What a 3-Fan Alfresco Ceiling Fan Install Actually Costs — The Gables
Not every added cost on a ceiling fan job comes from a fault or a requirement — sometimes it’s simply a better result the homeowner chooses to pay for. A client in The Gables had two existing light points in an alfresco area and wanted a third fan added between them. Getting all three fans evenly spaced for airflow meant relocating the two existing wiring points rather than just adding a fan to the gap. Here’s the full job, real numbers.
The Job
Four ceiling fans across two areas: three Eglo Surf DC 52″ fans (no light kit) in the alfresco, and one Eglo Surf DC 48″ fan with light kit replacing an existing fan in the main bedroom.
Alfresco — Two Light-to-Fan Conversions With Wiring Relocation
The alfresco had two existing light points. The client wanted a third fan added between them, which meant all three needed to be evenly spaced for consistent airflow rather than clustered around where the original two lights happened to sit. That meant relocating both existing wiring points to new positions, not just converting them to fan points where they stood. Two fans, each a light-to-fan conversion plus wiring relocation, at $200 + GST each.
Alfresco — One New Installation
The third fan was a genuinely new point — new wiring run, fan-rated bracket, and its own dedicated isolating switch, matched to the client’s existing Clipsal Iconic switch range so it sat consistently with the rest of the home’s switch plates. New installation with isolating switch: $280 + GST.
Main Bedroom — Straight Replacement
The main bedroom fan was already fitted with a fan-rated bracket and timber blocking from its original installation, so this was the simplest job on the visit: a straight replacement, no additional wiring or structural work required. $160 + GST.
Timber Blocking — All Three Alfresco Fans
All three alfresco fans needed timber blocking fitted, since the relocated and new points didn’t already have solid timber behind the fixing location. The main bedroom fan didn’t need this, since its existing blocking was still sound. Three fans × $80 + GST blocking.
The Full Cost Breakdown
| Item | Price (ex GST) |
|---|---|
| Alfresco fan 1 — light-to-fan conversion + wiring relocation | $200 |
| Alfresco fan 2 — light-to-fan conversion + wiring relocation | $200 |
| Alfresco fan 3 — new installation + isolating switch | $280 |
| Main bedroom fan — straight replacement | $160 |
| Timber blocking × 3 (alfresco fans) | $240 |
| Total (ex GST) | $1,080 |
| Total (inc GST) | $1,188 |
Why This Wasn’t Just “Add a Third Fan”
The most common assumption on a job like this is that adding a fan to an existing two-fan or two-light space is a single, isolated line item — install the new fan, leave the rest alone. That’s not how even spacing works in practice. Once a third fan goes into the middle of an alfresco with two existing points, all three need to be repositioned relative to each other, or the airflow ends up uneven and the fans look randomly placed rather than designed. That’s the driver behind the wiring relocation cost on this job — not a fault, not a compliance requirement, just the difference between a functional result and a genuinely good one.
Why No Light Kit on the Alfresco Fans
The alfresco already had separate lighting in place from the original two light points before this job, which is part of why relocating the wiring rather than reusing it in place made sense — the fans didn’t need to double as the room’s lighting. The main bedroom fan, by contrast, uses its light kit as the primary room lighting, which is the more common reason a light kit gets specified in a bedroom versus an outdoor living space.
Saunders Electrical Group installs ceiling fans across the Hills District and Hawkesbury, including multi-fan alfresco layouts, light-to-fan conversions, and straight replacements. Every job includes a Certificate of Compliance and our lifetime workmanship guarantee. Call 1300 993 560 for a fixed-price quote.
Related: Ceiling Fan Buying & Installation Guide · Ceiling Fan Installation Requirements · DC vs AC Ceiling Fans: What Actually Matters · One Fan Became Seven: A Dural Whole-Home Upgrade
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to install multiple ceiling fans in one visit?
It depends on what each fan needs, not just how many there are. On this Gables job, four fans across two areas came to $1,080 + GST ($1,188 inc GST), made up of two light-to-fan conversions with wiring relocation, one new installation, one straight replacement, and timber blocking on three of the four fans.
Why would existing wiring need to be relocated when adding a fan?
When a new fan is added between existing fan or light points, all of them may need repositioning so the spacing is even for consistent airflow, rather than leaving the new fan wherever there happens to be room. This is a design decision the homeowner chooses, not a fault or compliance requirement.
Do all ceiling fans in a multi-fan install need timber blocking?
Only where the fixing point doesn’t already have solid timber behind it. On this job, the three alfresco fans needed new blocking since they were new or relocated points, while the main bedroom fan kept its existing blocking from a prior installation.