Question about old knob and tube wiring in a 1920s house I just worked on

The whole place had original cloth-covered knob and tube, and the owner wanted a full rewire. After three weeks and about $8,500 in labor and materials, we swapped it all for modern Romex. The difference in safety and just being able to add a ceiling fan without a headache is night and day. Why do you think some people still fight to keep that old stuff active?

2 comments

2 Comments

patricia4211d ago

Right? I did a full rewire on a 1925 bungalow last year and the peace of mind is worth every penny. Some folks just get weirdly attached to "original" stuff even when it's a fire hazard.

walker.michael11d ago

Man, I saw a whole article about this. Some people honestly believe old wiring is fine if you "don't touch it," which is wild. Like @patricia42 said, that attachment to original stuff ignores how brittle that cloth insulation gets. It's not just a fire risk, it makes the house basically stuck in the past. You did the right thing getting it all replaced.