Partial rewire
Partial Rewire in Ireland
A partial rewire replaces only some circuits, such as a kitchen, an extension or one floor, and costs €1,200 to €4,000+. It only makes sense when the rest of the wiring tests sound, so a registered electrician tests the whole installation first.
When a partial rewire is the right call, what it costs, and when it's money spent twice.
Free, no obligation. One registered electrician prices it, not five.
- €1,200 to €4,000+a partial rewire
- 1 to 3 daysfor most partial rewires
- €350 to €1,400a new board, often done with it
- €7,000 to €14,500a full rewire of a 3-bed, for comparison
When it works
When part of the house is enough
- An extension or attic conversion wired years after the house, now needing more circuits or a fault fixed.
- A kitchen or bathroom being renovated, where the walls are open anyway.
- One or two circuits flagged on a Periodic Inspection Report, with the rest graded fine.
- A new board, where a test shows one circuit can't safely go onto it.
Every new or replaced circuit in a home is restricted electrical work: it has to be done by a Registered Electrical Contractor and certified, the same as a full rewire.
Price guide
Partial rewire prices
What a partial rewire costs, and the jobs that often come with it.
| Job | Typical cost | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Partial rewire | €1,200 to €4,000+ | A kitchen, an extension or a few circuits, priced after testing |
| New fuse board (consumer unit) | €350 to €1,400 | A straight swap is the low end. Earthing and faults found push it up |
| Electrical inspection and report | €150 to €350 | The size of the house and the number of circuits. Up to €600 for big houses |
| Earthing and bonding brought up to standard | €100 to €450 | Often needed with a new board in an older house |
| 3-bed house | €7,000 to €14,500 | Dublin and bigger houses sit at the top. More sockets and lights add to it |
Typical prices for the whole job, materials, testing and the certificate included. Most of a rewire is at 13.5% VAT: ask that every written price says it's included. Light fittings, plastering and painting are usually extra.
Services
Rewiring jobs we take requests for
Every job is done and certified by a Safe Electric registered electrician.
Full rewireEvery circuit replaced, a new board, tested and certified. €7,000 to €14,500 for a 3-bed house.More on full rewire →
Fuse board upgradeA new consumer unit with RCD protection. €350 to €1,400.More on fuse board upgrade →
Electrical inspectionA Periodic Inspection Report on every circuit. €150 to €350 for most houses.More on electrical inspection →
Rewiring an old houseRubber cable, ceramic fuses and period ceilings: what changes in an older house.More on rewiring an old house →CertYour completion certificateSafe Electric certOnly a Registered Electrical Contractor can issue it. Keep it with the deeds.More on Safe Electric cert →RCDThe test button that mattersRCD protectionWhat an RCD does, why old boards don't have one, and how to test it.More on RCD protection →Counties
House rewiring in every county
One registered electrician per county. Pick yours for local housing figures, prices and the council grants.
- Carlow38% of homes built before 1981
- Cavan35% of homes built before 1981
- Clare40% of homes built before 1981
- Cork44% of homes built before 1981
- Donegal33% of homes built before 1981
- Dublin49% of homes built before 1981
- Galway33% of homes built before 1981
- Kerry40% of homes built before 1981
- Kildare29% of homes built before 1981
- Kilkenny41% of homes built before 1981
- Laois33% of homes built before 1981
- Leitrim37% of homes built before 1981
- Limerick44% of homes built before 1981
- Longford37% of homes built before 1981
- Louth42% of homes built before 1981
- Mayo39% of homes built before 1981
- Meath31% of homes built before 1981
- Monaghan43% of homes built before 1981
- Offaly42% of homes built before 1981
- Roscommon39% of homes built before 1981
- Sligo39% of homes built before 1981
- Tipperary47% of homes built before 1981
- Waterford42% of homes built before 1981
- Westmeath39% of homes built before 1981
- Wexford35% of homes built before 1981
- Wicklow42% of homes built before 1981
Guides
Rewiring guides
- House rewire costBy size of home: €7,000 to €14,500 for a 3-bed house.
- Signs you need a rewireThe warning signs, and which ones are urgent.
- How long a rewire takes4 to 10 days for a 3-bed house.
- Living in the house during a rewireWhat the week is like, room by room.
- The Safe Electric certWhy only a registered electrician can sign it off.
- Electrical inspectionThe Periodic Inspection Report: €150 to €350.
- Fuse board upgradeA new consumer unit: €350 to €1,400.
- RCD protectionWhat an RCD does, and how to test yours.
Questions
Questions people ask
How much does a partial rewire cost?
€1,200 to €4,000+, depending on how many circuits and how hard they are to reach. It's priced after the installation is tested.
Can I rewire just the kitchen?
Yes, if the rest of the wiring tests sound. A kitchen is often the first room to get new circuits, because it carries the heaviest loads.
Do I still get a certificate for a partial rewire?
Yes. Replacing or adding circuits is restricted electrical work, and the Registered Electrical Contractor must certify it.
Is a partial rewire a false economy?
It can be, in an older house. If the test shows old cable throughout, doing it in stages means opening walls and floors twice.
Who comes out?
One Safe Electric registered electrician who covers your county. We pass your request to one electrician only, not a list, and they ring you to arrange a look at the house. Rewiring Ireland is an introduction service run by Bartlomiej Standa, trading as Elevate Ireland: we don't do electrical work ourselves.
Find out what your rewire costs
Six taps for our price range, then a written price from one Safe Electric registered electrician who covers your county. Free, no obligation.