Everything you need to consider when wiring your new home.
So, you’re building a new home – AWESOME!
We will work with you from designing, planning, building and moving into your dream home - it's a huge and exciting step in anyone’s lives. It’s an oportunity to be creativity and get all the things you always wanted. The process should NEVER be rushed, there are many factors to consider, including schedules and budgets.
Get it right at the start to avoid huge cost blow outs down the track. It’s a big process that requires a lot of input from many different professionals who will all have their own ideas and opinions and charge their own rate based on their experience and the materials they use.
Today, we’re going to talk you through it all from an electrician’s point of view.
How Much Will It Cost
We really do wish this was a clear-cut answer! How long is a piece of string?
The cost to wire a new build house really depends on the scope of the project, the fixtures you’ve chosen and the cost of labour. While we can’t give an exact figure on how much you should expect to spend on your new home, for an expansive 3,000-square-foot (around 280sq metre) property you should be prepared to spend anywhere from $3000-$20,000 or more, depending on the project and choices you make regarding fixtures, fittings and appliances.
Building your home from the ground up, make sure you invest the money upfront to ensure the job is done well and on time. This could save you from costly repairs or alterations in the future.
What's Involved
1. The planning phase
You need to start working on your electrical plan at the very start of the process, making sure everything will operate well and mesh with the overall architecture and design. Connect your team of professionals early in the process (designers, builders, architects, plumbers, electricians, etc) so they can all work together to bring your plan to life in a timely and efficient manner.
Getting the plan right is essential before you move onto the next stage of the project. The plan will be created by the architect or engineer and will outline where everything in the house will go. Before work begins, all contractors will need to review and agree to the plan.
2. The Rough-in
The rough-in is the stage of construction when all framing is up and the mechanical, electrical and plumbing lines are installed. Electrical wiring is usually installed after heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and plumbing.
The electrical rough-in involves:
Laying out lines
Installing electrical boxes
Grounding
Connecting the house to service wiring
3. Switches & Appliances
In the initial rough-in stage, you won’t be connecting the wires up to any appliances, outlets or switches, as this will happen during the later stages of construction after the walls and switches have been put in place.
This is also when you’ll want to have all your chosen appliances ready to go so that they can be installed, connected and ready to use.
How Long Will It Take?
Building a house from scratch can be quite a marathon, don't rush it - get it right. So, how long does the wiring take? Again, we wish this was an easy answer, but there are many factors that will determine how long it takes to complete.
Number of electricians needed on-site
Size of the home
Number of outlets you need
If cables are surface or recessed
Number of appliances you need installed
On average, wiring a new build house could take anywhere from 3-14 days, although we'd suggest your expection to be about a week.
Factors Determine Cost
So, let’s do the math, to wire a new build home in a bit more detail. As we’ve established, the total cost tends to vary between $3,000-$20,000, depending on quite a few variants. Here are some of the factors you should consider when estimating the cost to wire your new home.
1. Labour
Labour cost will vary hugely, depending on the electrician you choose to complete the job. Some will charge a flat rate for the project, while others will charge an hourly rate. In Australia, the hourly rate of an electrician tends to vary.
How much your electrical contractor charges will depend on:
His or her experience
The size of their team
Their location
How far they need to travel to the site
You may also need to pay extra for a Call Out Fee or any urgent work that comes up out of hours.
2. Materials Cost
In addition to the cost of labour, you’ll have to consider the cost of all the materials that will go into the electrical plan.
3. Outlets & Switches
These tend to cost between about $60-120 per switch, you'll need to multiply the amount by how many you’ll need for your house.
4. Copper wiring
Copper wiring will be what is carrying the electricity throughout your entire house. It generally costs $600+, depending on the size of the home.
5. Switchboard
An electrical switchboard is an essential part of the home and will cost from around $500-1000.
6. Fixtures & appliances
While not part of the initial wiring process, the cost of lights and machines shouldn't be ignored when considering your budget, as they do add up. And now with all the "smart appliances"in some cases need special attention and additional work.
Expect to pay between $3,000-8,000+ for your fixtures and appliances, depending on the size of the home, what types of fixtures and appliances ytou choose or if they are smart appliances.
