How Long Does It Take To Rewire A House?

Typically, rewiring a house will take 3-10 days to complete. However, there are several factors that can either increase or decrease the timeline.

How Long Does It Take To Rewire A Whole House?

Rewiring a home can take anywhere from 3-10 days to complete, as mentioned. The exact timeline will depend on the home’s age, size and extent of the project. Homeowners should plan on moving out of any rooms that need to be worked on.

What Are The Steps To Rewiring A House?

This is a fairly complex project, especially if you are having the entire home rewired. These are the steps an electrician will take during this process:

• Step 1: Remove old wire.
• Step 2: Install new wire.
• Step 3: Install any necessary upgrades.
• Step 4: Install new breaker box.

How Much Does It Cost To Rewire A House?

Costs of a complete home rewiring will vary based on cost of labor and materials, the size and age of the home, rooms being rewired and the amount of wires needed. Home rewiring can involve removing the home’s old wires, then installing modern, non-metallic wires encased in plastic. Outdated wiring cannot handle the needs of modern appliances and it can become a fire hazard.

The U.S. Fire Administration reported in 2017 that over 26,000 residential fires were the direct result of electrical problems. Your home is in need of new wiring when you notice circuit breakers tripping often, persistent burning smells and discolored switches and outlets. Even if you don’t see any of these signs within your home, whenever your electrical wiring is over 25 years old, it’s time for a rewiring.

Rewiring a home can be expensive, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime expense. Here is a look at the typical costs for a rewiring project:

• Lowest Cost: $1,500.
• Average Cost: $2,100.
• Highest Cost: $10,000.

Cost To Hire An Electrician

Generally, residential wiring installations cost $2-$4 per square foot. Most homeowners will pay an average of $2.75 per square foot for this job. You will likely pay additional labor charges if an updated electrical panel or switchboard is needed.

Rewiring A House Cost Factors

Besides the electrician’s rate, there are a few extra cost factors that could either lower or raise your total cost for this project. These factors are highlighted below.

Home Size

On average, rewiring a 1,500 square foot home costs $4,000 total. The larger the home, the more wiring and time is needed to complete the task. As a result, the homeowner will pay more for both labor and materials.

This is a list of the average costs for labor and materials based on a home’s square footage:

• 1,000 sq. ft.: $2,000-$4,000.
• 1,500 sq. ft.: $3,000-$6,000.
• 2,000 sq. ft.: $4,000-$8,000.
• 2,500 sq. ft.: $5,000-$10,000.
• 3,000 sq. ft.: $6,000-$12,000.

Age Of The Home

In older homes, most wiring is tougher to reach, so homeowners should expect to pay more for labor. In order to preserve the home’s architectural integrity, electricians may need to cut several small holes in the walls just to get the wires through and in place. An older home will likely call for the installation of new switches and outlets, adding to the overall labor costs.

Opening Walls

If the contractor needs to open and/or repair walls, you can expect to pay between $5-$8 per square foot. Some jobs require electricians to open the walls to run wires and install new outlets, switches and panels.

Upgrades

Speaking of that, these upgrades can cost between $100-$150 each. It’s possible to get a better price if you add on several switches or outlets at a time. Most electrical codes call for at least three working outlets per room.

Room Types

Due to the need for heavy duty wiring to handle large appliances, bathrooms and kitchens will cost more than other rooms to rewire. Materials will cost more for these rooms and the job is far more complex.

Here are the average costs of rewiring based on the type of room:

• Bedroom: $200-$800.
• Basement:$800-$1,500.
• Bathroom: $1,000-$2,000.
• Kitchen: $1,900-$3,300.

Permits And Inspections

Homeowners should expect to pay somewhere between $200-$900 for permits. Depending on local codes, it’s possible that you’ll have to have an inspector check out the house before the rewiring begins. You may need a special permit if ancient knobs or tubes need replacements.

Electrician Labor Cost

Electricians typically charge $50-$100 per hour for a home rewiring.

• Lowest Cost: $50.
• Average Cost: $75.
• Highest Cost: $100.

Should I Hire An Electrician To Rewire My House?

Before hiring an electrician for the job, make sure they are licensed and experienced. Get a written and itemized quote to see if they will be cutting into any walls. Electrical work is not something that should be done as a DIY project, so always contact professionals for this task.

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