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A full house rewire Aberdeen is one of the biggest electrical jobs you can have done on your home. It touches every room, involves lifting floors and chasing walls, and leaves the property without power for stretches of time. So before you book anyone in, the first question most people ask is: how long is this actually going to take?
The honest answer is that it depends on the size of the property and whether you’re living in it during the work. But we can give you realistic figures from carrying out rewires week in, week out across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire — so you know exactly what you’re committing to before any work starts.
This guide covers timescales by property size, what actually happens at each stage, how living in the property affects the timeline, what a finished rewire looks like, and why the before and after difference matters more than most people realise.
How Long Does a House Rewire Take? Quick Guide by Property Size
For most properties in Scotland, here is what you’re looking at as a realistic working guide:
- 1 bedroom flat or cottage: 3 to 5 working days
- 2 bedroom house: 4 to 6 working days
- 3 bedroom house: 5 to 8 working days
- 4 bedroom house: 7 to 10 working days
- 5 bedroom or larger: 10 to 14 working days, sometimes more
- HMO or large multi-room property: 2 to 4 weeks depending on the number of circuits and access
These figures assume a standard property with good access to floor voids and walls. Older stone properties — which are common across Aberdeenshire, particularly in Peterhead, Fraserburgh, and Aberdeen city itself — often take longer. Solid granite walls cannot be chased the same way as plasterboard, so cables have to be routed through floor voids wherever possible or run in conduit. Both approaches take more planning and more time.
If you’re still living in the property during the work, add at least a couple of days to those estimates. There is more on that below.
What Actually Happens During a House Rewire?
Most people picture a rewire as someone pulling wires out of walls. That is part of it, but the full process is more structured than that. A complete rewire happens in two distinct stages, with a gap between them for plasterwork to be dealt with.
Stage One: First Fix
This is the disruptive stage. The electrician strips out all the existing wiring, lifts floorboards where needed, chases wall channels for cable routes, and runs all the new cables throughout the property. Back boxes for sockets and switches are set into walls or floors. The position for the new consumer unit is prepared.
By the end of first fix, every room has new cable runs in place but nothing is connected yet. There are no sockets, no switches, no light fittings — just cables terminating at each point. This is when the plasterer comes in to fill any chased channels and make good surface damage before the second stage begins.
Skipping or rushing the making good between first and second fix is one of the warning signs of a contractor cutting corners. Cables behind open channels is a fire risk and will not pass inspection.
First fix typically accounts for around 60% of the total time on site.
The Plastering Gap
Once first fix is complete and channels are made good, there is a waiting period while the plasterwork dries before second fix can begin. This time is not part of the electrical working days, but it adds real time to the overall project. In a Scottish climate — particularly in winter or in properties without great ventilation — drying takes longer than most people expect. Plan for it as part of the overall schedule.
Stage Two: Second Fix
Second fix is when the property starts to feel like itself again. All sockets, switches, and light fittings are installed and connected. The new consumer unit is wired up, tested, and commissioned. Every circuit is tested to BS 7671 Amendment 4 — the current wiring regulations — and the Electrical Installation Certificate is issued on completion.
Second fix is considerably less disruptive than first fix. No floors are being lifted, no walls are being opened. By the end of second fix, you have full power restored with working sockets and lights throughout.
Does Living in the Property Make a Rewire Take Longer?
Yes, often significantly. When a property is empty, the electrician can work through every room without restriction. Floors can be left up, circuits can be dead all day, and there is no need to keep any part of the house usable at all times.
When you are still living in the property, the job has to be managed in sections. At least one ring main should stay live overnight so you have power for essential appliances. Rooms are completed one at a time before being handed back for use. Kitchen circuits are often left until last because you need the cooker and fridge for as long as possible.
It is entirely possible to live through a rewire, but first fix in particular is disruptive — dust from chasing, floors that cannot be walked on while boards are up, and sections of the house without power or lighting for stretches of the day. Families with young children or people who work from home often find it easier to stay elsewhere for the worst of first fix, even if they return to the property during second fix.
For occupied properties, add two to three days minimum to any of the size-based timescales above.
