Does a three-bedroom rewire quote include making good?
A three-bedroom rewire quote doesn’t automatically include full making good, so we state clearly whether it covers chasing, filling, plastering and final decoration. We assess the access and finish needed during the survey, then list any making-good work separately so you can budget for the complete job.
The phrase making good can cover several different levels of finish. A clear quotation separates each one, so you know what the house will look like when the rewire is complete.
Chasing and filling usually covers the first stage. We cut channels for new cables, install back boxes and conduit where required, then fill the channels after the cables are tested. The quote should say whether the filling uses bonding plaster, finishing plaster or another suitable material.
That work leaves the walls ready for decoration, but it does not necessarily mean they are ready to paint. Filled channels can remain visible until the surface has dried and someone has sanded and prepared it. Ask whether the price includes sanding, a mist coat, full repainting or only a basic plaster finish.
A typical making-good schedule should identify:
- which walls and ceilings will receive chases or new boxes;
- whether the team will fill and level the chases;
- whether plaster repairs include bonding, skim plaster or both;
- whether floorboards, loft insulation, skirting boards and architraves will be lifted and refitted;
- whether the electrician will remove redundant wiring and make its former routes safe;
- whether final sanding, priming, painting or wallpaper replacement is included; and
- who will remove waste and clean the working areas.
In some rooms, we can route cables through floor voids, loft spaces or existing service routes. That can reduce the amount of wall chasing, although the route still needs to meet the electrical design and remain accessible where required. The survey should establish this before we price the work.
The age and construction of the house affect the finish. Solid walls, lath and plaster, exposed brick, stonework and older plaster can need different repair methods. A listed building or barn conversion may also have finishes that should not be cut or patched without care. We point out those limitations in the quotation rather than treating every wall as ordinary modern plasterboard.
Older plaster may come away around a new chase, particularly where it has already become loose. A quote can include the planned repair, but it may need to state how we handle concealed damage that only becomes visible after opening the wall. This prevents a small electrical alteration from becoming an undefined decorating job.
Painting is the area most often misunderstood. Filling and skimming one chase does not usually make an entire room look freshly decorated. Even where we include local paintwork, an exact colour match may not be possible because existing paint fades and different batches vary. Full-room redecoration, feature walls, specialist finishes and wallpaper matching should appear as separate items or exclusions.
The same applies to floors and joinery. If we lift a floorboard to install a cable, the quote should say whether we refit it and replace damaged boards. It should also explain what happens to carpets, laminate flooring, fitted furniture and heavy items that prevent access. We can identify access requirements during the survey, but specialist flooring or decorating work may need separate pricing.
Ask for the following before accepting a three-bedroom rewire quote:
- What level of wall repair is included in each room?
- Will the finished surface be ready for decoration, or will it also be painted?
- Does the price include lifting and refitting floors, skirting and architraves?
- What happens if existing plaster collapses around a chase?
- Who deals with damage caused by difficult access or hidden construction?
- Are waste removal and final cleaning included?
We record the agreed making-good scope alongside the electrical work in the written quotation. That gives you a practical basis for comparing prices: one lower figure may include only filled chases, while another may include plaster repairs, floor reinstatement and decorating. Comparing the same list of inclusions is more useful than comparing the headline total alone.
Before work starts, we can also separate electrical work from optional building and decorating items. You can then decide which repairs need completing as part of the rewire and which can wait for a decorator or other contractor.
A low quote may leave you with safe, tested electrics but visible repair work. Read the making-good wording as carefully as the cable and socket schedule.
Look for a room-by-room description of the finished surface, including any limits caused by fragile plaster, exposed masonry or restricted access. That tells you what remains for a decorator after we complete the rewire, rather than leaving the final cost to guesswork.