If you are a homeowner and want to remodel your home, this may include a complete electrical renovation as well. Or maybe you are working with electrical contractors because you just bought an older home and have to get it up to code before moving in. However, before committing to the job, you would like to know how long you can expect it to take.
What Does an Electrical Renovation Include?
As buildings age, their electrical systems age with them. Undertaking an electrical renovation means you are going to be upgrading the wiring of your entire home. Renovating the old electrical system adds flexibility through modern wiring practice and increases safety. The electrical system includes fixtures, switches, and outlets for the purpose of making the property more energy-efficient and safer.
Almost every system or device in the home operates through sheer electrical power. Electrical work includes anything from installing appliances to lighting and plug outlets in any room. This activity requires a high level of skill and expertise that most people don’t have. Electrical work needs to be done by professionals. The benefits of professional electrical installations include safety, improved performance, and compliance with regulations
What Factors Play a Role in The Length of the Project?
The duration of an electrical renovation will depend on these factors:
- The size of the property
- The complexity of the scope of work
- The age of the home
- The time it takes to get the permits
- The availability of the materials needed
- The experience and skill of the electricians performing the job
Taking all of the above into account, a complete electrical renovation can run between a couple of days to several weeks.
What Steps Are Involved in an Electrical Renovation?
Once you have engaged the services of a licensed and insured electrician, you should expect the project to involve the following steps:
Design and Planning
When you renovate the electrical wiring of the home, you don’t have to stick with the same outlets and switches you had before. With the growing number of gadgets, devices, and appliances that everyone seems to have today, this can be your opportunity to decide what you need. Planning and designing the electrical installation may take several days or a couple of weeks, depending on the complexity of the final project.
Inspections and Permits
The city or town where the property is located may call for specific permits before the job can begin. Your contractor will likely know what is needed to obtain the necessary permits from the local building authority. Once the permits are obtained and the project gets underway, be ready for inspections by the building department to make sure the installation is safe and according to code. When inspectors are overwhelmed with the number of homes they must visit, yours may have to wait, delaying your project.
Removal of the Old Electrical System and Installation of the New One
Old wiring is removed at this stage, including whatever else needs to be replaced. Walls may have to be prepared to receive the new wiring. Once the new wiring is installed, everything must be tested to make sure it works as expected. The project is finished once everything has been patched up and any debris has been picked up. This phase may take some days or weeks, depending on the particulars of the project and whether the inspector approves every stage of the work on time.
