What costs are involved these days in re-wiring a house? The answer to this is much different today than it was in the days of old knob and tube wiring. Specifics such as geographical location, size of the house, number of outlets, etc… all play a significant role in the overall cost of any remodeling project. The objective of this article is to give the lay person a general idea of the cost factors involved so they can make a better decision when it comes to bidding out this type of project.
1) The current system in place -If the home is dated from before the 1950s, there is a strong change there will be knob and tube wiring in place. This will involve replacing the entire panel as well as creating new paths for additional wiring needed. In this case expect additional labor and material costs.
2) House dimensions – There is a direct proportion of labor and material costs to the size of the home. Other factors include whether the existing structure is multi-story, on a slab vs. crawl space.
3) Wall structure – Older homes with plaster walls significantly increase labor costs as increased time and special tools are needed to chase paths for new wiring. Also consider extra expense due to repairs of existing walls. Homes with existing wallboard are the easiest to work with.
4) Number of outlets – Although there is an increase in cost with the addition of outlets, its better to have more than enough planned for than too few. You can always subtract as needed after work begins. Having to add outlets after the fact is considerably more expensive.
5) Contractor experience – Well established contractors do cost more up front but are much less expensive in the long run. When bidding out your project always get at least 3-5 bids only from experienced and licensed contractors. You can then feel assured hen you choose the lowest bid that you will be getting quality work.
6) Geographical location – Where your existing home is located plays a part in determining costs of re-wiring a house. Obviously materials purchased in areas where demand exceeds supply will mean higher costs. This material cost will be figured into your overall bill.
These are a few of the most common determinants in the costs of re-wiring a house. With that said, typical costs for the averaged sized home range from 3-5 thousand. You can significantly reduce your costs by planning ahead and paying attention to the above factors.
Did you know that your home’s old wiring can cause fires? Older home wiring is subject to burning with daily surges in power and can contribute to appliance fires and costly computer damage. One solution is protection with a whole house surge protector. You can learn more about these devices by posting a question here.