Sarasota boasts many older and even historic homes, some of which were built before modern electrical standards were established. These days, smart devices, computers, entertainment systems, and electric car charging stations utilize levels of electricity that previous generations never dreamed about. If you have purchased an older home that has older wiring or outlets, you may need to consider a complete home rewiring project. The most important step is to hire an electrician – but here are the basic tips to get you started.
- Assess Your Home’s Electric Usage: Walk through the home and inventory every electrical device in use, from tools in the garage to appliances in the kitchen. Don’t forget major elements such as the HVAC systems and hot water heater. Plotting where the most electricity is being used will help you properly design how the home needs to be rewired.
- Familiarize Yourself with Local Electric and Building Codes and Permit Requirements: If you plan on doing electrical work done on your home, understanding building codes and pulling permits is a requirement. These codes outline all aspects of the project, from wire type to number of outlets you can install. If you don’t research these items first, you can end up with major safety hazards or have to remove finished work – costing you much more in the end. This is one aspect of a rewiring project where hiring an expert residential electrician is critical.
- Establish the Type of Wiring Needed: Contemporary homes have more sophisticated wiring requirements, including data lines, hardwired security systems, or fire protection lines, in addition to lines for electrical power.
- Evaluate the Existing Infrastructure: In addition to understanding the existing electrical infrastructure, a homeowner should know about the plumbing pipes and load-bearing structures that may affect the electrical installation. A complete electrical inspection can determine these existing elements before new installation takes place.
- Put the Rewiring Plan in Writing: The most experienced electricians will investigate the house’s needs before providing an estimate of the work to be done. A detailed estimate should take into account possible issues that may come up so as to avoid any potentially unexpected expense.
- Hire a Local Electrician with Extensive Experience Rewiring Area Homes: It is essential to choose a residential electrician who has been working in Sarasota for years and understands the complexities, nuances, and challenges that may arise when rewiring older houses. They will know about how local homes were built in the past and have in-depth knowledge about current electrical codes.
- Budget for Demolition and Reconstruction of the Rewiring Project: With many older and historic homes, accessing very old wiring requires cutting into walls (or demolishing them entirely.) If other remodeling projects are on your schedule, plan on concurrent work so as to save time and money. Don’t forget to budget for cleanup and reconstruction.
There is another reason to hire a local Sarasota electrician familiar with our historic homes. In order to totally update the underlying wiring of a home and bring it up to code while preserving the authenticity of the original construction, electricians can search for elements that evoke the history of the era – or any style you are hoping to recreate as you remodel or renovate.
The primary thing to remember is no electrical or home rewiring project should be undertaken without a licensed electrician onsite for safety, code compliance, quality, insurance, and, eventually, resale purposes. If you are preparing a wiring project for your historic Sarasota home, contact Promise Electric today. Our team of master electricians is uniquely qualified to help – and our reputation among area residential and commercial clients is unmatched.