What Should a Full Rewire Include?
A properly specified full rewire in 2026 should include all of the following as standard:
- Removal of all existing wiring throughout the property
- New cables throughout, installed to BS 7671 Amendment 4
- New full RCBO consumer unit — every circuit individually protected
- Surge protection device (SPD) as standard under Amendment 4
- New sockets, switches, and ceiling roses as specified
- Main protective bonding to gas and water services
- Full testing and inspection of every circuit
- Electrical Installation Certificate on completion
If you are being quoted for a rewire and the consumer unit being proposed is a split-load or dual-RCD board, that should be a red flag. Both are legacy configurations. Best practice in 2026 under BS 7671 Amendment 4 is a full RCBO board — one individual breaker per circuit — so a fault on one circuit never affects the rest of your home. Faithful Spark only installs full RCBO boards as standard.
How Much Does a House Rewire Cost in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire?
Prices across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire sit above the Scottish average. This is consistent across all trades in the area — labour costs reflect the local economy and the influence of the oil and gas sector on wages across the region. National average figures from England-based cost guides are not a reliable benchmark here.
As a realistic guide for our area in 2026:
- 1 bedroom property: from £3,000 + VAT
- 2 bedroom property: from £3,500 + VAT
- 3 bedroom property: from £5,000 + VAT
- 4 bedroom property: from £7,000 + VAT
These are starting figures. Final costs depend on the specific property, the number of circuits required, wall construction, and any additional work such as EV charger provision, outdoor sockets, or garden office supply. For HMO and larger commercial properties, the scope is always priced individually after a site visit.
Always get a written, itemised quote before committing. If a figure comes in well below these numbers from an Aberdeen-based contractor, find out why before you proceed.
Does Your Property Actually Need a Full Rewire?
Not every property that has electrical problems needs a full rewire. The right starting point is always an EICR in Aberdeen — an Electrical Installation Condition Report. This is a thorough inspection and test of the existing installation that tells you, with evidence, exactly what is and is not up to current standards.
We have carried out EICRs that revealed wiring in far better condition than the homeowner expected — meaning all they actually needed was a new consumer unit and some remedial work. We have also found properties like the HMO pictured above, where decades of additions and old wiring had created a dangerous situation that no amount of patching was going to fix. In that case, a full rewire was the only sensible answer.
The point is: find out what you are actually dealing with before spending thousands of pounds. An EICR starts from £150 and takes a few hours. It tells you whether a rewire is genuinely necessary, what the specific problems are, and how urgent they are. Our guide on whether your house needs rewiring in Scotland covers the warning signs in more detail.
Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire: What Makes Rewires Here Different?
Properties across the region have specific characteristics that affect how a rewire is planned and priced. Granite construction is the most significant factor. Traditional granite homes in Aberdeen city, Peterhead, Fraserburgh, and rural Aberdeenshire cannot be chased in the same way as modern plasterboard construction. Cables have to be routed through floor voids wherever possible, surface-run in conduit where they cannot, and the approach to each property has to be planned around the building rather than imposed on it.
Older tenement properties in the city have their own considerations — communal areas, shared roof spaces, and HMO licensing requirements that need to be factored in from the start. We work on these regularly.
New build properties in areas like Ellon, Westhill, Newmachar, and Bridge of Don are the other end of the scale — straightforward cavity wall construction with good access, which keeps timescales at the lower end of the range.
What to Do to Prepare for a House Rewire
Some preparation before the electrician arrives makes the job run more smoothly and can reduce the time on site:
- Clear furniture away from walls. Sockets and switches need to be accessible. Heavy furniture against every wall significantly slows the job.
- Empty built-in wardrobes where wiring is likely to run through — ceiling lights and shelving can block access.
- Plan any additions now. If you are thinking about an EV charger, extra sockets in a garage or outbuilding, or outdoor lighting, a rewire is exactly the right time to include them. Adding circuits afterwards means reopening completed work.
- Decide where you are staying if the property is going to be difficult to live in during first fix.
- Let the electrician know about broadband, alarm systems, and any existing smart home wiring so allowances can be made in advance.
What Certificate Do You Get After a Rewire?
