Heritage Wiring
Keep Your Older Home Running Like New
Safeguarding heritage homes
If you own a heritage home, then you undoubtably love them for their character and charm. At Valkyrie Electric, we have a tremendous respect for heritage homes as they have literally stood the test of time. Finding old artifacts or newspaper clippings in the walls while renovating these properties is like finding lost treasure. Homeowners who purchase and maintain these properties often feel a real sense of stewardship towards the property. Renovating or making alterations to such a property requires knowledge, experience and consideration.
Updating outdated and unsafe wiring in heritage homes is one of our specialties. Our process is to first determine the type of wiring and outline any electrical hazards by completing an Electrical Assessment. With an electrical assessment we are able to determine the age and type of wiring and outline any electrical hazards that should be corrected.
Whether a full rewire is in order or just some added safety features, we have the experience you're looking for. The next step is an in home consultation with Valkyrie Electric where we can work with you to bring your home's electrical into the future.
Knob and Tube and Generational wiring
Many homes in Victoria and Oak Bay still have knob-and-tube wiring. Knob-and-tube wiring was used from the 1880's to the 1940's. The installation of knob and tube wiring is very interesting and very different from modern wiring methods. The biggest takeaways for homeowners are that knob-and-tube is unbonded/ungrounded, which is a shock hazard, and that is presents a fire hazard if the wiring is disturbed, modified, or has significantly degraded. Degradation can be expected- after all some knob-and-tube wiring is over 100 years old at this point.
The generation of wiring immediately after knob-and-tube, from the 1950's to 1960's, is also often unbonded/ungrounded. Shortly after that, someone decided that the 1970's was the time for aluminum wiring in homes, which also presents electrical hazards. Updating your wiring might sound like a daunting task but don't worry, we've seen it all and have the experience to work with your home's wiring.
Valkyrie Electric has solutions for knob-and-tube, ungrounded, and aluminum wiring. If you want a break on your home insurance or just some peace of mind when planning to replace or make safe your home's wiring, we've got you covered.
The Only thing more Expensive than a professional is an amateur
If you have future plans to renovate your heritage home to include a new kitchen or addition, or to rearrange the layout of the home, it's best to hire a qualified contractor to oversee the project.
Renovating these heritage homes can often open a can of worms. Working with a quality and experienced contractor provides you with the foresight to plan for obstacles such as asbestos containing walls or building materials, rodent damage, repairing plaster walls and coved ceilings, and whatever else is discovered along the way.
Valkyrie Electric works with quality, qualified contractors that can bring your renovision to reality and we would be happy to provide you with referrals.