House rewiring on Brisbane’s northside and Moreton Bay
Wiring doesn’t last forever. Plenty of homes on Brisbane’s northside are still running on cable that went in decades ago, long before air con, induction cooktops and EV chargers were on anyone’s mind. Old wiring can break down inside the walls where you can’t see it.
We rewire homes, in full or in part, across Brisbane’s northside and Moreton Bay. Licensed electrical contractor, QLD licence 88297.
Call 1800 230 400 or request a quote online.
Signs your home needs a rewire
- Old rubber or cloth-covered cable. Older cable insulation, including VIR (vulcanised India rubber), goes brittle and crumbles with age, leaving bare conductors.
- No earth wire on some circuits, or power points with only two pins.
- Lights that flicker or dim when appliances turn on.
- Warm switches or power points, or a burning smell.
- Ceramic fuses in the switchboard, or no safety switches.
- Breakers or safety switches that keep tripping with no obvious cause.
If you notice a burning smell, scorch marks or a hot power point, stop using it and call us.
Partial or full rewire?
You don’t always need the whole house done. We test the existing wiring first and tell you straight what’s safe to keep.
Partial rewire
Replacing the worst circuits, or one area of the house, such as the kitchen or an old extension. Common when part of the home has already been updated.
Full rewire
New cable throughout, usually with a new switchboard. The right call when the old wiring is failing across the board, or before a major renovation.
Queenslanders vs brick homes
Timber Queenslanders and post-war homes
Common around Kedron, Lutwyche, Windsor and Wooloowin. Good news: timber homes with a crawl space underneath or decent roof access are often easier to rewire, because we can run new cable without opening up many walls.
1960s to 1980s brick and block homes
Common around Aspley, Chermside, Strathpine, Kallangur and Petrie. Solid walls take more planning, but there’s usually a way through the roof space and existing cable paths. We’ll walk you through where any patching is needed before we start.
What’s involved
- Inspection and testing of the existing wiring, then a written quote.
- Switchboard upgrade. A rewire usually goes hand in hand with a new board, with safety switch protection on every circuit. See switchboard and meter box upgrades and safety switch installation.
- New cable to power points, lights and fixed appliances, run through the roof and under-floor wherever possible to keep patching to a minimum.
- Power off for parts of the job. We’ll plan it with you so you’re not left without power longer than needed.
- Testing and certification once everything’s in.
How long does it take?
It depends on the size of the house, how it’s built and how much is being replaced. A partial rewire can be quick. A full rewire on a larger home takes longer. We’ll give you a realistic timeframe with your quote.
Renovating? Rewire first
If walls, ceilings or floors are coming out for a renovation, that’s the cheapest and easiest time to rewire. Get us in before the plasterer, and plan extra power points, lighting, air con circuits and an EV charger circuit while the walls are open.
House rewiring FAQs
Can I stay in the house during a rewire?
Usually, yes. We’ll work through the house in stages and tell you when the power will be off.
Will there be a lot of damage to walls?
We run cable through the roof and under the floor wherever we can. Some small access holes may be needed. We’ll show you where before we start.
How do I know if my wiring is old?
Ceramic fuses, two-pin power points and no safety switches are good clues. The surest way is to have an electrician test it.
Do I need a new switchboard as well?
In most full rewires, yes. Old boards often can’t take modern circuit protection or have no room for safety switches on every circuit.
Can I do some of the work myself?
No. In Queensland, electrical wiring work must be done by a licensed electrician.
Local to you
We rewire homes across Brisbane’s northside and Moreton Bay from our Brendale and Aspley locations.
Armitage Electrical (QLD) Pty Ltd · QLD Electrical Contractor Licence 88297