Rewiring and Replumbing an Older House
A complete rewire with a new water system in a Dublin house costs €20,000 to €35,000. It is the least visible part of a renovation and the one to do first, because every wall and floor is opened for it. Most homes built before 1981 need at least part of it, and 255,315 Dublin households live in one.
The signs, the work, and the order.
Free, no obligation. One local company prices it, not five.
- €20,000 to €35,000rewire and new water system
- Firstbefore any finishes
- 255,315Dublin homes built before 1981
Signs the wiring is due
- A fuse board with rewirable fuses, or no RCD.
- Round-pin sockets, or one socket to a room.
- Fabric or rubber-covered cable in the attic.
- Lights that dim when the kettle goes on.
- No earth at the light fittings.
Signs the plumbing is due
- Lead or galvanised iron pipes at the stopcock.
- Poor pressure upstairs.
- A tank in the attic with no lid.
- Radiators that never get hot at the bottom.
- A boiler older than fifteen years.
What's involved
- First fix: cables and pipes run through walls, floors and ceilings, before plastering.
- Plastering: chases filled, walls skimmed.
- Second fix: sockets, switches, lights, radiators, sanitaryware.
- Testing and certificates: a Safe Electric certificate for the wiring, and a registered gas installer's for any gas work.
What it costs
| Job | Typical cost | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Complete rewire with a new water system | €20,000 to €35,000 | The size of the house, how much plaster is opened |
Electrical work is certified by a Safe Electric registered contractor. Gas work by an RGI installer.
Why it comes first
Rewiring and replumbing wreck decoration. Done before the kitchen, the bathrooms and the floors, they cost what they cost. Done after, they cost that plus everything they damage.
Every guide, calculator and county page
Jump straight to any specification guide, our interactive calculator, the technical glossary or your county page.
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All 26 Counties
More on renovating in Dublin
Costs, old houses, timing and grants.
What it costs in Dublin€330 to €530 per m² light. €670 to €1,330 per m² full.
Cost room by roomA kitchen €15,000 to €25,000. A bathroom €8,000 to €12,000.
Period housesAllow 15% to 25% more. Here's why.
How long it takes8 to 12 weeks light, 24 to 36 weeks for a gut renovation.
GrantsUp to €50,000 for a vacant house, €70,000 if derelict.House renovations in every part of Dublin
- Dublin 1 and 748.7% of homes built before 1981
- Dublin 2 and 450.8% of homes built before 1981
- Dublin 846.4% of homes built before 1981
- Pembroke63% of homes built before 1981
- Rathmines75.1% of homes built before 1981
- Ballyfermot73.4% of homes built before 1981
- Cabra66.4% of homes built before 1981
- Finglas61.9% of homes built before 1981
- Artane70.3% of homes built before 1981
- Clontarf71.9% of homes built before 1981
- Donaghmede52.7% of homes built before 1981
- Swords22.7% of homes built before 1981
- Malahide41.5% of homes built before 1981
- Balbriggan28.3% of homes built before 1981
- Rush22.6% of homes built before 1981
- Castleknock30.1% of homes built before 1981
- Blanchardstown13.9% of homes built before 1981
- Ongar14.6% of homes built before 1981
- Lucan18.6% of homes built before 1981
- Palmerstown55.9% of homes built before 1981
- Clondalkin32.6% of homes built before 1981
- Tallaght Central63.8% of homes built before 1981
- Tallaght South25.4% of homes built before 1981
- Firhouse29.6% of homes built before 1981
- Rathfarnham70.3% of homes built before 1981
- Dún Laoghaire61.7% of homes built before 1981
- Blackrock58.1% of homes built before 1981
- Stillorgan52.1% of homes built before 1981
- Dundrum72.1% of homes built before 1981
- Sandyford26.5% of homes built before 1981
- Killiney49.6% of homes built before 1981
Price your renovation
Four taps: the house, how much you're doing, when it was built and the scope. You see our price guide per square metre. Your number is only asked for at the end, if you want one renovation company that covers your part of Dublin to ring you.
Questions people ask
Can a house be rewired without replastering?
Partly, using existing routes and surface trunking, but a proper rewire means chasing walls.
Can I live in the house during a rewire?
It can be done in sections, but you'll be without power in parts of the house for days.
Do I need to upgrade the ESB connection?
Sometimes, for a heat pump or a car charger. The electrician applies.
Get a price to renovate your house
One renovation company that covers your part of Dublin. Free, no obligation. Nothing starts until you accept a written price.