Rewiring
Knob and tube, aluminum or cloth wiring replaced with grounded cable, in stages or all at once. Whole-home rewires typically run $20,000 to $40,000.
Older wiring wasn't built for how houses are used now. Knob and tube has no ground. Aluminum branch wiring from the late 1960s and 1970s overheats at connections. Cloth cable crumbles when it's disturbed.
Less demolition than you'd think. We go through the attic and crawlspace and patch small openings. Most families stay home, and many start with kitchen, baths and bedrooms.
Rewiring work
- Knob & Tube ReplacementReplace ungrounded wiring insurers won't cover.
- Aluminum Wiring ReplacementFix aluminum wiring before it overheats.
- Whole-Home RewireNew wiring, devices and panel throughout.
- Partial RewireRewire only the rooms that need it.
- Grounding & BondingSo breakers trip when something goes wrong.
Signs it's time to rewire
- Knob and tube, cloth or aluminum branch wiring
- Two-prong outlets, few grounded ones
- Insurer or buyer's inspector flagged it
- Warm cover plates or loosening connections
How a rewire goes
- Map the house. Every circuit traced: what it feeds, what wire it uses.
- Plan stages. All at once or room by room.
- Rewire. New grounded cable, boxes and devices, with openings kept small.
- Patch and inspect. Holes patched, rough and final inspections passed, insurer paperwork done.
What rewiring costs
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Whole-home rewire (1,500 to 2,500 sq ft) | $20,000 to $40,000 |
| Knob and tube replacement | $17,000 to $34,000 |
Prices updated October 2026.
Old wiring around here
Knob and tube lives in pre-1950 Sacramento (Land Park, Curtis Park, East Sacramento, Oak Park), Woodland's historic core, and older Auburn, Grass Valley and Nevada City. Aluminum shows up in 1965 to 1975 tracts in Citrus Heights, Carmichael, Fair Oaks and Rancho Cordova. Many California insurers want an electrician's evaluation first.
Rewiring questions
How much does it cost to rewire a house?
Typically $20,000 to $40,000 for 1,500 to 2,500 square feet, or $17,000 to $34,000 for knob and tube. Access and wall finishes move it. Prices updated October 2026.
Do you have to open every wall to rewire a house?
No. Most runs go through the attic and crawlspace, with small patched holes elsewhere.
Can I stay in the house during a rewire?
Usually yes. Finished rooms get power back each day when possible.
Is aluminum wiring dangerous?
It can be. Late 1960s and 1970s aluminum branch wiring can overheat at connections. Fix every one with listed connectors like AlumiConn or COPALUM, or replace it.
Updated October 2026 by the Chief Electric team.