An old wiring system can't keep up with the electrical demands of a modern home. So, if you notice flickering lights, burning smells, or discolored switches or outlets in your home, you should upgrade your electrical system to boost its performance.
Here are the top factors that influence the cost of rewiring your home.
Size and Age of Your Home
The bigger your home, the more it costs to rewire. For instance, you will pay more to rewire a 4000 sq. foot home than a 1000 sq. foot home. Your contractor also considers the number of bedrooms and the floor area to determine the rewiring cost.
Bigger houses likely have more light fittings, plug sockets, and larger consumer units, so expect to pay more. The fitting's quality also matters as bespoke ones need more time to install.
Additionally, if you have an old home, you're far more likely to have outdated electrical wiring. Most old property designs make it hard to access the wiring. So, contractors use more time and resources to replace old wiring. This, in turn, inflates the rewiring cost.
Permits and Inspections
Before any electrical work begins, you should acquire a permit from your local building authority. Permits and inspections ensure that your electrical wiring adheres to local codes, upholds modern standards, and is safe for everyone.
After the project is over, a government inspector should inspect your home to confirm if your contractor did the job correctly. Inspection is also paramount every few years to check the health of your wiring system.
Remember that each state charges differently for permits and inspections. So your rewiring project budget might include the permit fees. Be sure to discuss with your electrical contractor to know what your state's charges are.
Preparation and Clean Up
If your house is empty, electricians can easily get around during the rewiring process. For an occupied house, you need to clear the work area by moving valuables, furniture, and other things that may get damaged or delay the wiring process.
The electrical project is likely to create a lot of mess (such as drywall piles), especially if your electrician needs to open up walls for wiring installation. Your electrical contractor may include the clean-up costs in the final quote. Therefore, ask your contractor to lay out these charges clearly in the cost estimate to avoid last-minute surprises.
If you plan to rewire your house, keep in mind the above factors so you can budget accordingly. Also, ensure that you only hire reputable electrical contractors to rewire your home to avoid electrical issues down the road. If you have questions about rewiring, reach out to an electrical contractor in your area.
When we purchased our first home, we realized that there was a problem with some of the electrical work. Some of the lights flickered when we turned them on, and others really seemed to have issues if they were left on long term. I thought the issues was the light bulbs themselves at first, so I replaced several of them. However, after making those changes, it seemed like things were still having trouble. I began going through and thinking carefully about how to identify and resolve the challenges, and it occurred to me that working with an electrician could be helpful. I turned to the professional for help, and it was a good thing I did. Read more about electricians on this blog.