The Money Mustache Community

Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: AlanStache on December 27, 2019, 12:48:23 PM

Title: rewire a house?
Post by: AlanStache on December 27, 2019, 12:48:23 PM
I think my house needs to be rewired.  It was built in 1963 and has nm-nonmetallic wiring.  I have known it would need to be done sooner or later but last week while installing a new light fixture I saw how inflexible some of the wire had become.  Inflexible wiring seems bad. 

Cost estimates I have seen for a house rewiring go from 3k to 12k; can anyone give me a better idea?  1400sq ft, 3 bedroom, one story with all existing wires in the reasonably accessible attic.  At the same time I think I would replace the circuit panel box to make room for a level 2 car charger and have some lights and outlets put into the garage. 

I know I could do this job myself but I dont think I want to devote January to the project and with it dark early in the day I would have to take time off work to get it done.  Side note: there is minimal insulation in the attic and I would like to properly insulate but it seems best to do the wiring first. 

Thanks for any thoughts and advice. 
Title: Re: rewire a house?
Post by: JLR on December 27, 2019, 08:26:59 PM
Call around and get some quotes. We had one guy quote $10k without a new board. He sounded like he didn't really need the work. Was complaining about what a dirty job it was, and how hot it is in the roof. Called another guy and he quoted $3500 including a new board. He brought a bunch of guys and was done in a day. Made it look easy, and they tidied up before leaving.

We had a lot of old fabric-wrapped wires, perhaps original from the late 1920s. I had a lot of peace of mind once the job was done. I definitely felt it was money well spent.
Title: Re: rewire a house?
Post by: Papa bear on December 27, 2019, 08:58:33 PM
A couple electricians I’ve worked with said they would quote out around $10/sf for a rewire.  That’s a licensed electrician.

Or you can get lucky and have a guy that will do it for 3-4k. But look over their shoulder and make sure it’s permitted so it’s done right.  Because they could be phenomenal and do it up to current standards.  Residential electrical isn’t that hard. But they could mess it up. Bad.  So if you know what you’re doing yourself and to oversee this, then feel comfortable going the cheap route.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk