When Rewiring Becomes the Right Answer
Most homeowners do not start out looking to rewire their house. They start with a problem: flickering lights, tripping breakers, an inspection report flagging the wiring, or an insurance company refusing to renew because of what is inside the walls.
In Northwest Arkansas, a significant number of homes were built in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Many of those homes still have original wiring that has never been touched. Some have aluminum wiring, which was common during that era and carries documented risks. Others have knob-and-tube wiring in older sections of Fayetteville and Springdale. Some simply have wiring that is worn, overloaded, and no longer adequate for modern use.
Rewiring is not the first answer to every electrical problem. But when the wiring itself is the problem, it is often the only real solution.
What Does a Full House Rewire Actually Involve?
A full house rewire replaces all of the branch circuit wiring throughout the home. Every circuit in every room gets new wire run from the panel to the outlets, switches, and fixtures. The old wiring is either removed or left in place and abandoned, depending on accessibility.
This is a major project. It involves opening walls, ceilings, and floors to run new wire, or using techniques like fishing wire through walls to minimize damage to finished surfaces. In a home with unfinished walls or a crawl space, rewiring is significantly easier. In a two-story home with finished drywall throughout, it is a more involved job that requires careful planning.
A full rewire almost always includes a panel upgrade as well. If the wiring needs to be replaced, the panel is typically upgraded at the same time to ensure the new circuits are properly served by adequate capacity.
Cost to Rewire a House in NWA: By Home Size
The cost to rewire a house in Northwest Arkansas varies primarily by square footage and home complexity. Here are realistic ranges for common home sizes in our area.
Small Home (Under 1,200 sq ft)
Typical cost: $6,000 to $10,000. A smaller home with fewer circuits and less wire to run keeps costs down. Accessibility matters here. A small home with a crawl space and unfinished basement will cost less than one with tight finished walls throughout.
Medium Home (1,200 to 2,500 sq ft)
Typical cost: $9,000 to $15,000. This covers most single-story and two-story homes in established NWA neighborhoods. The range reflects variability in wall accessibility, number of circuits, and whether the panel upgrade is included.
Larger Home (2,500 sq ft and above)
Typical cost: $14,000 to $25,000 or more. Larger homes have more circuits, more wire, and often more complex layouts. Multi-story homes with finished walls throughout represent the most labor-intensive rewiring jobs.
What Factors Change the Price the Most?
Wall and Ceiling Accessibility
Open walls, unfinished basements, and crawl spaces make rewiring significantly easier and less expensive. Finished drywall throughout the home requires either cutting and patching or carefully fishing wire, both of which add labor time and cost.
Type of Existing Wiring
Aluminum wiring requires extra steps at every connection point, including anti-oxidant compound and approved connectors or pigtailing with copper wire. Knob-and-tube wiring in older homes may involve removing or safely abandoning wiring in tight, hard-to-reach spaces. Both add complexity compared to rewiring over standard older copper wiring.
Panel Upgrade
If the panel is being upgraded at the same time, that adds $1,800 to $2,800 to the total. In most cases it makes sense to do both at once rather than rewiring the home and then upgrading the panel separately later.
Number of Circuits and Outlets
A basic rewire replaces existing circuits. If additional circuits are added at the same time, such as dedicated circuits for kitchen appliances, a home office, or an EV charger, those add to the scope and cost. Many homeowners take the opportunity to upgrade their outlet count and add dedicated circuits while the walls are already open.
Permits and Inspections
A full house rewire requires electrical permits and inspections in Arkansas. Permit fees vary by jurisdiction but typically run $200 to $500 for a project of this size. All inspections must be passed before walls are closed and the work is considered complete.
Partial Rewire vs Full Rewire
Not every home needs a full rewire. In some cases, specific areas of the home are problematic while others are fine. A partial rewire addresses only the circuits and areas that need replacement.
Partial rewires are appropriate when the problematic wiring is isolated, such as a single room with aluminum wiring, or an older addition that was wired separately from the rest of the house. They are not appropriate when the entire home’s wiring is at end of life or poses a consistent safety concern.
A licensed electrician can assess which approach is right for your specific home. In some cases a partial rewire now with a plan to address the rest later is the practical answer given budget constraints.
Not sure whether you need a partial or full rewire? Call NWA C&S Electric and we will assess your home’s wiring and give you an honest recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to rewire a house?
Most full house rewires take three to seven days depending on home size and wall accessibility. Larger homes with finished walls throughout may take longer. The home is typically livable during the rewire, though power will be off to sections of the home during active work.
Does rewiring a house increase its value?
Yes, in most cases. Updated wiring removes a major negative from home inspections, can lower homeowner’s insurance costs, and makes the home more attractive to buyers. In NWA’s active real estate market, homes with documented electrical updates tend to sell with fewer contingencies and less negotiation around electrical issues.
Will I need to repaint or patch walls after a rewire?
Some patching is typically required. The amount depends on how accessible the walls are and which methods are used. A good electrician minimizes wall damage, but some cutting and patching is unavoidable in a fully finished home. Most homeowners plan for minor drywall repair and touch-up painting after the rewire is complete.
Is rewiring a house covered by homeowners insurance?
Typically no. Insurance covers sudden damage, not the gradual deterioration of wiring. However, some insurers offer discounts after a rewire is completed and documented. Others require a rewire as a condition of continued coverage on older homes. Check with your insurance provider about your specific policy.
Can I live in my house while it is being rewired?
In most cases, yes. Electricians typically work section by section, and power is only off to the areas being actively worked on at any given time. However, there will be periods each day without power to parts of the home. Plan for this, especially in summer when HVAC is critical.
An Investment in the Home You Already Have
The cost to rewire a house is not small. But for a home with wiring that is unsafe, uninsurable, or simply inadequate for the way you live today, it is the investment that makes everything else in the home work properly and safely.
NWA C&S Electric handles full and partial house rewires across Springdale, Fayetteville, Rogers, Bentonville, Bella Vista, and the surrounding Northwest Arkansas area. We assess the home, explain the scope clearly, and do the work to code with permits and inspections.
Call NWA C&S Electric: (479) 391-8655 | Schedule online at nwacselectric.com
