Old wiring is one of the most common problems in Milwaukee's older housing stock. If your home still has knob-and-tube or early aluminum branch wiring, a whole-home rewire brings the entire system up to modern safety and code standards. Burkhardt has been rewiring Milwaukee homes for three generations, and we handle the whole job, from the service panel to every outlet, safely and with minimal disruption to your walls and your life.
A few clear warning signs tell you it is time. Breakers that trip often or fuses that blow repeatedly, lights that flicker or dim, and warm or discolored outlets and switch plates all point to strained or failing wiring. A burning smell or buzzing at outlets is a serious hazard that needs immediate attention. Two-prong ungrounded outlets, cloth-insulated wiring, and a fuse box instead of breakers are strong signals your home is due for a rewire.
Rewiring is priced largely by home size and access, and typically runs about 2 to 4 dollars per square foot for labor and materials. For a 1,500 square foot home that works out to roughly 3,000 to 6,000 dollars, while a 2,500 square foot home commonly runs 5,000 to 10,000 dollars. Larger or older homes with difficult access, plus a new service panel, can reach 15,000 to 20,000 dollars. Permits and an inspection are part of every job. We evaluate your home first, then give you a firm, written, itemized estimate before any work begins.
A whole-home rewire follows a clear sequence. We start with an inspection of your existing wiring, panel, meter, and grounding, then design the new circuit layout and pull the permit. Our electricians run new copper wiring, install grounded outlets, switches, and GFCI and AFCI protection where code requires, and tie everything into an updated service panel. We work section by section to keep your home livable, patch access points, and finish with a municipal inspection. Most rewires take three to ten days depending on home size, age, and wall access.
If your home still has original wiring, a full rewire is the permanent fix. It removes the ungrounded, aging system insurers flag and replaces it with modern grounded circuits. Many Milwaukee homeowners pair a rewire with a panel upgrade so the new circuits have the capacity and protection they need. Whether you have knob-and-tube or an older fuse panel, we handle the whole conversion under one roof.
Here is something most single-trade electricians cannot offer. Burkhardt does both electrical and plumbing, so if a rewire touches a water heater, a boiler, or fixtures in the same walls, one company handles it all. That means fewer contractors, no finger-pointing, and a single point of accountability for your whole home.
We are three generations of trusted service, rooted in Brown Deer since 1961. Our licensed electricians know Milwaukee's older homes, pull the right permits, and leave you with a safe, code-compliant system and a clean finish. With electrical and plumbing under one roof, you get one accountable team from estimate to final inspection.
How long does it take to rewire a house? Most whole-home rewires take three to ten days. Older or larger homes over 40 years old usually need at least seven days because access is harder and the service and grounding often need rebuilding.
Do I need to move out during a rewire? Usually not. We work section by section so most of your home stays powered and livable, though there will be short outages in the areas we are actively working on.
Will you patch the walls after rewiring? We make clean, minimal access openings and patch them, though final paint and finish carpentry are typically handled separately. We walk you through exactly what to expect before we start.
Worried about old wiring or planning a remodel? Call Burkhardt at (414) 206-3049 or contact us for a written, itemized whole-home rewiring estimate in Milwaukee.
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