Whole Home Rewires

HEP is your trusted partner for complete home rewires in Kingston. Our expert team is dedicated to revitalizing and modernizing your home's electrical system, ensuring every corner of your space is safe, efficient, and up to modern standards. With a clear focus on quality workmanship and tailored solutions, we take pride in transforming outdated wiring into a contemporary network that meets today’s energy needs while safeguarding your loved ones.

We understand that home is where memories are made, and a secure electrical system is the backbone of every happy household. By choosing HEP, you benefit from thorough inspections, transparent processes, and expert advice every step of the way. Let us bring new life to your home’s electrical infrastructure, delivering peace of mind and elevating your living experience in Kingston.

Why Whole Home Rewiring Matters in Kingston

Kingston upon Thames is home to a diverse mix of Victorian terraces, Edwardian semis, 1930s bay-fronted houses, post-war maisonettes and contemporary riverside apartments. Each property style carries its own quirks, yet they share a common issue: wiring that is either outdated, overloaded, or installed to standards that pre-date modern safety requirements. A complete electrical rewire delivered by HEP replaces every cable, consumer unit, and accessory, giving residents full confidence that their installations match today’s lifestyles and regulations.

Age of Local Housing Stock

• Pre-1940 properties often retain rubber-insulated or cloth-sheathed cabling whose insulation has broken down.
• 1950s and 1960s homes typically feature the old rewirable fuse boards that lack Residual Current Devices (RCDs).
• Many 1970s houses still rely on aluminium conductors, prone to overheating at terminations.
• Early 2000s flats may appear new but were wired before surge protection devices (SPDs) and Arc Fault Detection Devices (AFDDs) became best practice.

Common Wiring Issues Found

1. Non-earthed lighting circuits that create shock hazards when metal light fittings are installed.
2. Ring final circuits with multiple breaks or spurs, causing voltage drop and uneven loading.
3. Junction boxes hidden under floorboards, making fault-finding slow and disruptive.
4. Insufficient socket outlets that force occupants to rely on multi-way extension leads.
5. No dedicated circuits for high-draw appliances such as induction hobs, quooker taps, or electric showers.

HEP’s whole home rewires eradicate these issues in one coordinated project, ensuring the electrical backbone supports everything from energy-hungry heat pumps to delicate smart devices.

Detailed Step-by-Step Process HEP Follows

Initial Visual Survey and Load Assessment

Before any tools come out, a qualified designer walks through the property with the homeowner, noting current pain points, future plans, and specific appliance requirements. Load calculations are performed to determine:

• Maximum demand in amperes under simultaneous use scenarios
• Diversity factors for cooking, immersion heaters, and EV chargers
• The necessity for three-phase upgrades in larger dwellings

Designing Circuit Layouts for Modern Living

HEP’s design phase blends technical compliance with user convenience:

• Separate radial circuits for Wi-Fi routers and home office sockets, reducing interference.
• Segregated lighting zones to create ambience and simplify night-time navigation.
• Kitchen rings sized to handle American-style fridge freezers, pyrolytic ovens, and combinational microwaves simultaneously.
• Outdoor circuits protected by dedicated RCBOs, ensuring a tripped pond pump never plunges the whole house into darkness.

CAD drawings show chase lines, backbox heights, and consumer unit placement, allowing homeowners to visualise the finished result.

Safe Strip-Out Procedure

On day one of site work, HEP technicians:

1. Isolate and lock off the incoming supply.
2. Label every original circuit and photograph existing routes for reference.
3. Extract redundant cables methodically to prevent lodging debris in floor cavities.
4. Dispose of waste in line with the company’s segregated recycling policy.

First Fix: Cabling and Containment

With floors lifted and walls chased, new twin-and-earth, low-voltage, coaxial, and data cables are pulled in:

• Depth of chases follows BS 7671 Section 522, remaining within the defined safe zones.
• Thermal insulation is notched to provide free air space around cables, safeguarding current-carrying capacity.
• Galvanised steel capping protects the conductors before plasterboard or bonding is reinstated.

Second Fix: Accessories and Testing

When plaster is dry, the team installs accessories, connects conductors, and undertakes a multi-stage test sequence:

1. Continuity of protective conductors (cpc)
2. Ring final continuity and polarity
3. Insulation resistance at 500 V DC
4. RCD trip time at rated residual current
5. Prospective fault current and loop impedance
6. Functional testing of AFDDs, SPDs, and RCBOs

Results populate the Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) that accompanies the homeowner pack.

Compliance With Regulations and Certification

BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 Implementation

HEP engineers wire to the latest edition of the IET Wiring Regulations, incorporating:

• Type A RCDs to protect modern appliances with DC leakage currents.
• AFDDs on socket circuits in high-risk areas such as bedrooms, lofts, and escape routes.
• SPDs positioned at the origin to shield sensitive electronics from transient overvoltage events.

