Aluminum branch wiring was widely installed in homes built between the mid-1960s and late-1970s. Today, insurance carriers, real-estate agents, and safety inspectors often flag it as a fire risk. That leaves many homeowners asking one big question: what is the actual cost to replace aluminum wiring in a house? As the residential construction experts behind CountBricks.com, we’ve completed hundreds of rewiring projects and generated thousands of AI-driven estimates. Below, we break down every factor that drives project price and show you how CountBricks keeps budgets predictable.
• Safety: Aluminum expands and contracts more than copper, increasing the chance of loose connections and overheating.
• Insurance: Many insurers charge higher premiums or refuse coverage until aluminum circuits are replaced or remediated.
• Resale Value: Homes advertised as “copper-rewired” typically close faster and at higher prices.
1. Square Footage & Accessibility
The larger the home, the more branch circuits need replacing. Accessibility—attic crawlspace height, finished basements, and wall finishes—can double labor hours. CountBricks voice-to-estimate software maps room dimensions in real time so you see exact labor quantities before work begins.
2. Electrical Panel Condition
Older 100-amp panels often require an upgrade to 200-amp service when you switch to copper. Panel replacement can add $2,000–$4,500 to the total. CountBricks includes panel inspection data in every AI takeoff so there are no last-minute surprises.
3. Material Prices
Copper prices fluctuate daily. Our platform syncs with regional supplier feeds every hour, locking in material costs the moment a quote is generated. That real-time pricing often saves 3-5 % compared with static bids.
4. Code & Permit Requirements
Local codes in many Bay Area jurisdictions require arc-fault breakers and tamper-resistant receptacles when circuits are touched. Those components can add $40–$65 per circuit. CountBricks’ code library applies city-specific rules automatically so your budget already includes compliance fees.
• 1,200 sq ft ranch (easy attic access): $8,500 – $11,000
• 2,000 sq ft two-story (moderate drywall work): $12,000 – $18,000
• 3,000 sq ft custom (finished basement & panel upgrade): $20,000 – $30,000
These ranges come from completed CountBricks projects logged in our portfolio. Your own figure may be lower or higher; that’s why every CountBricks estimate is generated from a live walkthrough or blueprint upload rather than a generic calculator.
1. Speak with our estimator through your smartphone camera—no app download required.
2. As you point to outlets and fixtures, CountBricks captures measurements, counts devices, and identifies wall types with computer vision.
3. Within minutes, our system produces a line-item estimate that includes material SKUs, labor hours, permit fees, and disposal costs.
4. Approve the scope and sign digitally; CountBricks dispatches a licensed residential electrician on your timeline.
• Combine projects. Replacing aluminum wiring while walls are open for a kitchen remodel can cut demo costs by 15 – 20 %.
• Partial rewires. In some jurisdictions, pigtailing aluminum to copper at each outlet is acceptable. CountBricks calculates the long-term maintenance premium so you can decide if full replacement or mitigation fits your budget.
• Off-season scheduling. Labor rates dip during winter months. Our scheduling dashboard shows historical man-hour costs so you can pick the most economical start date.
Every aluminum wiring replacement by CountBricks includes:
• Lifetime workmanship warranty
• Copper conductors rated THHN/THWN-2 for 90 °C wet locations
• Thermal imaging report of all terminations
• Permit close-out package and updated panel schedule
Through CountBricks Pay, homeowners can split project costs into predictable installments. Interest-free plans up to 12 months are available for qualified clients. Because our AI estimates are locked in, you’ll never see a change order that exceeds 5 % of the original contract without your approval.
Is total wall demolition required? Not usually. We use fish tapes and flexible drill bits to pull copper through existing cavities, limiting drywall repair to small patches behind plates and at the top of runs.
How long will a full rewire take? A 2,000 sq ft home typically takes 7–10 working days, including inspection. CountBricks scheduling tools update you with milestone alerts so you always know what’s next.
Can I stay in the house during the work? Yes. Circuits are isolated and reinstated each evening. We provide temporary power drops for refrigerators and critical medical devices.
Ready for an exact figure on the cost to replace aluminum wiring in your house? Upload your blueprints or schedule a live video walk-through at CountBricks.com/services. Our system will generate a detailed proposal in under 30 minutes, and our team will guide you from permit application to final inspection.
• Project cost depends on size, accessibility, panel capacity, material pricing, and code requirements.
• CountBricks AI estimates use live supplier data and city-specific codes to prevent budget overruns.
• Typical rewires range from $8,500 to $30,000, with financing available.
• Every CountBricks project is backed by a lifetime workmanship warranty and real-time client dashboard.
When the Ramirez family bought a 1,750 sq ft split-level in San Jose, their inspection report cited aluminum branch circuits on all 120-volt outlets. Insurance was conditional on a full copper upgrade within 90 days. They contacted CountBricks for an expedited solution.
• Home size: 1,750 sq ft, built 1972
• Circuits replaced: 17
• Panel upgrade: Existing 100-amp Zinsco replaced with 200-amp copper bus panel
• Total project cost: $14,820 all-inclusive
• Duration: 8 working days, start to final inspection
1. Real-time material lock. Copper spiked 6 % the week after contract signing, but the Ramirez price stayed fixed because CountBricks locked SKUs during estimate generation.
2. Minimal drywall disruption. Our electricians used stud-finder mapping inside the AI app to choose conduit paths, limiting drywall repair to 12 patch spots—saving $1,100 in finishing costs.
3. Coordinated inspections. By batching rough-in and final inspections into a single day with the city, we eliminated an extra service call fee.
Following completion, the Ramirez policy premium dropped by 11 %, and the home appraised $27,000 higher. They left a five-star review on CountBricks.com/portfolio praising clear communication and “zero surprises on price.”
• Book a video walk-through before you close on a home; CountBricks can preload a tentative schedule so work begins as soon as keys change hands.
• Ask your insurer if pigtailing is acceptable. Even if it is, weigh the long-term maintenance costs against full replacement using CountBricks’ side-by-side estimate feature.
• Plan panel upgrades now. A modern copper bus panel improves capacity for future EV chargers and solar inverters, saving another electrician visit later.
View additional success stories and sample line-item estimates at CountBricks.com/portfolio, or request your own AI-generated quote at CountBricks.com/services. Take control of your project budget and timeline with CountBricks—your residential construction partner from first measurement to final inspection.
