Whole-Home Rewiring

Older homes have charm and character that newer homes often lack. But they also have old wiring that can be unsafe. Knob-and-tube wiring, cloth-insulated wiring, and aluminum wiring were all used in homes built before the 1970s. None of these are considered safe by todays standards.

Knob-and-tube wiring was common in homes built before the 1950s. It consists of individual wires run through ceramic knobs and tubes. The insulation on these wires becomes brittle over time and can crack, exposing live wires. Knob-and-tube wiring is not designed to handle the electrical load of modern homes. Many insurance companies will not insure a home with knob-and-tube wiring.

Aluminum wiring was used in many homes built between the 1960s and 1980s. It was a cheaper alternative to copper. But aluminum expands and contracts more than copper when it heats up and cools down. This can cause connections to loosen over time, leading to overheating and fire risks. Special connectors and techniques can make aluminum wiring safer, but replacement is often the best option.

Whole-home rewiring is a big job, but we make it as easy as possible. We work room by room. We cut small access holes where needed and patch them when we are done. We run new copper wiring from the panel to every room. We install new outlets, switches, and fixtures. We test every circuit to make sure it works. When we are done, your home has a modern, safe electrical system.

The time it takes to rewire a home depends on the size of the home and the complexity of the job. A typical whole-home rewiring takes a few days to a week. We will give you a realistic timeline before we start so you know what to expect.

If you live in an older home and are concerned about the wiring, give us a call. We will come out and take a look. We will let you know if your wiring needs attention and give you a written estimate for any work that is needed.

The cost of rewiring depends on the size of your home, the type of existing wiring, and the accessibility of the walls and ceilings. Homes with crawl spaces or unfinished basements are easier to rewire than homes with finished basements and attics. We give you a written estimate after we visit your home and assess the situation.

During the rewiring process, we may need to cut access holes in your walls and ceilings to run new wires. We try to minimize the number of holes and place them where they can be easily patched. We do not do the drywall patching ourselves, but we can recommend contractors who do. The patching cost is usually modest compared to the total project cost.

If you are planning a major renovation, we can coordinate the rewiring with the other work being done. This can save time and money because the walls are already open and the contractors can work together efficiently. Let us know what other work you are planning, and we will help you plan the electrical portion.

If you are not ready for a full rewiring, there may be intermediate steps you can take to make your home safer. We can install GFCI outlets to provide shock protection even on ungrounded circuits. We can replace the most dangerous sections of wiring. We can upgrade your panel to handle modern loads. We can give you a prioritized list of what needs to be done so you can plan the work over time. We will work with your budget and timeline to make your home as safe as possible.