Rewire guide
Planning a rewire?
Read this before first fix.
A rewire is the one time the walls are open. Here’s what lighting control is, why now is the moment to plan it, and what to sort out before your electrician starts.
1 / What it is
What lighting control
actually is.
Instead of thinking about individual lights, you choose how you want a room to feel: bright for cooking, soft for dinner, low and warm for the evening. The lights, lamps and blinds you choose work together to get it there.
Behind the scenes, each circuit is dimmable and connected to a small system, so keypads, your phone and timers can bring those moments back at a touch. In practice that means fewer switches, a room that always feels right, and a house you can turn off with one button.
2 / Why now
Why the rewire
is the moment.
- Wiring is the hard part. During a rewire it’s just a different route for the cable. Afterwards it means chasing plaster.
- Keypad positions are fixed early. Once walls are plastered and decorated, moving them is disruptive.
- Lighting and control are designed together. Decide how each room is lit, then how it’s controlled, so the electrician wires it once.
- It costs far less now. Most of the cost of doing it later is disruption, not equipment.
3 / Wired or wireless?
Two routes,
one experience.
Both use the same beautiful keypads and app. If you’re rewiring anyway, the wired route is usually the better investment.
Wired · Lutron HomeWorks
Cables run back to a central panel. You get the most reliable result, the cleanest walls and the most flexibility for the future.
Wireless · Lutron RadioRA 3
Wireless dimmers replace your existing switches, with no chasing walls. Ideal for finished homes, period properties and apartments.
4 / What to decide
What to decide
before first fix.
You don’t need every answer on day one. These are the decisions that shape the wiring, and we can help with all of them.
- Which rooms to control, now or in the future
- The lighting layout for each room: ceiling, wall, pendants, joinery and floor lamps
- Where keypads should go (usually far fewer than switches)
- Whether you’d like motorised blinds or curtains, which need power at the window
- Space for a small equipment cabinet or panel
- Good Wi-Fi and network cabling, since the rest of the system depends on it
5 / Your electrician
What to tell
your electrician.
We can work alongside your electrician. We provide the design, the wiring schedule and the equipment, and handle all the programming. Or we can do the installation ourselves.
Either way, the key is that we’re involved before first fix, not after.
6 / Where to start
Start small,
or go whole-house.
You don’t need to control every light. Start with the rooms you use most and build out later, or have the cabling put in during the rewire so lighting control can be added whenever you’re ready.
Every project is designed around the house and the budget. A free lighting review gives you a clear proposal before you commit to anything.
7 / Questions
Common questions.
Is it complicated to use?
No. It’s simpler than a wall of switches. Every keypad button is engraved with what it does, and we explain everything at handover.
What if something goes wrong?
Lutron is known for its reliability, and we provide ongoing support and maintenance, so help is always a phone call away.
Can I add rooms later?
Yes, especially if the cabling is planned in during the rewire.
Will it work with my existing light fittings?
Usually, with the right LED lamps and dimmers. We check compatibility as part of the design.
Can it control heating, blinds and audio too?
Yes. Lutron handles lighting and blinds, and integrates with Control4 for the rest. More on integration.
Free lighting review
Send us
your drawings.
We’ll review the plans and show you what lighting control would look like in your house, with a clear idea of cost before your electrician starts. Free, and with no obligation.
Get a free lighting review