Nobody plans to rewire a house. It comes up because an inspection turned up knob-and-tube, an insurer asked questions, or a remodel opened a wall and revealed what's behind it. The honest answer on cost is that it's a range — but the things that move it are predictable, and you can usually tell early where your house will land.
What actually drives the number
- Square footage and circuit count — the base of any estimate.
- Access — a house with an open attic and a full basement costs far less than a slab-on-grade with a low crawlspace.
- Finishes — plaster and lath, tile, and hardwood all raise repair cost after the wire is in.
- Panel and service — most rewires include a new panel, and some need a service upgrade.
- Occupied or empty — working around a family living there adds time.
What a full rewire includes
A complete whole-house rewiring replaces branch circuit wiring throughout, adds properly grounded receptacles, brings kitchen, bath, laundry, and exterior circuits up to current code with GFCI and AFCI protection, installs dedicated circuits for large appliances, and terminates everything in a new panel. Permits and inspection are part of the scope, not an add-on.
When partial rewiring makes sense
Not every house needs everything replaced. Homes wired in the 1970s and 1980s often have sound branch wiring and only need the panel, grounding, and a few problem circuits addressed. If the issue is one aluminum-wired addition or a knob-and-tube run left in an attic, targeted work costs a fraction of a full rewire. We'd rather tell you that than sell you a whole house.
Timing and living through it
A typical full rewire runs one to three weeks depending on size and access, and it is disruptive: holes in walls, power off in sections, furniture moved. Doing it during a remodel, before flooring and paint, is dramatically cheaper than doing it afterward. If you're planning any renovation in a house older than the 1960s, get the wiring assessed before you finalize the budget.
What you get for it
Beyond the safety case, a rewire usually resolves insurance questions on older homes, removes an inspection issue at resale, and gives you capacity for the things people actually add now — EV charging, a heat pump, a shop, a hot tub.
When to bring in a professional
A walkthrough is the only way to give you a real number. We'll look at the panel, the attic and crawlspace, and a few boxes, and tell you plainly whether you need a full rewire or a much smaller scope.
Call (928) 563-6237 to schedule an assessment in Flagstaff, Show Low, or the surrounding communities.