Knob and Tube Wiring Replacement in Victoria, BC
If your home was built before the 1950s, there's a real chance it still has original knob and tube wiring running through the walls, attic, or crawlspace. Grifflyn Electric is a licensed, fully insured electrical contractor that specializes in safe, code-compliant knob and tube replacement in Victoria and the surrounding communities — from the character homes of Fairfield, James Bay, and Fernwood to heritage properties in Oak Bay, Esquimalt, and Saanich.
Aging wiring is one of the most common reasons Victoria homeowners struggle to insure, renovate, or sell an older home. We replace it the right way: new grounded copper circuits, all permits and inspections handled, and a finished result that's safer, insurable, and ready for modern electrical demands. Call (778) 350-2677 for a free on-site assessment.
How to Tell If Your Victoria Home Still Has Knob and Tube Wiring
Knob and tube (often shortened to "K&T") is easy to recognize once you know what to look for. You may still have it if you notice any of the following:
White ceramic knobs and tube-shaped insulators visible in the attic, basement, or crawlspace
Two-prong (ungrounded) outlets throughout the home
Cloth- or fabric-wrapped wiring instead of modern plastic-sheathed cable
The home was built before roughly 1950
Frequent tripped breakers, warm outlets, or flickering lights
A home inspector or insurance company has already flagged "active knob and tube"
Why Knob and Tube Wiring Should Be Replaced
Knob and tube can be safe when it's untouched and in good condition — but most of the systems we find in Victoria are 70 to 100+ years old and have been modified, overloaded, or buried over the decades. There are four reasons it's worth replacing:
No grounding. K&T is a two-wire, ungrounded system. That means no safe path for fault current and no protection for sensitive modern electronics, computers, and appliances.
Brittle, aging insulation. The original rubber and cloth insulation dries out and cracks over time, exposing live conductors.
A hidden fire risk in insulated homes. Knob and tube was engineered to run through open air so it could shed heat. When later owners blow insulation into attics and walls — exactly what many Victoria energy retrofits do — that heat gets trapped, which is a recognized fire hazard.
It can't keep up with modern loads. Heat pumps, EV chargers, induction ranges, and home offices all demand more than these old circuits were ever designed to carry.
Victoria's coastal climate works against knob and tube as well. The damp, salt-laden air on the Island accelerates the breakdown of the conductors' insulation, so wiring that might last longer in a dry inland climate degrades faster here. As a benchmark, knob and tube has a service life of roughly 40 years under ideal conditions, while the modern NMD90 cable we install is rated closer to 100 years. Most of the original wiring still in Victoria's older homes is now well past that 40-year mark — which is exactly why we see so much of it failing.
Replacing knob and tube also makes a home far easier and cheaper to insure — see the FAQ below for more on what BC insurers now require.
Our Knob and Tube Replacement Process
Free on-site assessment. We inspect your wiring, panel, and access points, and explain exactly what needs to be replaced.
Transparent, fixed quote. You get a clear written price and timeline before any work starts — no surprises.
Permits pulled. As a licensed contractor we handle all required electrical permits and inspections on your behalf.
Careful rewiring. We install new grounded copper circuits, working to keep wall and ceiling openings to a minimum.
Panel check or upgrade. Old wiring often pairs with an undersized panel; we'll let you know if a panel replacement or service upgrade makes sense at the same time.
Final inspection and sign-off. Your home is left safe, code-compliant, and fully documented for insurance and resale.
How Much Does Knob and Tube Replacement Cost in Victoria?
Knob and tube replacements usually cost around $8,000 to $20,000 depending on the circumstances. The exact price comes down to a handful of factors:
The size and number of storeys in your home
How easy the existing wiring is to reach (open attics and crawlspaces are quicker than finished, plaster-walled rooms)
Whether you need a full rewire or only the active circuits replaced
The condition of your existing electrical panel
Because every heritage home in Victoria is different, we don't believe in one-size-fits-all pricing. We provide a free on-site assessment and a transparent, fixed quote so you know the full cost before you commit. Call (778) 350-2677 to book yours.
A Major Knob and Tube Replacement Project we did: The Rosemead Hotel in Esquimalt
Replacing knob and tube in a single-family home is one thing — rewiring an entire hotel is another. Grifflyn Electric handled the complete knob and tube removal and replacement for the Rosemead Hotel in Esquimalt as part of a major building renovation. We removed all of the property's aging knob and tube wiring and replaced it with modern, grounded circuits, a job that took close to two years to finish across the entire commercial property.
A project of that scale and complexity, completed to code, is the clearest proof we can offer that knob and tube replacement is something we do at the highest level. If we can safely rewire a building like the Rosemead, your home is in experienced hands.
Why Victoria Homeowners Trust Grifflyn Electric
Lifetime warranty on workmanship — our labour is guaranteed for as long as you own your home
Up to 5-year warranty on parts
Technical Safety BC certified — Licence #LEL0209496
Red Seal certified electricians on every job
$5 million liability coverage
BBB A+ accredited
Top-rated electrical company on Google
Straightforward, upfront pricing — the first electrical company in greater Victoria to publish a standardized pricing catalogue, so you're never surprised
Full, expanded service department built to get you in fast
We answer the phone, 24/7
Knob and Tube Replacement Across Greater Victoria
We're a mobile, service-area contractor — we come to you. Our team replaces knob and tube wiring throughout Victoria, Saanich, Oak Bay, Esquimalt, View Royal, Colwood, Langford, Sidney, and the surrounding communities on Vancouver Island. The pre-1950 character and heritage homes in neighbourhoods like Fairfield, James Bay, Fernwood, and Rockland are exactly where we do this work most often.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Knob and tube can be safe when it's undisturbed and in good condition, but most systems still in Victoria homes are 70 to 100+ years old, with brittle insulation and no grounding. Because it has no ground wire and was never designed to be buried in modern attic insulation, aging knob and tube is a recognized fire and shock hazard — which is why insurers and home inspectors now flag it.
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Not always. After a free on-site assessment, we'll tell you whether a full rewire or a partial replacement of the active circuits makes the most sense for your home, your budget, and your insurance requirements. We never recommend more work than your home actually needs.
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Increasingly, yes. Many insurers in BC will not write a new policy on a home with active knob and tube wiring, and others charge higher premiums or require it to be removed within a set period. Replacing it usually makes a home easier and less expensive to insure.
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A typical single-family home in Victoria takes anywhere from a few days to about a week, depending on its size, how accessible the wiring is, and whether a panel upgrade is included. We'll give you a clear timeline with your quote.
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Yes. As a licensed electrical contractor (TSBC Licence #LEL0209496), we pull all required electrical permits and arrange the inspections, so your replacement is fully documented and code-compliant.
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Knob and tube replacements usually cost around $8,000 to $20,000 depending on the size of your home, how easy the wiring is to reach, whether you need a full or partial rewire, and the condition of your electrical panel. Because every heritage home is different, we provide a free on-site assessment and a transparent, fixed quote before any work begins.
Book Your Free Knob and Tube Assessment
Call Grifflyn Electric at (778) 350-2677, or submit the form below and we'll text you to get you scheduled. We'll inspect your wiring, explain your options, and give you a clear, fixed price — no pressure, no obligation.