Part P Building Regulations and Local Authority Notification

Whole rewires are notifiable works under Part P. HEP, as a registered competent person, handles the process:

• Issues a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate.
• Uploads compliance data to the local Kingston authority portal within 30 days.
• Stores digital copies in a secure client portal for future mortgage or insurance enquiries.

Future-Proofing Electric Infrastructure

Electric Vehicle Charging Readiness

Even households without an EV today often anticipate adopting one before long. A rewire is the logical moment to install:

• 6 mm² or 10 mm² dedicated radial circuits terminating in a Type A RCBO.
• Draw ropes or empty conduits from the consumer unit to driveway, allowing rapid charger installation later.
• Load management devices that speak to smart meters and prevent main fuse overload.

Solar PV and Battery Storage Integration

HEP routes generation meter tails and CT clamps so homeowners can fit photovoltaic panels or lithium battery banks without disturbing internal décor. Cables for south-facing roof arrays, inverters, and battery cabinets are discretely positioned during first fix.

Minimising Disruption for Residents

Temporary Supplies and Phased Work

Living through a rewire need not mean vacating your home. HEP provides:

• A site-rated temporary board supplying lighting and ring sockets in one room at a time.
• Phased circuit handovers, ensuring cooking, refrigeration, and broadband remain operational overnight.
• Protective carpet film and hardboard sheets that preserve flooring during furniture moves.

Dust Reduction and Property Protection

Chasing masonry inevitably creates dust, yet proactive measures limit its spread:

• Wall-mounted chase cutters with integrated M-class extraction.
• Zip-door plastic sheeting isolating work zones.
• Vacuuming at the end of each day, keeping communal areas usable.

Enhancing Fire Safety

Metal Consumer Units

Consumer units fabricated from steel are mounted on non-combustible backboards, offering 30 minutes of fire containment. Cable glands with intumescent grommets further reduce propagation risk.

Smoke, Heat and CO Alarms Interlinking

HEP pre-wires Grade D1 alarms on a dedicated 3-core 1 mm² circuit:

• Optical smoke detectors in hallways and landings.
• Heat detectors in kitchens.
• Carbon monoxide detectors adjacent to boilers, stoves, and integral garages.

Alarms interlink so activation anywhere sounds throughout the property, satisfying BS 5839-6:2019 requirements for occupied dwellings.

Kingston-Specific Considerations

Conservation Area Sensitivities

Many streets around Kingston town centre fall within conservation zones. HEP’s surveyors check covenants that restrict external meter boxes or wall-mounted EV charge points. Where visible accessories cannot be relocated, heritage-style cast-iron enclosures maintain aesthetic continuity.

High Water Table and Earthing Arrangements

Riverside plots near the Thames sometimes suffer elevated soil resistivity, affecting earth electrode performance. HEP uses:

• PME earthing where available, or TT systems with multiple 2.4 m copper rods linked in parallel.
• Surge-protected Type B RCDs on TT installations to mitigate nuisance tripping caused by earth reference fluctuations.

Value Added by a Professional Rewire

Insurance and Mortgage Implications

Home insurers routinely request proof that electrical installations are less than 25 years old and comply with current wiring regulations. A fresh EIC from HEP removes renewal obstacles and can reduce premiums. Mortgage valuers, meanwhile, view a recent rewire as tangible evidence of structural investment, supporting property value uplift.

Energy Savings Through Circuit Segregation

Dedicated circuits for kitchen, laundry, entertainment, and home office zones allow tailored energy monitoring. Homeowners can identify high-draw habits, schedule washing machines during off-peak tariffs, and integrate automation rules such as dimming hallway lights after midnight.

Post-Completion Support and Documentation

Digital Circuit Maps

Every rewire concludes with a high-resolution PDF circuit map showing breaker numbers, cable routes, and accessory counts. The file can be printed to A3 size for attachment near the consumer unit, helping future trades pinpoint circuits without guesswork.

Homeowner Handover Session

An HEP engineer walks residents through:

• Operation of RCD test buttons and AFDD indicators.
• Location of junction boxes accessible in loft or under-stairs cupboards.
• Recommended inspection intervals and self-maintenance tips like keeping ventilation holes in consumer unit covers clear of dust.

Materials and Component Choices

Cable Types and Ratings

• Twin-and-earth conductors are PVC or LSZH sheath, depending on risk profile.
• High-temperature silicone flex is used for downlights to avoid premature insulation degradation.
• Category 6A unshielded twisted pair supports 10 Gbps for backbone data links.

Switchgear Selection

• 10 AX or 20 AX rocker switches depending on load.
• Retractive momentary switches for smart dimmer compatibility.
• IP66 weather-proof enclosures for garden sockets and hot-tub supplies.

