How to Rewire Your Entire House in Just One Weekend (And Save $5,000!)

Rewiring your entire house may seem like a daunting task, but with some preparation and planning, it's entirely possible to complete in a single weekend - all while saving thousands of dollars in the process. As a first-time homeowner who recently rewired my 1,500 square foot house in under 48 hours, I'll share my step-by-step guide on how I did it so you can tackle this project efficiently and affordably.

Assessing and Planning Your Rewiring Project

Before touching a single wire, the first step is to thoroughly assess your home's current electrical system to determine the scope of work needed. Here are some key things I considered:

• How old is the existing wiring? Older homes likely need a full rewire more urgently. My house was built in the 1960s and still had the original cloth-wrapped wiring, which was prone to overheating.

• Are there safety issues or code violations? Outdated wiring, lack of grounding wires, and insufficient circuits for today's electricity usage are red flags. I discovered several worrying defects, like overloaded circuits and improper breaker sizes.

• What will a full rewire entail? For me, it meant replacing all outlets, switches, light fixtures, main electrical panel, wiring, and adding new circuits. Be realistic about what's feasible for a DIY weekend project.

• How complex is my home layout? More complicated floor plans take longer. My simple ranch house with an unfinished basement was ideal for a fast DIY rewiring job.

Once I confirmed that a total rewire was needed and doable in my home, I created a detailed plan of attack:

• Material list with exact quantities - from wire and outlet boxes to tools and safety gear
• Circuit plan - mapping all the new outlet, lighting, and appliance circuits
• Step-by-step process - guide for methodically rewiring room by room
• Electrician supervision - I hired an electrician friend to inspect at key stages

Thorough planning and prep work was crucial to executing this massive project quickly and efficiently.

Buying the Right Rewiring Materials

With my plan in place, I then purchased all the necessary materials for my home's complete rewire:

• Wire - I used 250 feet of 12/2 and 12/3 NM electrical wire for the branch circuits. Calculate your home's total wiring needs and buy 10-15% extra.

• Outlet and switch boxes - I bought 25 new outlet boxes and covers and 10 switch boxes appropriate for my home.

• Circuit breakers - Based on my circuit plan, I got 20 single pole breakers and 5 double pole breakers for the main panel.

• GFCI outlets - For kitchen, bathrooms, laundry, and outdoor outlets.

• Light fixtures - All new LED fixtures throughout the house to replace dated ones.

• Conduit and armored cable - For protecting wire runs to exterior lights and A/C units.

• Misc supplies - Wire nuts, cables, conduit, junction boxes, labels, tools, safety gear, etc.

Shopping at home improvement stores, I was able to purchase all the rewiring materials for around $1,500. Buying everything yourself is vastly cheaper than hiring an electrician who marks up supply prices significantly.

Step-by-Step Process for Rewiring

With planning and purchasing done, I was ready to get to work rewiring my entire home over the weekend. Here is the systematic process I followed:

Friday Evening

• Shut off main breaker and verify power is off in entire home
• Remove existing outlet, switch, and light fixture covers
• Label wires as I disconnect them to note locations
• Demo old outlet and switch boxes, removing them from walls
• Vacuum dust and debris to prep for new wire installation

Saturday

• Run new wires from main panel to each room according to circuit plan
• Install outlet and switch boxes in all rooms
• Connect lights, fans, appliances to their designated circuits
• Label all circuits clearly at main panel and junction boxes

Sunday

• Finish connecting and securing all wires properly
• Install new LED light fixtures throughout house
• Add faceplates to outlets and switches
• Inspect all connections and test each circuit for faults
• Hire electrician to inspect and sign off on completed rewire
• Re-energize electrical system and verify proper functioning

I targeted completing the dirty demolition work on Friday evening, running all the new wires on Saturday, then finalizing the connections and testing on Sunday. Having an electrician validate everything was critical for safety and getting my homeowner's permit finalized.

My $5,000 Savings on a Full House Rewire

After a long but exhilarating weekend, I successfully rewired my entire home with:

• 21 new 20 amp branch circuits
• 250 feet of 12/2 and 12/3 NM wires
• 25 new outlets and 10 light switches
• 20 new LED light fixtures
• Main electrical panel upgrade

For this massive overhaul, I spent:

• Materials and supplies = $1,500
• Electrician supervision = $500
• Total Cost = $2,000

Local electricians quoted me $7,000 to $10,000 for the same full rewiring job parts and labor. By DIYing this project in a single weekend, I saved $5,000 to $8,000 in electrician costs and gained invaluable skills.

While a complete house rewire is certainly not for beginners, it can be tackled efficiently in a weekend if you plan thoroughly, buy the right supplies, and follow safety precautions. Just be prepared for an intense two days of nonstop work! But successfully rewiring your home yourself provides immense satisfaction and direct savings.