Older Greater Vancouver homes often still have knob & tube or aluminum branch circuit wiring. We provide inspection reports, insurance-ready documentation, and full remediation — pigtailing or rewiring.
Most homeowners contact us about insurance — not an emergency. Here's what usually prompts a call.
Your insurer won't renew — or is requiring documentation about your wiring before they will.
You're buying or selling a home built before 1980 and need an honest, documented assessment of the electrical system.
Your home was built before 1960 and has never been fully rewired — it very likely has knob & tube wiring.
You opened walls during a renovation and found cloth-insulated wires, ceramic knobs, or silver-coloured (aluminum) wiring you didn't expect.
Both types are common in older Greater Vancouver homes and both require professional assessment — but they're handled differently.
From a written inspection report to a complete rewire — we match the solution to what your home actually needs.
Not sure what your home has?
Start with an inspection. We'll tell you exactly what's there, what it means for your insurance, and what your options are — before any work is committed to.
Book an InspectionSubmit the form below, or text / email us your home's year of construction and what prompted the call — insurance renewal, home purchase, upcoming renovation, or general concern. We'll confirm availability and explain what to expect before we arrive.
We inspect the attic, basement, electrical panel, and representative outlets and switches throughout your home. Typically takes 1–2 hours. We photograph what we find, document the extent and condition of the old wiring, and note any areas of particular concern.
You receive a written assessment covering: wiring type and extent, condition, any immediate safety concerns, and your options — from pigtailing to partial or full rewire — with a fixed-price quote for each path. Insurance letters confirming our assessment are provided on request.
There is no obligation to proceed with any work after the inspection.
If you choose to proceed, all required permits are pulled — TSBC electrical permit and municipal building permit where required. We handle all paperwork and coordinate inspections on your behalf. A completion report is provided for your insurance file once work is done.
It depends on your insurer, but this is increasingly common. Most BC insurers will not write new policies on homes with active knob & tube wiring, and many will flag it or decline to renew existing policies. If you're in this situation, an inspection and written assessment is the first step — some insurers will continue coverage after a licensed electrician confirms the wiring is in acceptable condition, while others require full remediation. We'll give you an honest answer about what your specific situation calls for.
Knob & tube (pre-1960s) uses two separate cloth-insulated copper wires — hot and neutral — run through ceramic knobs and porcelain tubes. It has no ground wire, degrades over time, and cannot handle modern electrical loads. Most insurers won't cover homes with active K&T.
Aluminum branch circuit wiring (1960s–early 1980s) replaced copper with aluminum at outlets, switches, and fixtures — not to be confused with aluminum service entrance wiring, which is still used today and is not a concern. The problem with aluminum branch circuits is that the metal expands and contracts more than copper, loosening connections over time and creating overheating risks. The remediation is different: pigtailing with approved connectors is often sufficient.
Not always — but it was designed for the electrical demands of a century ago, and the risk profile of any specific home depends on its condition and how it's been used. If attic insulation has been blown over the wiring (which traps heat), if the circuits have been modified without permits, or if the home's electrical loads have grown significantly, the risk is elevated. A proper inspection tells you what you're actually dealing with rather than making assumptions either way.
Not necessarily. Copper pigtailing using CSA-approved AlumiConn or COPALUM connectors at every outlet, switch, and fixture is an accepted remediation method — and is significantly less expensive and disruptive than full rewiring. This approach is recognized by BC insurers. We'll assess your system and recommend the most practical path. In some cases, particularly where a renovation is already planned, full rewiring in the affected areas may be more cost-effective in the long run.
Yes, in most cases. Full rewires are typically done room by room, with power restored to each area before work moves to the next. A short outage during panel work is occasionally required, but we plan around your schedule. Homeowners remain in the house throughout the majority of the project.
Not always. Many circuits can be run through attic and basement access without opening walls at all. Where wall access is required, we make precise, minimum-size cuts. Drywall patching is completed by your contractor after the electrical work is done. We'll give you a realistic picture of how much wall disturbance to expect before work starts.
BC follows the Canadian Electrical Code (CEC), which does not require removal of existing K&T wiring simply because it's present — but any new work that connects to or extends a K&T circuit is not permitted. This means that as you add circuits, renovate rooms, or upgrade the panel, the old wiring gets gradually isolated. Insurance requirements are typically more restrictive than the code minimum and vary by insurer.
It varies significantly based on home size, the accessibility of the wiring, and which option you choose. Aluminum pigtailing is substantially less expensive than full rewiring. Partial rewiring during a renovation costs considerably less than a standalone rewire of the same rooms. We provide fixed-price quotes after the inspection — you'll know the total before any work begins, with no hidden fees.
Not sure what you have or what it means? Contact us for a free assessment. We serve homeowners and buyers across Greater Vancouver.
Include your home's age and what prompted your inquiry — we'll reply with next steps, usually within 24 hours.