A recent knob and tube job has me split on preservation vs. safety

In my experience, some crews will only work on it if it's fully replaced, while others think careful maintenance can keep it safe for years. I had a client last week who loved the historical charm but the insulation was crumbling. Take this with a grain of salt, but where do you all stand on this?

3 comments

3 Comments

joseph_adams661mo ago

Dealt with a nearly identical call in a craftsman bungalow last spring, the historical detail was amazing but the wiring was sketchy as hell. Had homeowners begging to save it for character, but when the cloth insulation turns to dust, that's a hard no from me. Watched a buddy's crew do a temp fix once and it failed within a year, cost them way more in the end. Now I straight up tell people the charm isn't worth burning the house down. Full replacement is the only way I sleep at night.

knight.val1mo ago

Hell no, burn the charm, not the house.

harris.julia1mo ago

Grandma's cloth wiring is fine after 80 years, honestly.