Electrics for period and older properties.
Old fuse boxes, rubber and lead cable, original switchgear and buildings that need a careful hand. We find out what you have, tell you plainly what needs doing, and upgrade it with as little disruption as possible.
Old wiring, honestly assessed.
Many homes and buildings across Kent and London still run on electrics that are decades old. Some of it is in surprisingly good order. Some of it is long past its best: rubber insulation that crumbles when touched, lighting circuits with no earth, fuse boxes with no RCD protection, and years of additions made by different hands.
We start by testing the installation properly, so you know what is safe, what is not, and what can be kept. Then we give you clear options, from targeted repairs and a new consumer unit to a partial or full rewire, planned around the age and character of the building.
Signs your electrics are showing their age
- A fuse box with rewireable fuses and no RCD protection
- Rubber, fabric or lead sheathed cables
- Lighting circuits with no earth conductor
- Round pin sockets, or sockets mounted on skirting boards
- Brittle, discoloured or warm switches and sockets
- No electrical report in the last ten years, or a report with C1 or C2 codes
What's included.
Inspection and testing
A full Electrical Installation Condition Report, so decisions are based on what is actually there, not guesswork.
Fuse box replacement
Old fuse boxes replaced with a modern consumer unit with RCD and surge protection, usually in a day.
Partial and full rewires
Rubber, lead and fabric cable replaced, room by room or the whole property, with every circuit tested and certified.
Fault finding on old circuits
Tripping, dead circuits and mystery wiring traced and put right, including undocumented old installations.
Listed and period buildings
Careful routing and minimal disturbance to plaster, panelling, cornices and ceilings, working with your conservation requirements.
Old commercial switchgear
Inspection, recording and replacement of original distribution boards and switchgear in older commercial buildings.
Old buildings we have worked in.
We have tested and upgraded electrics in some remarkable older buildings. At Ruach City Church in Kilburn, the former Gaumont State Cinema from the 1930s, our inspection covered original Brookhirst motor starters, the old main rectifier switchgear and a 240 volt DC switchroom. See the Ruach City Church project.
At Bullers Wood School for Girls in Chislehurst, a Grade II* listed Victorian house, we replaced the fluorescent lighting in the library with warm LED uplighting that shows off its original Morris and Company painted ceiling. See the Bullers Wood project.
In older homes the approach is the same. We test first, explain what we find in plain English, and agree a plan before any work starts. Where walls and ceilings matter, we use existing voids, floor spaces and routes wherever we can, so there is less to make good afterwards.
Accredited and approved.
NICEIC Approved Contractor (registration no. 609893000), SafeContractor approved, and ECS-carded electricians on every job.
How it works.
Get in touch
Tell us what you need by phone, email or the form. A few details is plenty.
Survey and quote
We see the job before we price it, then put a clear quote in writing.
Tidy installation
Work planned around your home or site, with everything left clean.
Test and certify
Every circuit and cable tested, with the certificates handed over.
Period and older property electrics near you.
Based in Dartford, we carry out period and older property electrics across Kent, London and south Essex.
Questions about older property electrics.
How old does wiring have to be before it needs replacing?
There is no fixed age. PVC cable from the 1960s onwards is often still sound. Rubber, fabric and lead sheathed cable, usually from before then, is a different story and normally needs replacing. An inspection tells you for certain.
Can you just replace my old fuse box?
Often, yes. But a new consumer unit can only be fitted safely if the wiring behind it passes testing, so we always test the circuits first. Very old cable can show faults once RCD protection is added, and we will tell you if that is likely.
Do you work on listed buildings?
Yes. We plan cable routes to avoid disturbing historic features, use existing voids where possible and work with your conservation officer or architect if listed building consent is involved.
Will a rewire wreck my walls and ceilings?
A rewire always involves some disruption, but careful planning keeps it to a minimum. We lift floorboards and use existing routes where we can, and agree with you beforehand where any chasing is needed.
Do you work on old commercial buildings too?
Yes. We inspect and upgrade older offices, churches, schools and other commercial buildings, including original switchgear that needs recording, isolating or replacing.
EICR at Ruach City Church, Kilburn.
An Electrical Installation Condition Report for Ruach City Church in Kilburn, a Grade II* listed former 1930s cinema where modern distribution sits alongside original 1930s switchgear. See the full project.
Related services.
House rewiring
Full and partial rewires for older homes, extensions and renovations across Kent, London and south Essex. Clear quotes, tidy work and full certification.
Consumer unit replacement
Replace an old fuse box with a modern consumer unit, with the RCD and surge protection current regulations expect. Usually done in a day.
Landlord EICRs
The electrical safety report every private landlord in England needs at least every five years. Booked around your tenants, with any remedial work quoted clearly.
Tell us about the job.
A few details is plenty. We will come back to you to arrange a visit and a written quote.