Surge Protection Devices

The consumer unit houses Type 2 SPDs connected via 32 A RCBOs on sub-boards. Where lightning risk is elevated—such as ridge-top properties overlooking Richmond Park—additional Type 1 devices tie into the earth bar.

Smart Home Integration During a Rewire

A whole home rewire is the perfect foundation for true smart home functionality because cables can be concealed behind plaster while access is open, avoiding surface trunking later. HEP designers collaborate with homeowners to embed infrastructure that supports current automation requirements and remains flexible for rapid technology shifts.

Key elements often incorporated include:

• Structured CAT6 or CAT6a cabling from a central patch panel to every major room, ensuring gigabit speeds for streaming, gaming, and video conferencing
• Low-voltage control wiring for motorised blinds, skylights, and projector screens
• KNX or Loxone-compatible BUS wiring, allowing integration of lighting, climate, and security under one protocol
• Pre-wired ceiling speaker loops with in-line attenuation for multi-room audio that does not clutter living spaces with cables or bulky enclosures
• Door entry and CCTV coax/UTP combinations that support both analogue and IP cameras, allowing gradual upgrades without re-cabling
• Strategically placed 5 A lighting sockets that enable table or floor lamps to be controlled via wall switches or scenes

By planning these wired backbones during the rewire, Kingston households avoid the latency and congestion of Wi-Fi-only devices, creating a robust hybrid network that can comfortably handle 4 K streaming, VR headsets, and emerging IoT appliances.

Health and Safety Standards Followed on Site

Electrical work ranks among the higher-risk construction activities, so HEP enforces rigorous health and safety protocols that surpass statutory obligations. Site-specific risk assessments identify hazards such as asbestos-containing materials, confined loft spaces, and overhead mains service cables common in Kingston’s older suburbs. Control measures include:

• Mandatory lock-out devices on all incoming supplies during circuit isolation
• 110 V centre-tapped tool transformers to reduce shock risk
• Dust masks with P3 filtration when chasing through plaster or Artex ceilings
• Portable extraction units fitted with HEPA filters to maintain air quality, protecting residents with allergies
• Clearly marked exclusion zones with temporary barriers to keep children and pets away from work areas
• Fire extinguishers strategically located on each floor, with operatives trained in their use

All engineers hold ECS cards, first-aid certification, and undergo annual refreshers in safe access to roof spaces and safe use of step ladders, ensuring that the rewiring process proceeds without incident.

Coordination With Other Trades During Renovations

Whole home rewires frequently coincide with loft conversions, kitchen refurbishments, or extensions. HEP project managers synchronise sequencing to minimise downtime and duplicative works:

1. Pre-start meeting establishes order of operations with builders, plumbers, and HVAC installers.
2. Agreed chases and back box positions are marked before plasterers arrive, preventing costly rework.
3. Temporary lighting and power supplies are positioned so decorators can operate even while final circuits remain dead.
4. Sign-off certificates are supplied ahead of kitchen appliance installation, allowing swift connection by fitters.

This integrated approach keeps the broader renovation on schedule and eliminates finger-pointing between trades over delays or damaged cabling.

Materials Selected for Durability and Aesthetics

The visible elements of a rewire—switches, sockets, and lighting—can either elevate or undermine an interior design scheme. HEP sources from premium ranges that balance resilience with design flair:

• Polycarbonate plates in white or anthracite for humidity-prone bathrooms and utility rooms
• Metal-clad accessories in workshops and garages, resisting impact and chemical spillages
• Decorative toggles in antique brass or polished nickel that complement period cornices and timber skirting
• Flush-fit screwless ranges that sit almost level with modern plasterboard walls, producing crisp visual lines

Behind the scenes, HEP deploys LSZH-sheathed twin-and-earth cable that limits toxic smoke in a fire, and installs gigabit-rated CAT6a with snagless strain relief to survive multiple device changes. Conduit and capping are PVCu with a minimum oxygen index to reduce flame spread, while metal consumer units comply with Amendment 3 fire containment requirements.

Sustainability Practices Beyond Energy Efficiency

In addition to the direct energy savings generated by LED lighting and smart controls, HEP’s rewiring methodology integrates environmental stewardship:

• Segregated waste streams for PVC, copper, steel, and cardboard, achieving recycling rates above 85 % on typical projects
• Bulk cable drum ordering to minimise packaging and vehicle deliveries into Kingston’s Air Quality Focus Areas
• Preference for UK-manufactured accessories with ISO 14001 accreditation, lowering embodied carbon
• Re-use of appropriate hardwood back boxes and brass switch plates from heritage properties, retaining architectural character while avoiding landfill

Through these measures, an HEP rewire provides not only electrical reliability but also tangible contributions to sustainable construction in the borough.