Older-house wiring
Opening old walls as little as we can
In a plaster house the work is half wiring and half getting wire into the walls. We fish cable through chases, attics and closets where we can, cut access holes where we must, and agree with you on how far the patching goes before we start.
Where we find knob-and-tube or cloth cable, we tell you what it is, where it runs and what it would take to replace. That list is also what an insurer or a buyer usually asks to see.
Signs you need it
Two-prong outlets
No ground, and a surge strip that cannot do its job.
Cloth-covered cable
Fabric insulation, brittle at the box.
Knob-and-tube in the attic
Single wires on porcelain knobs, often with insulation over them.
A fuse box
Fuses that blow, or a home inspection that names it.
Lights that dim with the fridge
A shared circuit that is working too hard.
An addition or a gut renovation
New circuits in a house with old ones.
What the visit and the job include
- 01
Survey
We trace what is there, from the panel and from the attic and cellar.
- 02
Plan the walls
You see the path of each cable and which walls open.
- 03
Rewire and patch
Cable, boxes and devices go in. Patching stops where we agreed.
- 04
Inspect and record
Inspection, then a written list of what was replaced and what remains.
What changes the price
There is no number here because the same job costs different amounts in two houses. How pricing works lists what we count; the number arrives in writing after the visit.
Wall type
Plaster over lath costs more to open than drywall or an open attic floor.
How much is replaced
A few circuits and a whole house are different jobs.
What lies behind
Insulation, old cable and fire blocking can add time we quote after we see them.
Questions about this job
Will my insurer care about old wiring?
Some insurers ask about knob-and-tube or a fuse box when you buy or renew. We can write down what is in the house and what we found, which is what most underwriters ask to see. Ask your insurer what it needs first.
Do I need a permit, and who pulls it?
Panel, service and new-circuit work usually needs one. We file it, schedule the inspection after the work and put the sign-off in your folder. The permit fee is passed through on the quote at cost.
Does my panel need replacing?
Not always. A 100-amp panel in good shape can carry a heat pump, or a range, and sometimes both. We add up what the house already runs and what you want to add, and the number tells us. If the panel is a brand with a known problem or full of double-tapped breakers, we say so and show you.
What does the first visit cost, and is it credited?
The visit has a flat fee, told to you when you book, and it is credited to the work if you go ahead within 30 days. One electrician comes, reads the panel, looks at the meter and the wall you want to use, and photographs all of it.
Book a survey of the wiring
One electrician visits, reads the panel and photographs what is behind the cover. The quote follows in writing.