Old VIR Cotton Wiring, What It Is, Why It Is Risky, and How To Fix It Safely
If your home in St Ives, Mosman, or North Sydney predates the 1960s, parts of it may still use legacy wiring such as vulcanised rubber with a cotton braid. Time, heat, and movement are not kind to early insulation. The result can be brittle or cracked coverings that expose conductors.
Signs that suggest legacy wiring
Ceramic fuses at the switchboard or very old breakers
Cloth like sheathing visible in roof spaces or under floors
Lighting circuits that flicker when you touch fittings
Warm smells near old junction boxes or brittle insulation around old light points
These are clues only. A proper inspection by a licensed electrician confirms what you have and how urgent it is.
Why this wiring is a problem
Aged insulation can crumble when disturbed. That can lead to short circuits, shocks, or hot joints that damage timber. Even if an area still works, hidden junctions and mixed materials make future faults more likely. Many owners only find this during a renovation or when a new light is added and the old cable will not safely move.
How we assess your home without making things worse
We start with a non invasive inspection. We look at the board, test circuits, and check accessible roof or subfloor runs. We take photos of findings and we do not tug on fragile cable. From there we give you a clear report in plain English with a staged plan.
A staged rewire that fits real life
Stage one replaces the worst runs and high risk areas such as bedrooms and kitchens
Stage two finishes remaining rooms and tidy ups
Stage three handles extras such as new points, data, or smart switching
We plan our work to keep parts of the house live where possible and we use labelled circuits so the board makes sense when we finish.
Switchboard and safety switch upgrades
If your board is still using ceramic fuses or early breakers, we will recommend modern protection with safety switches on the right circuits. This gives you better shock protection now and makes the final rewire cleaner. You will receive a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work at handover, along with photos and labels you can keep with your house records.
Life after the rewire
You end up with modern cable that handles today appliances and a board that is labelled and easy to understand. Future work becomes simpler and safer, and you remove a common worry when buying or selling.
If you suspect your place has legacy wiring book a safety inspection. We will build a practical plan that makes your home safer without turning it upside down.
