Cleanup and Wall-Repair Woes

In an existing house, any extensive rewiring will require opening up some walls and ceilings by cutting into the drywall or plaster. Electricians have two conflicting issues here: One voice—yours—says keep the holes small; the other voice—the electrician’s—says a larger hole makes the job easier and faster. Guess which one wins out? I’m not against electricians, and no, it doesn’t mean they’re going to knock a three-foot-bythree-foot hole in your wall just to pull one wire through it. It does mean, however, that you’ll have some wall and ceiling repairs to do after the electrician is finished. Drywall and plaster repair costs need to be figured into your electrical budget unless you do the work yourself. It doesn’t stop there, however. Your electrician might have to drill through paneling or wallpaper whose patching is a little more problematic. If a room hasn’t been painted in many years, the paint will have faded and won’t necessarily match up very well with the can of Colonial blue latex sitting in the garage. Figure this into your planning costs so it’s not such a surprise later.