Heritage Home Lighting Upgrade & Full Rewire in Seaford

Heritage properties are some of our favourite homes to work on. They come with character, charm, and beautiful details like ceiling roses, decorative cornices and vintage-style switches — but behind the walls, they can also hide major electrical risks.

Our recent project in Seaford perfectly showcased both sides of this. The client contacted us wanting new lighting throughout the home, including pendants, downlights and external upgrades, while keeping the look and feel true to the property’s era.

What started as a lighting update quickly became a much more important project the moment we opened the ceiling.

Working Carefully Around Heritage Features

This home had multiple original ceiling roses and older plasterwork, so our first priority was ensuring nothing was damaged during installation.

We installed:

• Elegant pendant lighting in the front rooms
• New LED downlights in key living areas
• Updated external lighting
• Heritage-compatible switches where required

Everything was aligned, centred, and installed with the same respect the original builders put into the home.

The Hidden Surprise – Non-Compliant Wiring

Once we accessed the ceiling space, we found significant non-compliant wiring, including sections of:

• Cotton-insulated cabling
• Brittle, heat-damaged insulation
• Unsupported joints
• Unsafe terminations hidden behind plaster
• Wiring not compliant with today’s AS/NZS3000 standards

Cotton cabling is extremely common in older homes — and extremely unsafe. It becomes fragile over time, can crumble when touched, and poses a major fire and shock risk. Insurance companies also frequently deny claims when outdated wiring is found.

Once we briefed the homeowner, they agreed a full rewire was the safest and most responsible option.

Full Rewire for Long-Term Safety

Our team rewired the entire property, replacing all dated and unsafe circuits with modern TPS cabling and appropriately protected circuits.

The rewire included:

• New power circuits
• New lighting circuits
• New earthing and bonding
• New switchboard protection
• Safe pathways for future upgrades

The client now has peace of mind knowing their beautiful heritage home is safe, compliant, and ready for decades of use.

Understanding the Risks of Old Wiring in Heritage Homes

Heritage homes often contain older wiring systems that haven’t been checked in decades. While the exterior may look timeless, the electrical systems are often far past their safe lifespan.

Common Wiring Types Found in Older Homes

🔸 Cotton-insulated cabling (extremely fragile and dangerous)
🔸 Vulcanised rubber cabling
🔸 Ceramic/porcelain junctions
🔸 Cloth braided flex
🔸 Old metal conduits with deteriorated insulation

Why This Wiring is High Risk

• Insulation becomes brittle and falls away
• Cabling can overheat and spark
• No RCDs/safety switches on circuits
• Loose or exposed joints behind walls
• Existing switches and fittings may no longer meet AS/NZS3000

Signs of Old or Unsafe Wiring

• Flickering lights
• Blown fuses
• Burning smell
• Discoloured outlets
• Warm switch plates
• Crackling sounds

If you notice any of these, a licensed electrician should check the home urgently.

Why Rewiring is Worth It

Rewiring a home:

• Improves electrical safety
• Reduces fire risk
• Adds long-term reliability
• Allows modern lighting & appliance loads
• Increases property value
• Helps ensure insurance compliance

For heritage homes, it's also the only way to safely upgrade lighting while maintaining architectural features.

Need Help With a Heritage Home?

If you’re in Seaford, Frankston, Carrum Downs or Melbourne’s south-east, Ferguson Electrical specialises in safe, respectful upgrades for heritage properties.

Whether you need:

• Lighting upgrades
• Switchboard upgrades
• Rewiring
• Safety checks
• Heritage-friendly installations

We're here to help.

📞 Contact us anytime for advice or a quote.