Apartment electrical installation: rewiring, layout and cost in 2026
Completely rewiring the electrical installation in a 2-3 room apartment usually means 6-10 separate circuits (sockets, lighting, kitchen, bathroom, central heating boiler, washing machine, air conditioning), a new consumer unit with miniature circuit breakers and residual-current protection, copper conductors with cross-sections of 1.5-2.5 sq mm, and a functional earth electrode. The cost varies depending on the floor area, the number of circuits and the finishes, so the correct price is set after an on-site survey. Below you will find when the installation needs rewiring, what a correct circuit layout looks like, what materials are used and what to expect as a budget in 2026.
When apartment electrical installation needs rewiring
Many flats in blocks built before 1990 still have old wiring, frequently with aluminium conductors, no earthing and a consumer unit that is undersized for today’s consumption. If you recognise yourself in one of the situations below, rewiring (partial or total) becomes necessary:
- Aluminium conductors - they heat up, oxidise at the joints and cannot handle modern appliances (oven, hob, water heater, air conditioning).
- No earthing (sockets with two contacts, without the third pin) - risk of electrocution from appliances with a metal casing.
- Circuit breakers that trip often or a consumer unit with old fuse-wire protection, without residual-current protection.
- Burnt, yellowed sockets and switches that spark when you plug something in.
- Full renovation of the apartment - this is the ideal time to rewire, since it involves wall chasing and new finishes anyway.
- Change of layout - moving the kitchen, opening up a wall, adding a circuit for the boiler or for an EV charging station.
If the main circuit breaker trips more and more often, it is best not to put it off: a chronically overloaded installation is the leading cause of electrical fires in homes.
The layout of a correct apartment electrical installation
A modern installation is no longer wired “all on a single circuit”. The principle is to separate circuits, each with its own protection in the consumer unit. That way, if a problem occurs on one circuit, the rest of the apartment stays powered and the protective devices act selectively.
Recommended circuits
For a 2-3 room apartment, a sound layout typically includes:
- Lighting circuit (one or two, depending on the floor area) - 1.5 sq mm conductor, 10A circuit breaker.
- General socket circuits - one per two rooms, 2.5 sq mm conductor, 16A circuit breaker.
- Dedicated kitchen circuit - worktop sockets, 2.5 sq mm conductor; a separate circuit is provided for an electric oven/hob.
- Bathroom circuit - mandatory on residual-current protection, for the water heater/washing machine.
- Central heating boiler circuit - dedicated, with its own socket.
- Air conditioning circuit - dedicated for each unit.
The consumer unit and protective devices
The consumer unit (panel) is the “brain” of the installation. In a correct configuration it contains:
| Element | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Main switch | Disconnects the whole apartment | Sized according to the contracted power |
| Miniature circuit breakers (MCB) | Protection against overload and short circuit | One per circuit (10A / 16A) |
| Residual-current protection (RCD/RCCB) | Protection against electrocution | 30 mA sensitivity for socket and bathroom circuits |
| Surge protection (SPD) | Protects appliances | Recommended especially on top floors |
| Neutral bar and earthing bar | Correct distribution of conductors | Essential for a functional earth electrode |
The protective conductor (earthing) must reach every socket and every junction box, connected to a tested earth electrode. Its functionality is confirmed by PRAM measurements, with a certificate issued.
The stages of a complete rewiring
A job done correctly follows clear steps, whether it is a full renovation or replacing old wiring:
- Assessment and design - on-site survey, setting the number of circuits and the position of sockets/switches, the consumer unit layout.
- Marking out and chasing - marking the routes for cables and boxes, cutting channels into the walls.
- Laying conduits and conductors - installing the protective conduits and pulling through the copper conductors.
- Fitting junction boxes, consumer unit and equipment - junction boxes, the consumer unit with circuit breakers and residual-current devices.
- Earth electrode and equipotential bonding - especially in the bathroom.
- Tests and measurements - checking continuity, insulation and the earth electrode (PRAM), with a certificate.
- Final fitting of equipment - sockets, switches, light fittings, after the finishes.
For details on each type of interior work, see our electrical installations page, and for the earthing part, earth electrode and PRAM measurements.
How much rewiring the electrical installation costs in 2026
The total cost is made up of labour (per point/circuit), materials (cables, conduits, junction boxes, consumer unit, equipment) and related works. The final price depends on:
- the floor area and the number of rooms - more circuits mean more cable and more time;
- the number of sockets and switches (work points);
- the quality of the equipment (the range of sockets/switches chosen);
- the complexity of the routes (reinforced concrete vs. brick, concealed vs. surface-mounted);
- the related works - earth electrode, measurements, any changes to the rising main.
At bransam.ro we work with transparent indicative prices for the standard components:
| Work | Indicative price | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Earth electrode | from 900 lei | earth-electrode |
| PRAM measurements (certificate) | from 250 lei | pram-measurements |
| Power upgrade (increase) | from 350 lei | power-upgrade |
For the full rewiring of the interior installation we do not publish a single price, because it differs greatly from one apartment to another. The correct solution is a personalised quote after an on-site survey, where we set together the number of circuits and the level of finishes. You can also consult the complete list on the prices page.
When the grid operator comes into play
Rewiring the installation inside the apartment is electrical installation work and does not require approval from the operator. However, if you want more power (for example, moving from a low power to one that allows an electric hob and oven), you need a power upgrade (spor de putere) through the operator Retele Electrice Romania S.A., based on an application and a technical connection approval (aviz tehnic de racordare). In this case we help you with the power upgrade and with the entire grid connection (racordare) dossier.
Why an ANRE-certified company
Electrical installation is not a “DIY” job. An ANRE-certified company, such as SUN WATT SRL, carries out the work in accordance with the regulations in force, correctly sizes the circuits and protective devices, and issues the documents that confirm the safety of the installation (including the PRAM measurement certificate). This gives you the guarantee that the installation is safe, that the earth electrode works and that the consumer unit is protected against electrocution and overload.
For an on-site assessment and a personalised quote for your apartment, call 0733 097 440 or write to us through the contact page. Together we will set the right layout, the number of circuits and a realistic budget for 2026.