Electrical Renovations

Although electrical wiring may be out of sight, it should never be out of mind. There are the obvious reasons to invest in rewiring your home, namely making sure it’s up to date and compliant with industry standards. A licensed electrician can ensure this and prevent unsafe occurrences, such as power trips and even electrical shocks and fires (telltale warning signs of electrical issues include flickering lights, buzzing noises and regularly blown fuses). 

It’s also important to remember that, unlike say, a home improvement that will last a lifetime, electric wiring only lasts, on average, 20 years. Two decades might sound like a long time, but how many homeowners remember when they had their last electrical inspection? Another reason to invest in rewiring your home. 

Finally, new, up-to-date wiring improves efficiency so energy costs are significantly reduced – something every homeowner can appreciate.

You probably already know that residential electricians are pros when it comes to things like light fixture installation, design and repair, but there’s more to electrical contractors than you might think. Installing energy-efficient LED lighting is just one of the many services a certified electrician can provide – think updating the electrical panel, reworking cables and circuits and installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. With the use of smart home technology on the rise, licensed electricians can oversee home automation systems, electric heating and, if you’re lucky enough to have a home spa and pool, they can do those too. Ultimately, realizing the full potential of electrical contractors and all they can offer is truly a light-bulb moment. 

Your residential electrician can develop electrical wiring diagrams based on your floor plans and proposed renovations, converting the plan into a blueprint and, finally, a fully rewired home. For less involved projects, your electrician can perform GFCI installation to improve your home’s safety and do general repairs and upgrades over the full spectrum of home electrical work.

A licensed electrician, also known as an electrical contractor, has completed an apprenticeship and successfully applied for licensing in their province or territory. With that licence, they are accountable to their provincial regulatory board and must maintain their skill and competency in electrical work.

Hiring a licensed electrician means hiring a professional who is accountable to a provincial regulatory board to do a job well and see it through to completion. An unlicenced electrician isn’t required to maintain competency and is not responsible to a higher authority for finishing their contract.

The cost of a full electrical rewiring ranges widely depending on square footage, the type of wiring in place, and the unique requirements of your home’s location. Generally, you can expect to set aside $10,000 or more to rewire your home.

There is no hard and fast rule for how often you should rewire your house. Rewiring work may be necessary if your older home hasn’t had electrical work since its construction, or if the last time you rewired your home was over twenty years ago. Even homes that’ve had a full electrical overhaul only two years prior may need a rewiring due to chewed wires or storm damage. If you have any doubts, get your home electrical system inspected.