to serious injury.

If you’ve just bought a property or you’re looking to refurbish your current one, it may be time to think about rewiring and ensuring the system you have in place is safe for you and your family. Rewiring a home typically involves a ‘first fix’ and a ‘second fix’. To help you understand the difference between the two, we’ve broken them down for you here. (more…)

By admin Home Electrics, House Rewiring Comments Off

13 May

Are underfloor heating systems more efficient than radiators?

Choosing underfloor heating from your electrician

It’s 7am. Your alarm has gone off twice already and the temptation to press snooze just one more time is huge. The sun might be shining but there’s a chill in the air and the day is yet to heat up – the thought of leaving your cosy duvet cocoon and stepping onto the cold floor is not one that’s filling you with joy.

We feel certain that the above is a scenario you’re more than familiar with – fortunately, we’re here to tell you that it needn’t be the norm! Underfloor heating sounds like a luxury feature that few can afford; however, over time it can actually save you money! Here’s how. (more…)

By admin Electricians in London, House Rewiring Comments Off

24 Apr

Five questions to ask when hiring a contractor for electrical work

Five questions to ask when hiring a contractor for electrical work We think it’s safe to say that when you’re dealing with something as essential to your everyday life (and as potentially dangerous if you aren’t qualified) as the electrics in your home, you want to know that the person undertaking the work can be trusted.

However, we also think it’s fair to say that the world of electrics is not a particularly familiar one to all of us – it can be easy to shy away from it and let a contractor take the reins without asserting ourselves and asking questions. To help you navigate these uncharted waters, we’ve put together five questions that we think are ‘musts’ for anybody to ask (no matter what their experience level) when considering a contractor for electrical work. (more…)

By admin Electricians in London, House Rewiring Comments Off

10 Mar

Why multi-skilled electricians are more in demand than ever

The technology we keep within our homes (and, indeed, the electrical systems that power our homes!) is smarter and more complex than ever before. The rise of the ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) has resulted in ordinary household appliances being turned into futuristic, connected gadgets that streamline our day-to-day lives. We can instantly order essentials like washing powder and dishwasher tablets by pushing a button on our washing machines and dishwashers; we can turn on our heating as we’re travelling home from work; and, with appliances like Firebox’s Smarter Coffee, we can even automate our coffee machine from our smartphone! (more…)

By admin Electricians in London, Home Electrics, House Rewiring Comments Off

26 Feb

Three reasons your consumer unit keeps tripping

A consumer unit (or fuse box) is an integral safety feature of your home’s electrical wiring – designed to protect you from electrical hazards, such as fires and shocks. It contains residual current device (RCD) protection, which works by constantly monitoring the flow of electrical currents and instantly switching off the circuit if it detects an error (for example, if someone touches a live part of a wire by mistake). When this happens, the consumer unit trips and causes your home’s electrics to turn off temporarily. Once you’ve found the problem, you can turn the electrics back on by flicking the switch that is out of line on the fuse board.

If your consumer unit trips, there are only a handful of reasons why this might have happened. Here are three of them. Of course, if you are worried about your home’s electrical wiring, it’s a good idea to contact a Part P-registered electrician for expert advice. (more…)

By admin Consumer Unit, House Rewiring Comments Off

10 Feb

What is involved in a full house rewire?

Full house rewiring in South London

Rewiring a house is a big job, but, when carried out by experts, it is faster, simpler and more affordable than you might realise. Depending on the size of your property, you can expect a full rewire to take anywhere between two days and two weeks – rewiring a three-bedroom house, for example, would probably take about four days. The average cost for rewiring a three-bed house is £3,500, but, again, this is fully dependent on the property. (more…)

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28 Dec

How to know in what order to refurbish your home

Let your electrician organise your home refurbishment When you’re planning a home renovation or refurbishment, it’s ideal to have the project managed by one contractor who can organise a team of sub-contractors. This way, you don’t have to worry about completing the process in the wrong order. Here’s a bit of guidance on the general shape a home refurbishment project should take. (more…)

By admin Home Renovation, House Extensions, House Rewiring Comments Off

24 Nov

Everything you need to know about wiring your loft conversion

Make sure your loft conversion wiring meets current regulations

A loft conversion is the perfect option if you want more space in your home, but don’t want to compromise your precious outdoor area or move into a bigger house. In fact, the growing popularity of the loft conversion is largely due to the rocketing costs of property in the UK. It’s a great way to add value to your home as, if you ever decide to move, potential buyers will expect to pay a higher price for the added space – especially if they can see that it has been expertly fitted with regulation-standard lighting, plumbing and electrical wiring.

Once your loft conversion has been built, you might be tempted to start thinking about what it’s going to look like. Before you do so, there is one important aspect you need to consider first: how to extend your electrical wiring so that it reaches the loft efficiently. Whether you intend to use the conversion as a bedroom, bathroom, office, lounge or living area, you’re going to need electricity for multiple devices – e.g. lights, smoke detectors, plug sockets, shaver points, TVs and computers – so it’s essential that it’s wired efficiently. (more…)

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07 Nov

How to know if your wiring needs updating

Are your electrics in need of urgent repair? We’ve all (probably) stayed in a property where the electricity couldn’t keep up with demand. Perhaps it was the house you grew up in, or your grandma’s old, rickety home in the countryside. You know the type: the lights dim slightly when you turn on the kettle, and the fuse box trips if you try to use the hairdryer while someone else is charging their phone. While we might shrug off these electrical faults as mere nuisances in the past, they certainly shouldn’t be happening in modern homes. If they are, you may need to update your wiring. (more…)

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24 Oct

What are the benefits of underfloor heating?

Underfloor heating can bring you warmth without ugly radiators

As homeowners increasingly demand energy solutions that will help them save money on gas and electric bills, reduce CO²emissions and boost convenience, underfloor heating is rising in popularity. As a cost-effective, attractive and practical alternative to bulky radiators, underfloor heating has demonstrated that we do not need to sacrifice aesthetics for functionality. Here are some of the benefits of the system.

What is underfloor heating?

As the name suggests, underfloor heating produces heat from the floor – removing the need for cumbersome radiators. The two main types are ‘dry’ and wet’. Dry underfloor heating operates independently from central heating, and uses electricity generated from a series of coils, while wet underfloor heating is connected to the central heating, and pumps hot water through pipes. The concept of each system is that hot air rises, and so by generating thermal energy from the ground up, the distribution of heat will be more efficient. (more…)

By admin Home Electrics, House Rewiring underfloor heating Comments Off