The electrical in an older Coorparoo home
When we open up a Queenslander or post-war house in Coorparoo, we tend to find a similar story. The original wiring may be rubber insulated cable that has gone brittle with age. The switchboard often still has ceramic rewireable fuses, sometimes with a newer circuit breaker or two squeezed in. There may be no safety switches at all, and the number of power points reflects a household from decades ago, not one with a dishwasher, air conditioners, a home office and chargers in every room.
None of that means the house is dangerous today, but it does mean the installation deserves a proper check, particularly before a renovation or a sale.
Signs it is time for an upgrade
- Fuses that blow or need rewiring, or a board with no RCD protection
- Lights that flicker or dim when appliances start
- Power boards and double adaptors in most rooms
- Warm or discoloured switches and outlets
- Original cabling visible in the roof or under the house that looks cracked or perished
If you recognise a few of these, an electrical safety inspection is a sensible starting point. We check the board, sample the wiring and give you a written summary of what needs doing now and what can wait.
Switchboards and safety switches
Replacing an old fuse board with a modern board and RCD protection on every circuit is the single biggest safety improvement for most older homes. It also gives you room for new circuits later. See our switchboard upgrades and safety switches pages for what is involved.
Raising, extending and renovating
A lot of Coorparoo homes have been lifted to build in underneath. That is the best time to sort out the electrical, because walls and ceilings are open and new rooms need planning anyway. We work with builders and owners to:
- Rewire sections of the house where the original cable is past its best
- Relocate the switchboard if the new layout calls for it
- Add circuits for kitchens, laundries, air conditioning and pool equipment
- Plan lighting and fans for the new downstairs living areas
- Install interconnected smoke alarms on every storey to meet Queensland law
Our renovations page has more on planning electrical for a reno.
Working in character homes
Timber houses with VJ walls, ornate ceilings and original fretwork need care. We choose cable routes that avoid damaging features, use the roof space and subfloor where we can, and discuss any visible changes with you before we make them. The aim is a modern, safe installation that does not look out of place in an older home.
Commercial work around Coorparoo
We also look after shops, cafes and professional suites along Old Cleveland Road and around Coorparoo Square, including fit-outs, lighting upgrades and fault repairs.