How much would it cost to update the electrical system in my home?
Question:Built in 1955, single story w/ basement, about 1200 sq. feet
The electric panel is new.
Answers:
your best bet is to have a contractor come and give you an actual quote..
This is like asking a dr. if you need transplant over the phone...he won't know until he checks it all out!
Any quote you get via this forum isn't going to hold much in standing...it all depends on that particular contractors rates.
With some time you can do it yourself. Its not that hard really. I just did it on my home that was built in 1941.
Depends on what is done. There is no way to give an estimate without seeing it. Many houses of that era were wired with EMT; those require little or no work. But if the house is wired with 2-wire cable, it probably will need to be replaced.
Depends on how far you go. If you want to repalce all the wire, then they will have to open your walls to some degree. this could be avoided if you leave the old wire in place and simply pull in new wire.
Keeping things simplest and cheapest, here are some figures you could work out.
electricians wages (for Michigan union scale) $65 per hour.
figure around 4-6 hours per pull (man hours not necessarily actula time)
figure around 5 - 6 oultes per pull. (circuit)
figure around 7-8 light fixtures per pull
1 pull for fridge
1 pull for microwave
1 pull for dishwasher
1 pull for electric range
1 pull for clothes washer
1 pull for dryer (even if is natural gas)
1 pull for heater/air conditioner
Get the number of pulls times 5 or 6 then multiply by $65 for a starting budget.
Residential electricians can be cheaper but remember the company you go with will be adding overhead and profit as well.
Material cost should be a few hundred dollars for the wire and miscellaneous other items.
without seeing a drawign of your home and knowing where you live this is the best I can do for you.
Hope this helps. Call for some estimates, those should be free.
I would say around 3,000.00 plus depends on if you live within a city limit once you "cut" the service lose you have to bring the house up to city code and only to NEC National electrical code if its in the county. When I quit in 97 due to med problem I was chargeing in the area of about 2 to 2500 for 200 amp service change which included permits if it was in the city call your local electrical contractor. If you know what you are doing you can do it your self with a home owners permit
Your best bet is to have an electrical contractor come in and get an estimate, I would get about three estimates and then choose the one you want.
You can make sure they're insured, have a bond and licensed of course. They will give you names of past clients for a reference, if not beware.
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