You would need to bring the house *electrical* up to current codes, not the
house itself. In my area this includes adding smoke detectors on both sides
of all bedroom doors.

The work would be inspected by an electrical inspector only.

If you have the money to have this done now, I would do it now. These things
go up in cost as the years advance!

Also electrical codes are designed to protect life and property. *Your* life
and your property that is. Your electrical wiring would be pretty darn safe
if brought up to code.

The kitchen is a biggie. A lot of things in a kitchen need to be on their
own 20 amp circuit. Like microwave, refrigerator, etc. But best to do this
so circuits are not overloaded.

But the best part is outlets which work (don't need to "jiggle" the plug).
Circuits which can handle the load (circuit does not trip when trying to
vacuum, etc.). Three prong outlets everywhere. It just makes day to day
living more pleasant when your outlets work properly and circuits work
without tripping.

Some advice: I would have all outlet circuits be 20 amp. This is the best
and would not cost much more than 15 amp circuits. Things like a space
heater can easily trip a 15 amp circuit when other things are plugged in.
Also be sure to have outlets added in hallways. Makes vacuuming easier.

Might want to get three quotes from different companies. Maybe you will find
an electrician who can communicate with you better.


"BETA-32" wrote in message
I bought an old, 2-1/2-story, semi-detached home a while back as-is. It
has old wiring throughout and, due to the way it is constructed, rewiring
the entire house will not be easy (mostly because the side. front, and back
walls are all masonry). It now has 100-amp service with circuit breakers.

Here's what I am trying to figure out. Should I have the entire house
rewired now (including a new service panel, etc), or should I start out by
just having the new service panel put in (probably will be 200-amp
service) and then worry about rewiring rooms etc. later on? I do know
that I will need a permit either way.

If I have the entire house rewired, an electrician I had look at the house
said that means the whole house will have to be brought up to all of the
current codes (outlets every so many feet in the kitchen, outlets every so
many feet in bedrooms, a dedicated line to each bedroom for a window AC,
etc.). He wasn't an easy person to communicate with, so I couldn't get a
clear answer about what would happen if I just had a new electrical
service installed and keep the existing wiring throughout the house.

My concern is really not about the cost. It's about whether getting into
that entire project is going to expose me to a nightmare of regulations
and inspections.

What I am wondering is, could I just have the service panel replaced and
upgraded and basically just be exposed to the permit regulations related
to that and not be required to bring everything else in the house up to
current codes? In other words, the existing wiring would just be
reconnected to the upgrade panel. If that's how it would work, that's
what I would want to do.

Is that how it typically works?

(I am in New Jersey, and I do know that in the end I will need to find out
for sure from the local building inspector, but I am hoping to get some
ideas about it from here first).