Wired

It all started when our inspector said 'knob and tube'. I didn't know anything about wiring - but it sounded very old and hazardous. So it was from the beginning that we knew re-wiring was in the plans.

The hardest thing about remodeling a house with your spouse (or anyone for that matter) is agreeing on things. While I want to make things pretty and live in a nice home, my husband wants to tear down ceilings, walls, and outlets and make the house efficient (or as he calls it, new and improved). It's very difficult and constant compromise. Electricity falls into this category. Not because I didn't want new electrical outlets, especially ones that wouldn't make the house go dark when I turned on the blow dryer for more than 30 seconds, but it's just not that exciting.

We did agree that we would hire a professional to put in the electrical panel and while the guy was in the house doing the bid he suggested that one of his guys come back to show hubby the ropes.

The plan was to show him how to install new outlet boxes and run the wiring for six new outlets in the bedroom. Our plan was ultimately to add new boxes and replace all old - in order to prepare for new blown -in insulation that was scheduled to be done 2-3 weeks down the road.

Hubby's first wiring tutorial went well. Two guys. Six hours. Six outlet boxes. Almost no mess!

The solo work didn't go as cleanly - but it got done in time AND there were no trips to the emergency room! I didn't do any drilling, cutting, wiring, or tearing down of walls but I did take pictures!!If at first you don't succeed, cut another hole. Or kick a hole (that's probably not what happened in the picture below - but I wonder)Darth Vader. *AC, we will return this mask to you!! Promise.
Michael tearing out the ceiling in his room (basement bungalow) so that we could run wires to the new outlet boxes upstairs.

The new electrical panel! This thing seems more than twice the size of the panel we had before. Lots of pretty new switches that mostly mean that I can run the blow dryer and toaster at the same time. Awesome, right!?