Lincolnshire has a lot of older housing — Victorian terraces in Lincoln and Gainsborough, Georgian town houses in Louth and Stamford, and plenty of farmhouses and cottages that have been extended bit by bit over the decades. Many still run on wiring that was never designed for today’s kettles, electric showers, EV chargers and home offices. If you’re wondering whether you need a house rewire in Lincolnshire, this guide covers the warning signs, what the work involves and how to prepare.
Table of Contents
Signs your home may need a rewire
Wiring doesn’t have a fixed expiry date, but insulation does break down with age, heat and damage. These are the signs we look out for:
- Old cable types — rubber-insulated, lead-sheathed or fabric-covered cables are a clear sign the wiring is decades old.
- An old fuse box — a wooden-backed board, rewireable fuses or no RCD protection usually means the installation hasn’t been updated in a long time.
- Scorch marks or warm sockets — discolouration around sockets and switches, or a burning smell, needs checking straight away.
- Flickering lights or frequent tripping — can point to loose connections, overloaded circuits or deteriorating cables.
- Round-pin sockets or too few sockets — if you rely on extension leads in every room, the installation probably isn’t keeping up with how you live.
- Black, round light switches or sockets on skirting boards — common in older installations that haven’t been upgraded.
The only way to know for sure is to have the installation tested. An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) tells you whether your wiring is safe, whether parts of it can be kept, and whether a partial or full rewire is the sensible option. EICRs start from £180 + VAT — see our guide to EICR costs in Lincolnshire.
Full rewire or partial rewire?
Not every older home needs everything replaced. Sometimes the main circuits are sound and only certain areas — an old extension, a kitchen or an outbuilding supply — need new cabling. A full rewire replaces all the circuits, usually alongside a new consumer unit, and gives you the chance to put sockets, lighting and data points exactly where you want them.
What a house rewire in Lincolnshire involves
- Survey and quote — we look at the property, talk through how you use each room and agree socket, switch and lighting positions. Rewires are priced individually, so every quote is based on your home.
- First fix — floorboards are lifted and cables are run through walls, floors and ceilings. Chasing into walls is kept to what’s needed.
- Consumer unit — most rewires include a new, RCD-protected consumer unit.
- Second fix — sockets, switches, lights and fittings go on once plastering is done.
- Testing and certification — every circuit is tested and you receive an Electrical Installation Certificate. A rewire is notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations in England, and as a NAPIT-registered contractor we notify it for you, so you don’t need to deal with building control yourself.
How long does a rewire take?
It depends on the size and layout of the property and whether you’re living in it during the work. An empty house is quicker than one where we’re working room by room around you. We’ll give you a realistic timeframe with your quote and plan the work so you have power in at least part of the house at the end of each day wherever possible.
How to prepare
- Clear rooms as much as you can and lift carpets where we need floor access.
- Plan decorating after the rewire — some making good and plastering is usually needed.
- Think about the future: EV charger, garden room, outdoor lighting or extra data points are far cheaper to wire in now.
Frequently asked questions
Can I stay in my home during a rewire?
Often, yes — especially for partial rewires. For a full rewire it can be easier to be away for a few days, but we’ll plan around what works for you.
Do I need a rewire to sell my house?
Not necessarily, but buyers’ surveyors often flag old wiring. A pre-sale EICR shows buyers exactly where things stand.
How much does a rewire cost?
Every property is different, so we price rewires individually after a survey. Get in touch for a free, no-obligation quote.
Book a rewiring survey
We rewire homes across Lincolnshire from our base in Woodhall Spa, including Lincoln, Louth, Horncastle, Stamford and Gainsborough. NAPIT-licensed, CHAS and TrustMark accredited.
Ready to talk about a rewire? Call 07342 039 023 (Monday to Friday, 8am–5pm) or request a free quote online.
