HOUSE REWIRING MELBOURNE
House Rewiring
Full and partial house rewiring for older Melbourne homes. Replace degraded wiring, upgrade to current standards, and modernise your electrical system with proper circuit protection, adequate outlets, and a new switchboard.
When Rewiring Is Needed
Melbourne has many homes built between the 1940s and 1970s that still have their original wiring. Cable insulation deteriorates over decades, becoming brittle and cracking, which creates fire and shock hazards. A rewire replaces all the old cabling with modern TPS cable and brings the entire electrical system up to current AS/NZS 3000 standards.
VIR and TRS Wiring
Vulcanised India Rubber (VIR) and Tough Rubber Sheath (TRS) cables were common in homes built before the 1960s. The rubber insulation has a finite lifespan and is likely degraded in any home older than 50 years. When the insulation fails, live conductors become exposed within the walls and ceiling. Rewiring with modern PVC-insulated TPS cable eliminates this risk.
Aluminium Wiring
Some homes built in the 1960s and 1970s used aluminium conductors, which expand and contract more than copper under load. Over time, this loosens connections and creates overheating risks. Aluminium wiring is a particular concern at power points and switches where the connection points are most vulnerable. Full or partial rewiring with copper cable is the long-term solution.
Undersized and Overloaded Circuits
Older homes were wired for a fraction of the electrical load that modern households demand. Two or three circuits serving the entire house was normal in the 1960s. Today, kitchens alone often need multiple dedicated circuits. A rewire distributes the load across properly rated circuits with individual RCD protection.
Pre-Sale and Pre-Renovation
If you are selling a property or planning a significant renovation, a rewire addresses the electrical system before other work begins. An electrical safety inspection can confirm whether rewiring is needed and identify the specific issues.
Not sure if your home needs rewiring? We can inspect your existing wiring and give you a clear assessment of its condition and what work is required.
What a Rewire Includes
New Switchboard
A modern switchboard with individual circuit breakers and RCD safety switches for each circuit group. This replaces older ceramic fuse boards and provides the protection and capacity that a modern home needs.
New Cable Throughout
All lighting and power circuits are rewired with new TPS cable sized appropriately for their load. Cable is run through the ceiling space, wall cavities, and under the floor. We aim to reuse existing cable routes where possible to minimise disruption to walls and ceilings.
Modern Outlets and Switches
New power points and light switches throughout the house. A rewire is also the opportunity to add outlets where you actually need them, update to modern switch plates, and install dedicated circuits for appliances that need them.
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Minimising Disruption
A full rewire is a significant job, but it does not always require removing plaster from every wall. In many Melbourne homes with accessible ceiling spaces and subfloor areas, we can run new cable through these cavities with limited access holes that are patched afterwards. The extent of visible work depends on the home’s construction.
For weatherboard and brick veneer homes with accessible roof spaces and subfloors, the disruption is typically manageable. For double-brick homes or properties without subfloor access, more plaster work may be needed. We explain exactly what to expect during the quoting process so there are no surprises.
House Rewiring FAQs
How long does a full rewire take?
A typical three-bedroom house takes three to five days for the electrical work, depending on the home’s construction and accessibility. If plastering and painting are needed afterwards, allow additional time for those trades. We aim to keep disruption to the shortest practical timeframe.
Can I stay in the house during a rewire?
In most cases, yes. We stage the work so that parts of the house remain powered while we work on other sections. There will be periods without power to specific areas, but we plan to minimise inconvenience and keep essential circuits running wherever possible.
Do I need to rewire the whole house or just part of it?
Sometimes a partial rewire is appropriate, for example if only one section of the house has degraded wiring or if you are renovating a specific area. However, if the wiring throughout the house is the same age and type, a full rewire is usually the better investment. We will advise based on what the inspection reveals.
Will the walls need repairing after rewiring?
Some access holes are typically needed to route cable through wall cavities. These are kept as small as possible and are patched by us or a plasterer. In homes with good ceiling and subfloor access, wall work can be minimal. We discuss the likely extent of making good before the job starts.
House Rewiring Across Melbourne
We rewire homes across all Melbourne service areas. See also our switchboard upgrades, safety inspections, and renovation electrician services.
About Carlin Co Electrical
Carlin Co Electrical is a Registered Electrical Contractor (REC 33210) and Master Electricians member based in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 2019 by Hamish Carlin, the company specialises in house rewiring for Melbourne’s older homes, including Federation-era weatherboards, Edwardian terraces, and mid-century residences across the inner suburbs. With 138+ five-star Google reviews, Carlin Co is one of Melbourne’s most trusted electricians for heritage and period home electrical work.
Carlin Co’s approach to house rewiring combines respect for period architecture with modern electrical safety standards. The team understands how to route new cabling through lath-and-plaster walls, navigate heritage overlay requirements, and upgrade ageing electrical systems without compromising the character of the home. Every rewire includes a full switchboard upgrade with RCDs, modern circuit protection, and a Certificate of Electrical Safety.
For a house rewiring quote in Melbourne, call Hamish on 0432 632 346 or Book Your Electrician.