How to Rewire Your Office Building on a Budget

Upgrading the electrical wiring in your office building can be an expensive endeavor, but with some planning and cost-saving measures, it is possible to rewire on a budget. Here is an in-depth guide on how I rewired my office building without breaking the bank.

Assess the Current Electrical System

The first step is to thoroughly assess the current electrical system to identify problem areas and determine what specifically needs upgrading.

I hired a licensed electrician to:

• Evaluate the electrical panel - check the condition, capacity, and if upgrades are needed.

• Test outlets and circuits - identify overloaded, faulty, or hazardously wired circuits.

• Inspect wiring - check for old, damaged, or insufficient wiring that needs replacement.

• Assess grounding, bonding, and earthing - ensure proper connections to prevent shocks.

• Identify code violations - flag any wiring that does not meet current electrical code standards.

Getting a professional assessment allowed me to pinpoint only the necessary upgrades, avoiding unnecessary costs. I was able to prioritize the critical issues to address immediately versus upgrades that could wait.

Create an Upgrade Plan

With the assessment complete, I worked with the electrician to create a written plan detailing all of the required electrical upgrades, including:

• Adding new circuits - installing dedicated circuits for appliances and upgrading overloaded circuits.

• Rewiring outlets - replacing outdated two-prong outlets with grounded three-prong outlets.

• Upgrading wiring - running new wire where existing wiring was damaged or insufficient.

• Installing GFCI and AFCI outlets - adding protection from shocks and electrical fires.

• Fixing code violations - making necessary changes to meet safety standards.

• Electrical panel upgrade - replacing outdated panel with a new higher capacity one.

The plan provided an itemized scope of work with expected costs for budgeting purposes.

Get Quotes from Multiple Electricians

I obtained quotes from several licensed electricians in my area to compare pricing. I made sure the quotes aligned closely with the scope of work from the assessment and upgrade plan.

Key factors I compared between electrician bids:

• Hourly rates for labor

• Cost of materials being passed through

• Mobilization fees

• Professionalism and responsiveness

Getting multiple quotes allowed me to choose an electrician with competitive pricing that I felt comfortable working with for the large project.

Purchase Materials Yourself

I saved significantly by purchasing all of the electrical supplies and materials myself instead of going through the electrician. This allowed me to source quality materials at the best prices.

For a large rewiring project, some of the major supplies I purchased included:

• Wire and cable - got spools of THHN wire in a range of sizes for runs to panels and circuits

• Breakers - bought breakers for the new panel directly from the manufacturer

• Conduit and boxes - priced out PVC conduit and junction boxes for the job

• Outlets and switches - bought in bulk for discounts

• Other supplies - outlet covers, wire connectors, staples, etc.

Getting contractor-level wholesale pricing on materials was where I found the most savings. The electrician was willing to install customer-provided materials since I purchased quality supplies.

Take Advantage of Any Available Incentives and Rebates

Some utility companies and states offer financial incentives for upgrading old electrical systems as an energy efficiency measure. I was able to get over $2000 back through my state's efficiency program by applying for rebates after the project.

Common rebates available include:

• Panel upgrade rebates

• Smart thermostat and lighting incentives

• Appliance recycling rewards

• HVAC upgrade rebates

Looking into any local or utility incentives available in your area can offset a portion of the overall costs.

Phase the Upgrades Over Time if Needed

While all of the recommended electrical upgrades ideally would be done together, I did phase portions of the work over several budget cycles to make the project more affordable.

I prioritized the code violations and most critical hazard repairs first. Secondary upgrades like adding new circuits were done over time as the budget allowed.

Creating a priority plan for the phases allowed me to make the most impactful upgrades right away while spreading out costs over time.

Final Tips

Rewiring an entire office building is a major undertaking but can be executed on a conservative budget with proper planning and cost management. By following the steps outlined above, I was able to overhaul the outdated electrical system in my office in a financially responsible way. Let me know if you have any other questions!