Old Wiring? Here's the Plan.
Many Michigan homes built before 1970 still have knob-and-tube, cloth-insulated, or aluminum wiring. These are real fire and insurance risks, but full rewiring isn't always the answer. We assess what you have, recommend what's needed, and minimize disruption to your home.
Most Homes Stay Livable
We work one section at a time, clean up daily, and you keep power in the rest of the house.
What Kind of Wiring Do You Have?
If your home was built before 1990, it may have wiring that's been quietly aging. Here's how to identify what's in your walls and how urgent the situation actually is.
Knob-and-Tube
Pre-1950 homesCeramic knobs and tubes routing single insulated wires through framing. No ground wire. Insulation degrades over time.
Cloth-Insulated
1920s–1950s homesCopper wiring wrapped in cotton or fabric insulation. The fabric becomes brittle and crumbles, exposing live wire.
Aluminum Wiring
1965–1975 homesSolid aluminum branch wiring used during the copper shortage. Expands and contracts, loosening at terminations and overheating.
Modern Romex
1970s–TodayPVC-jacketed copper wire with a ground conductor. Industry standard for residential wiring. Holds up well over decades.
Partial or Full Rewire?
Not every home needs a full rewire. Sometimes targeted work on the riskiest areas is enough. Here's how we decide which path makes sense.
Partial Rewiring
Targeted replacement of risky circuits or specific areas while leaving newer wiring in place.
Full Home Rewire
Complete replacement of all branch wiring, panel, outlets, and switches. Brings the home fully to current code.
How a Rewiring Project Works
Five clear stages, from first call to inspection sign-off. You'll know what's happening each day and roughly how long it'll take.
Assessment
We inspect attic, basement, and panel. Identify wiring type. Estimate partial or full.
Permits
City electrical permit pulled. Inspection schedule reserved. Materials ordered.
Demo & Pull
Minimal drywall openings made. Old wire removed. New wire pulled through walls and ceilings.
Install & Terminate
Outlets, switches, panel circuits terminated and labeled. Every fixture tested.
Inspection
City inspector signs off. Patch repairs handed off (or we coordinate drywall).
What It Actually Means For Your Home
The biggest worry homeowners have about rewiring isn't the cost. It's the disruption. Here's what's actually involved, what you can plan for, and what to expect day-to-day.
You Can Usually Stay
Most homeowners stay in their home throughout the project. We work room by room, restore power nightly, and keep at least one full living area online at all times.
Some Drywall Repair
We minimize wall openings, but some patching is unavoidable. Small cuts near outlets and ceilings are most common. We can coordinate drywall and paint, or hand off to your contractor.
Daily Cleanup
Our crew vacuums and protects floors every day. Drop cloths and dust barriers on every project. You come home to a clean job site, not a construction zone.
Pets & Kids Welcome
Areas we're actively working in are sectioned off. Pets and children stay safely in unaffected parts of the home. We schedule around naps and arrivals when needed.
Insurance & Resale
A full rewire often reduces homeowners insurance premiums and removes a major red flag at resale. We provide complete documentation for your records, lender, or insurer.
One Final Inspection
City inspector signs off when work is complete. We handle all permit paperwork, scheduling, and any callback corrections ourselves. The work is on record.
Home Rewiring Questions
How do I know if my home needs to be rewired?
Signs include knob-and-tube or cloth-insulated wiring visible in the attic or basement, 2-prong ungrounded outlets, frequent breaker trips, flickering lights, burning smells near outlets, or an insurance company asking about your wiring. An assessment confirms exactly what's there and how urgent it is.
Can I stay in my home during the rewiring?
Yes, almost always. We work room by room and restore power nightly so you have a functional kitchen and at least one bathroom throughout. Full gut rewires during major renovations are the exception. We'll tell you upfront if your project requires you to be out.
Do you do drywall repair too?
We make the smallest wall openings possible, but rewiring always leaves some cuts that need patching. We can coordinate drywall and paint as part of the project, or hand off clean openings to your contractor. We'll discuss this during the assessment.
Does insurance cover home rewiring?
Homeowner's insurance generally doesn't cover preventive rewiring, but it may cover replacement after fire or water damage. Many insurers offer significant premium reductions after knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring is replaced. We provide complete itemized documentation for your insurer.
Will rewiring affect my home's resale value?
Yes, positively. Old wiring is one of the top issues that surfaces during home inspections and often causes buyers to walk away or demand price concessions. A documented, permitted rewire removes that risk entirely and is one of the few invisible upgrades that recovers most of its cost at resale.
Can rewiring be financed?
Yes. IB Electric offers financing options for major electrical work including rewiring projects. Same-as-cash promotional terms available for qualified applicants. See our financing page for current offers, or ask during your assessment.
Should I upgrade my panel at the same time?
Often yes. Homes with old branch wiring usually have old panels too (60A or 100A, sometimes Federal Pacific or Zinsco). Combining a panel upgrade with rewiring saves on labor, permit, and inspection costs and brings the entire electrical system to current code at once. See our panel upgrades page for more.
Find Out What's Actually in Your Walls.
Most homeowners don't need a full rewire. Sometimes the answer is "just this circuit," sometimes it's the whole house. Either way, we'll tell you straight, with a firm estimate and a real timeline.