What does a full home rewire cost in an older Burnaby house?

A full home rewire in an older Burnaby house typically costs $15,000-$35,000, with most homeowners paying around $20,000-$25,000 for a standard 1,200-1,500 sq ft home. The wide range depends on your home's size, age, accessibility, and the complexity of bringing everything up to current electrical code.

For older Burnaby homes (particularly those built before 1980), rewiring often involves more than just replacing wire. Many of these homes have outdated electrical panels, insufficient grounding, and may still have knob-and-tube wiring or aluminum wiring that needs complete replacement. Your electrician will need to upgrade the main panel to at least 200-amp service, install GFCI protection in bathrooms and kitchens, add arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) in bedrooms, and ensure proper grounding throughout the home to meet current BC Building Code requirements.

Cost breakdown for Metro Vancouver rewiring projects:

• Basic rewire (1,000-1,200 sq ft): $15,000-$22,000


• Standard rewire (1,200-1,800 sq ft): $20,000-$28,000


• Large/complex homes (1,800+ sq ft): $25,000-$35,000+

Additional costs that often surprise homeowners include drywall repair ($2,000-$5,000), painting ($1,500-$3,000), and potential structural modifications if walls need to be opened for access. Older Burnaby homes with plaster walls, finished basements, or multiple stories can push costs higher due to access challenges.

All electrical work must be performed by a licensed electrician registered with Technical Safety BC (TSBC) — this isn't DIY territory. The electrician will pull permits through the City of Burnaby (604-294-7130) and coordinate mandatory TSBC inspections. Expect the permit and inspection process to add 2-3 weeks to your timeline.

Factors affecting your Burnaby rewire cost:

• Home age and current electrical condition


• Panel upgrade requirements (most older homes need 200-amp service)


• Accessibility (finished basements increase labor significantly)


• Number of circuits and outlets needed


• Smart home pre-wiring requests


• Asbestos considerations in pre-1980 homes

The rewiring process typically takes 3-5 days for the electrical work, plus additional time for drywall repairs and painting. Most electricians can maintain power to parts of your home during the work, but expect some temporary inconvenience.

Next steps: Contact licensed electrical contractors through our Vancouver directory for site-specific quotes. They'll assess your current electrical system, identify code compliance issues, and provide detailed estimates. Don't delay if you're experiencing frequent breaker trips, flickering lights, or burning smells — these are safety concerns that need immediate professional attention.