Homeowners are usually quoted an electrician's days rather than a programme. Those are different numbers. Here is how the stages actually sequence, so you can plan the move-back-in date around reality.
Stage by stage
First fix is the disruptive part: lifting floors, chasing walls, running cable and fitting back boxes. Plastering follows, then drying, then second fix, then testing and certification.
- First fix — the bulk of the electrician's time
- Plaster and dry — controlled by the plasterer and the weather
- Second fix — accessories, fittings, board connection
- Test, certify and notify — the final day
What causes slippage
Decisions made late. Socket positions, lighting layouts and switch types agreed after first fix mean chases reopened and time lost. We push for a walk-round marking positions in pencil before a single chase is cut, because that conversation saves days.
Living through it
If you are staying in the property we can keep working circuits alive in the rooms you are using, and phase the work so the kitchen and one bathroom stay usable. It is slower, but for many households it is the practical option.
Common questions
- Can you work weekends to speed it up?
- Our standard hours are Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm; anything else is by prior arrangement.
- When is the power off?
- Intermittently during first fix, and for a full day at board changeover.
- Do you coordinate with the plasterer?
- We will work to their programme and confirm when first fix is ready for them.
- When do I get the certificate?
- After final testing, emailed as a PDF along with the circuit schedule.
Share your renovation programme and we will tell you honestly where the electrics need to sit in it.
Related guides
- What Drives the Cost of a House RewireA rewire is priced on access and disruption far more than on cable.
- Rewiring During a Renovation, How to Sequence ItA renovation is the cheapest time a house will ever be rewired.
- Electrics for a Kitchen RefitThe kitchen carries more electrical load than any other room, and gets the least planning time.