At the end of a full rewire, your electrician should provide an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC). This is a formal document confirming that all work has been tested and meets BS 7671. It includes test results for every circuit.
In Scotland, a rewire does not require separate notification to the local council or Building Control in the same way that applies under Part P in England and Wales. The work must still comply with Scottish Building Regulations (see Scottish Building Standards), and the EIC from a NICEIC-registered contractor is the certification mechanism. Keep it somewhere safe — you will need it when selling the property, and mortgage lenders will ask for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a house rewire take for a 3 bedroom house in Scotland?
For a standard 3 bedroom house in Scotland, plan for 5 to 8 working days of electrical work if you are living in the property, or 4 to 6 days if it is empty. Stone-built properties with solid walls will be at the longer end. A gap for plastering between first and second fix adds further time to the overall project.
Do I need to move out during a house rewire?
You are not required to, but many people choose to for at least the first fix stage. First fix is the noisiest and most disruptive part — floors up, walls potentially opened, power off to sections of the house during the day. Your electrician should maintain supply to at least one ring main overnight. Second fix is far less disruptive and most people remain in the property throughout.
Will a rewire damage my walls and floors?
Some disruption is unavoidable. In plasterboard walls, cables are usually fished through cavities with minimal visible damage. In plastered or solid walls, channels may need to be cut. All of this should be made good before second fix — plaster filled over channels and floorboards relaid. Final decoration is your responsibility after completion.
What is the difference between first fix and second fix in a rewire?
First fix is the installation of all cables and back boxes before walls are made good — no accessories are fitted at this stage. Second fix is when all sockets, switches, light fittings, and the consumer unit are connected and commissioned. There is typically a gap between the two stages while plasterwork is completed and dried.
How much does a house rewire cost in Aberdeen?
In Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, a rewire starts from around £3,000 + VAT for a 1 bedroom property, from £5,000 + VAT for a 3 bedroom house, and from £7,000 + VAT for a 4 bedroom property. Prices here run higher than the Scottish average due to local labour costs. Always get a site visit and written quote — the scope and wall construction of your specific property will affect the final figure.
Is a house rewire worth it?
If your wiring is old and failing, a rewire is not a lifestyle choice — it is a safety issue. Beyond that, a rewired property is far easier to insure, carries a higher value, and removes the uncertainty that old wiring creates during a sale. Mortgage lenders regularly flag old wiring on surveys. A rewired property with a current EIC ends that conversation entirely.
Book a Rewire Quote in Aberdeen or Aberdeenshire
We carry out full house rewires across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire as a NICEIC Approved Contractor Contractor. Every rewire includes a full RCBO consumer unit, surge protection as standard, and a full Electrical Installation Certificate on completion. We work on everything from single bedroom flats to large HMO properties across the whole region.
If you are unsure whether you need a full rewire or just some remedial work, the right first step is an EICR starting from £150. It gives you the facts before you spend anything on the work itself.
Call 07304 027013 or visit our rewire page to find out more.
About the Author
This guide was written by Steven Watt, owner of Faithful Spark Electricians and a qualified electrician with hands-on experience across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. Steven holds City & Guilds 2357 (Electrotechnical), 2365, and the City & Guilds 2391-52 Inspection and Testing qualification. Faithful Spark Electricians is a NICEIC Approved Contractor (Enrolment 620239), which means every job is independently audited against BS 7671 wiring regulations — providing homeowners and landlords with genuine third-party assurance on every piece of work.
Steven is also an AICO Expert Installer, OZEV Authorised EV Charge Point Installer, and approved installer for Ohme, Myenergi Zappi, Andersen EV, and ICS charge points. The business carries out full house rewires, HMO rewires, consumer unit replacements, EICR testing, EV charger installation Aberdeenations, and solar panel installation Aberdeen systems across Aberdeen and the whole of Aberdeenshire — from Peterhead and Fraserburgh through to Ellon, Westhill, Oldmeldrum and beyond.
All work is carried out in line with BS 7671 Amendment 4 and Scottish Building Regulations. NICEIC registration means every installation is independently verified — not just the word of the contractor.