Make sure you purchase from trustworthy retailers and wholesalers, and remember to keep your electrician in the loop in regard to types of appliances and fixtures you’re choosing.
7. Size Of The Building
The size of the home and the number of bedrooms will obviously make a huge impact on the overall cost to wire a new build house. You can't expect a 6 bedroom house to cost the same as a studio apartment, really.
It's obvious you won’t be able to get an accurate price estimation until you consult with an electrical contractor.
Here are some very rough expectations:
1-2 bedrooms: $1,500-$5,000
3 bedrooms: $3,000-$10,000
4+ bedrooms: $10,000-$12,000
Again, these are only very basic estimates and the only way to get an accurate quote is to contact an electrician.
Wiring Different Areas
If you're planning to run electricity to other areas of your property such as a shed, garage or granny flat, you’ll need to ensure this is included in your overall plan.
The cost to wire up a shed, garage or granny flat will depend on its location in relation the the rest of the building/s and how many outlets and lights are required. Wiring up a shed could cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand, depending on the location of the shed. You should expect to pay a few thousand for a granny flat.
A standard garage attached to the house with just one or two outlets and a single light will be lower cost than a large workshop 100 metres from the main building. Whereas a granny flat will obviously be higher cost due to needing multiple sockets, lights and appliances.
Connecting Electricity
This isn’t going to be part of your wiring cost, but you really do need to consider it. You’ll need to decide on and to contact an electricity provider a week or so before you intend to use electricity in the home to give them enough time to connect.
Each provider will charge a different amount to connect electricity.
Avoid Hidden Costs
A good plan and good communication between all parties will certainly assist in avoiding any hidden costs, but play it safe and check off a few of our tips that may help you go into the process confidently.
Include your electrician early in the process. Get to know them and make sure you feel confident in their hands.
Plan! We can’t exaggerate the importance of THE PLAN! Ensuring all your contractors are on the same page as you and thoroughly understand your plan and vision.
Emergency and overtime costs. Sometimes, things arise that can’t be avoided and need to be attended to immediately. Be aware of how much these will cost to fix so you’re not surprised with a hefty bill at the end.
Invest early. While you’ll no doubt want to save as much money as you can, and we all love a good bargin, it's really important you get the job done right the first time. This will ultimately save you money down the track.
How Long Before I Need To Rewire?
Once your house has been wired up and everything’s in working order, you likely won’t need to worry about it for another few decades.
Some signs that you may need your home rewired:
The wiring is 30+ years old
Faceplates or fittings are warm to touch
Fuses are blowing regularly
Lights are flickering or dimming regularly, and the problem isn’t the bulb
Buzzing, burning or sparks coming from outlets
You feel tingling or a shock when you touch outlets
Circuit breakers are tripping regularly
Plugs don’t fit properly into the outlets
If you are experiencing any of the above, get in touch with an electrician ASAP to check and make any necessary repairs. If everything's in working order and you want to be on the safe side, you can also get your electrician to come and check your home every 10 years or so, just to ensure it’s still up to standard.
Choosing an Electrician
Choosing an electrician to work on your new home isn’t a decision that should be rushed. We’d recommend talking to a few different contractors and shopping around until you find someone who you feel confident understands your project.
Some things to consider include:
Your electrician’s reputation
Their previous work
Any reviews or referrals you can find
That they have a valid license and insurance
The cost (keeping in mind cheapest isn’t necessarily best)
If you’re looking for a team of experienced and diligent electricians to wire your new build home in Sydney, contact the team at Amber Electrical we’ll happily discuss your project with you.
Can Wire My Home Myself?
Absolutely NOT! If you've read through this post, you’re probably just a little stunned at the real cost to wire a new build house, and figured you can save some money by doing it yourself.
The answer to this is no, it is illegal in Australia to DIY your wiring.
Without the right qualifications, it’s not just illegal, it can be very dangerous and your work won’t be certified.
Find Out More
Looking for a licensed electrician who can wire your new house on time and on budget? Give Luke a call on 0432 380 701 he’ll be happy to chat about your project and organise to assist with your plan.
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