Electrics in kitchens — circuits for appliances
A kitchen refit usually means new dedicated circuits for higher-draw appliances (oven, hob, dishwasher) rather than sharing a single ring main, plus RCD protection for anywhere near a sink. If you're changing the kitchen layout, plan socket and circuit positions before the units go in — moving them afterwards means lifting worktops or units again.
LED lighting and energy-saving rewires
Swapping halogen downlights for LEDs is usually straightforward, but older dimmer switches often aren't compatible with LED drivers and need replacing alongside the bulbs, or you'll get flickering or a limited dimming range. If you're rewiring a room anyway, it's worth speccing LED-compatible circuits from the start rather than fixing dimmer compatibility later.
What a good electrical quote should include
A proper quote should state the scope of work, whether it's notifiable under Part P, an itemised breakdown of labour vs materials, the certificate you'll receive on completion, and how long the job is expected to take. If a quote is missing any of these, ask before agreeing to the work.
Garage and workshop power
Running power to a detached garage or workshop means an armoured cable, usually buried, and its own consumer unit or sub-board with RCD protection at the supply end. If you're planning to run power tools or an EV charger from it, size the supply for that from the start — upgrading later usually means digging the cable run up again.
Signs your property needs rewiring
Round-pin sockets, fabric or rubber-insulated cabling, a fuse box with a wooden back, or lights that dim when an appliance switches on are all signs the wiring is overdue for replacement. Most UK wiring is rated to last 30 to 40 years before it needs a full rewire.
What is an EICR and do I need one?
An Electrical Installation Condition Report checks a property's wiring against current safety standards and flags anything worn, damaged or non-compliant. Landlords are legally required to get one every 5 years; homeowners aren't, but it's worth having on an older property or one you've just bought where the wiring history is unknown.
Understanding the labour vs materials split
Materials — consumer units, cabling, sockets, fittings — are usually a smaller share of an electrical quote than labour, particularly for jobs involving lifting floors or chasing walls. If a quote seems unusually cheap, check whether it's using a lower-spec consumer unit or cabling than a competing quote, not just a lower labour rate.
Common electrical jobs
Electricians handle everything from minor repairs to full rewires: replacing a consumer unit to meet current wiring regulations, adding or moving sockets and light switches, installing an EV charging point, fixing faults such as tripping breakers or flickering lights, and full or partial rewires in older properties.