Affordable Basement Wiring: How Much Does It Cost?
Finishing a basement is very common in a home remodelling project. This renovation includes adding one or more electrical circuits, wall outlets, and lighting fixtures.
If your basement is old and only has a small breaker box, do some affordable basement wiring to modernize it and allow it to function correctly. I will tell you the basement wiring cost estimate in the following, so you can plan to finish it.
This project is significant and should be done by an expert. You should contact the experienced experts of KCS Group and renew your basement wiring to a standard.
In some cases in Canada, you must pay between $8 and $13 per square foot to rewire your basement. The lower price range is for large open spaces. Of course, if everything is already exposed, you can spend less. However, adding a new breaker can increase the project’s final cost.
Higher costs are for basements that are divided into separate rooms. You’ll pay more if you need an electrical sub-panel or your basement has complex multimedia wiring.
This cost includes cabling, installing boxes and making connections. In some projects, lighting and other device costs must be added to the main charge.
Several warning signs can indicate to homeowners that affordable basement wiring is essential.
- Frequently blown fuses or circuit breakers
- Lights dim or flicker continuously
- Bulbs often burn out in the socket
- Sparks come from the outlet when you unplug the cord
Factors that affect the basement wiring cost estimate
The basement wiring cost estimate depends on the size and age of your home, the number and nature of the rooms being rewired, and the amount of wiring you need to replace them. The most important part of the basement wiring cost estimate is the labour cost, which all these sub-factors affect.
Here are some factors affecting the cost of rewiring:
The size of the basement
Affordable basement rewiring projects are usually priced per square foot, so an enormous basement means more wiring, outlets, and higher costs. When you factor in labour and materials, you can expect to spend anywhere from $2 to $4 per square foot for an affordable basement wiring project. For a 2000 sq. ft. Basement, this cost can be $4,000 to $8,000.
The project area
The cost will vary greatly depending on whether you upgrade the switchboards, rewire one basement room, or rewire the entire basement. The basement wiring cost estimate will also vary based on the type of wiring and cable used. For example, they are higher per foot than non-metallic or NM cables, the most common residential cables. You will have to pay more for the basement Feeder (UF) line – the same as NM cable, which is critical for basement or wet spaces.
If your home is ancient and has an old electrical service panel, you may also need to replace this equipment, costing $900 to $2,500.
Practical work
It would help if you contracted with a licensed electrician like KCS Group to perform the rewiring work. Some of these companies charge hourly. But KCS Group enables you to do your affordable basement wiring project with standard principles and without fear of high costs.
Of course, the cost of wiring in larger cities and more populated areas is at the highest scale level. Also, if you need to upgrade the electrical panel or install new outlets in the house, you should expect additional labour and parts costs.
Access
Because affordable basement rewiring requires removing the old wiring before replacing it, labour costs will vary greatly depending on how easy it is for an electrician to access it. Older homes and homes with hard-to-reach areas cost more than newer buildings or homes with more straightforward layouts.
Placing new wires in old houses with plaster walls is very difficult. In this situation, you must pay another contractor to open and close the borders again after the electrician is done. The project will cost less if the technician can access wires through crawl spaces, basements, attics, or floor joists.
Therefore, get help from the skilled people on the KCS Group and reduce your expenses.
Permits and inspections
Permits and inspection criteria vary based on your current system and where you live. It would help if you had these to ensure that your wiring meets modern standards, complies with local codes, and will be safe for you and your family for decades.
Obtaining these licenses costs money, and you have to consider them. However, our company helps you to get the permits quickly and waste less time.
The inspection phase is usually done after the electrician runs new wires before connecting new outlets and switches.
Six tips to save on home wiring
While homeowners should be mindful of costs, going DIY or skipping affordable basement wiring projects is generally not a good idea. There’s a reason electricians need professional certifications—one wrong move can lead to electrocution or fire. It is also easy to cause additional damage when doing electrical work.
It is not usually an area where you want to think about saving money and cutting costs. Your priorities in an affordable basement wiring project should be to do it right first and then do it once.
However, there are ways to minimize incidental or unexpected costs when wiring your home.
Get an Inspection First Before proceeding with a rewiring project, have a licensed electrician thoroughly inspect your home’s wiring. You may be able to settle for minor repairs instead.
In rewiring, as much as possible, do not do things that involve opening the walls. Choose simpler methods. Opening walls is much more complicated than running wires through an attic or basement. Repairing walls after all your electrical work can consume 25-30% of your total project budget.
Shop around. Before hiring an electrician to complete your affordable basement wiring project, research electricians in your area by considering reviews and ratings posted by previous customers.
Getting at least three different power quotes is also a good idea. The cheapest quote may or may not be the best, but comparing multiple quotes will help you target the best combination of price and expertise for your project.
Combine projects. You may only need to fix the wiring in one room, but update your outlets or switchboard while you’re at it. It can increase the value of your home and save you money.
Get the permissions. Inspectors may ask you to get a permit before doing anything. You may even be fined if you don’t buy this license. So knowing the local laws can save you from paying punitive fees.
Prioritize Projects Knowing the cost of rewiring each room will help you decide how much work to do. Not all rooms cost the same to rewire, even if the square footage is the same. Rewiring a bathroom or kitchen can be much more expensive than rewiring a bedroom or basement.
Therefore, it is better to consult KCS Group’s expert consultants before starting your affordable basement wiring project and know the cost estimate.