Knob and Tube Wiring Replacement
Safe, permitted replacement for older Seattle homes. Transparent pricing, no surprises.
About This Service
If you're buying a home with knob and tube wiring, selling one, or trying to renew a homeowner's insurance policy, you already know this conversation isn't optional. Most insurers in the Pacific Northwest stopped writing policies on homes with active knob and tube years ago, and the ones that still do charge a premium.
Greenworks Electric has replaced knob and tube in Seattle homes from Ballard to Beacon Hill: craftsman bungalows, 1920s four-squares, Queen Anne Victorians, and every flavor of old house in between. Every home is different, but the approach is the same: walk the attic, walk the basement, map the runs, give you a firm number, and do the work without tearing your house apart.
We don't sell fear. Knob and tube that's been undisturbed and properly fused handles its original loads safely. Add modern appliances, attic insulation touching the wires, or decades of amateur modifications, and the math changes fast. We'll tell you honestly what we see, what has to go, and what can stay.
What's Included
- Whole-home replacement for homes with active knob and tube
- Partial replacements (kitchen circuits, bedrooms, insulated attic areas)
- Permits pulled and city inspections coordinated
- Insurance documentation for homeowner policy renewal or purchase
- Minimal-damage wall access through plaster and drywall
- Post-work patching coordinated (or billed separately if you prefer)
- Modern replacement: Romex cable, grounded outlets, AFCI/GFCI per current code
- Owner on-site for the estimate, so you talk to the person doing the work
Ready to get started?
Contact us today for a free estimate. We'll assess your needs and provide a transparent quote with no hidden fees.
Request a Quote
What Does Knob and Tube Replacement Cost?
Every old home is different, so a firm number comes from a free on-site walkthrough. But here's the honest range so you're not negotiating blind:
Partial Replacement
$1,500 – $4,000
per room or circuit area
When you only need to replace specific runs: kitchen circuits flagged on inspection, a finished basement addition, or wires buried in new attic insulation.
Whole-House Replacement
$8,000 – $25,000
depending on home size and access
Full replacement is what insurance companies typically require. Price is driven by home square footage, plaster vs. drywall, and how finished the walls and ceilings are.
What Moves the Price
- •Home size and circuit count. A 1,200 sq ft bungalow with 8 circuits is a different job than a 3,000 sq ft four-square with 18.
- •Wall finish. Plaster walls are harder to open and harder to patch than drywall. Finished basements with paneling add complexity.
- •Access paths. Unfinished attics and basements let us pull new wire cleanly. Finished ceilings and inaccessible wall cavities mean more surgical work.
- •Panel condition. Many K&T homes also have Federal Pacific, Zinsco, or undersized service panels. If yours needs a panel upgrade too, we bundle them.
- •Permits and city inspection. We pull them, we schedule them, they're in the quote, not tacked on later.
Permit fees and applicable Washington sales tax are quoted separately on the estimate so you can see exactly where your money goes.
What to Expect
Free On-Site Walkthrough
We come out, crawl the attic and basement, trace the circuits, and map what's original K&T vs. what's already been partially updated. Usually takes 30–60 minutes. You get a firm written estimate, not a salesy range.
Permit and Schedule
Once you accept the estimate, we pull the electrical permit with your city and schedule the work. For whole-house jobs we coordinate with Seattle City Light (or PSE) if a service interruption is needed.
The Work
Partial jobs are usually 1–3 days. Whole-house jobs run 1–3 weeks depending on size and access. We protect floors, cover furniture, and clean up at end of day. You stay in the house unless we need a full service shutdown, which we plan around your schedule.
Inspection, Documentation, Done
City inspector signs off on the work. We provide the permit and inspection paperwork your insurance company will ask for. Your work is covered by a 2-year workmanship warranty.
Common Questions Before You Call
Do I have to replace all of it?
Depends on why you're replacing. If it's an insurance requirement, most carriers want the active K&T gone everywhere. If you're just addressing a specific safety concern (e.g., K&T buried in new insulation, or a kitchen circuit), partial replacement is often enough. We'll tell you honestly which situation you're in.
Will you tear up my walls?
Less than you'd think. We use existing fish points, attic and basement access, and targeted wall openings at outlet and switch locations. On a typical job we make maybe 10–20 small openings rather than gutting rooms. We can patch them ourselves or hand off to your drywall contractor.
How long will my power be off?
For most partial jobs, power stays on to the rest of the house. We work circuit by circuit. Whole-house jobs usually need one planned service shutdown of 4–8 hours, scheduled with you in advance.
Can you provide the documentation my insurance needs?
Yes. We provide the permit, the city electrical inspection sign-off, and a written description of the work. That's what every insurance carrier we've worked with has asked for. If yours asks for something unusual, we'll work with you on it.
Are you licensed and insured?
Washington State electrical contractor license GREENEL762DO. Fully insured. Owner-operated, which means the person giving you the estimate is usually the one doing the work.
