Knob-and-Tube Wiring Removal in Markham
Safe removal and replacement of outdated knob-and-tube wiring in older Toronto and GTA homes.
Call (416) 828-6976Serving Markham
Markham homeowners increasingly ask us for smart lighting and EV charger installations alongside standard repairs, while local businesses rely on us for ongoing commercial electrical maintenance. Our licensed electricians serve Markham with the same upfront pricing and code-compliant work as everywhere else in the GTA.
In Unionville and Berczy Village, where many homes were built from the 1990s onward, we see more EV charger installations, smart dimmer upgrades, and potlight retrofits than panel replacements. Cornell’s newer new-urbanist homes bring similar requests alongside the occasional builder-grade panel that needs upsizing for a renovation. Around Milliken and Markham’s tech and office corridors, commercial electrical maintenance and lighting retrofits are our most common calls.
We regularly work in:Unionville,Milliken,Cornell,Berczy Village, and the rest of Markham.
More about our work in Markham
Overview
We provide knob-and-tube wiring removal for homes and businesses throughout Markham, including Unionville, Milliken, Cornell, Berczy Village, and the rest of Markham.
Knob-and-tube wiring was standard in homes built before the 1950s, and a lot of it is still live in walls and ceilings across Toronto today. It has no ground conductor, its rubber insulation degrades with age, and it was never designed for modern loads. We assess your existing wiring, explain what’s actually still knob-and-tube versus what’s already been updated, and remove and replace it with modern copper wiring that meets current code and satisfies insurance requirements.
- Full and partial knob-and-tube rewiring
- Insurance-ready ESA documentation
- Minimal drywall disruption
Why It Matters
Most Ontario insurers will not write or renew a homeowner policy on a house with active knob-and-tube wiring, which is often the real trigger for this call, not a specific electrical symptom. Beyond insurance, the risk is real: the original insulation becomes brittle with age and is not rated to be covered by modern attic insulation, which traps heat around the conductors, and the lack of a ground conductor means some circuits can’t safely support grounded appliances or GFCI protection. It shows up most often in Toronto’s older east and west end neighbourhoods, in homes that have been partially rewired over the decades, sometimes leaving a mix of knob-and-tube and modern wiring in the same house that needs to be properly traced before any work starts.
How Knob-and-Tube Wiring Removal Works
- 1
Wiring assessment
We trace your home’s circuits to identify exactly which areas are still on knob-and-tube versus already updated, and check panel capacity for the new wiring.
- 2
Rewire plan & permit
We scope a partial or full rewire based on what we find, and pull the ESA permit before any work begins.
- 3
Removal & rewiring
We remove the old wiring and run new copper circuits, working through existing wall and ceiling cavities to keep drywall disruption to a minimum.
- 4
ESA inspection & documentation
Once inspected and approved, you get a certificate of inspection for your insurer or for your records.
What Affects the Cost
Cost depends on how much of the home is still on knob-and-tube versus already updated, whether walls and ceilings are finished or open, whether the job is a full-home rewire or a targeted partial replacement, and whether panel capacity needs to be increased to support the new circuits.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I know if my home still has knob-and-tube wiring?
- Knob-and-tube is visible in unfinished attics and basements as ceramic knobs and tubes with cloth-insulated wiring. Many homes have a mix of knob-and-tube and updated wiring, so a proper inspection is the only way to know for certain.
- Does my home insurance require knob-and-tube removal?
- Many insurers in Ontario will not write or renew a policy on a home with active knob-and-tube wiring, or will require it to be inspected and certified. We provide documentation your insurer can use either way.
- Do you need to open every wall to remove knob-and-tube wiring?
- Not always. We route new wiring through existing wall and ceiling cavities wherever possible, and will tell you upfront if a section genuinely requires opening drywall.
- Can knob-and-tube wiring be replaced in stages?
- Yes, a partial rewire is common, especially if only certain circuits or areas of the home are still on knob-and-tube. We can also plan a phased full rewire if that fits your budget better.
- How long does a knob-and-tube rewire take?
- A single-circuit or partial rewire can often be done in a day or two, while a full-home rewire typically takes several days depending on the size and layout of the house.
- How much does knob-and-tube wiring removal cost?
- Cost depends on how much of the home needs rewiring and how accessible the walls and ceilings are. We provide a clear quote after assessing your home’s actual wiring.
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Professional EV charger installation for homes and businesses.
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Custom lighting design and installation to enhance your space.
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Reliable electrical solutions for offices, retail and industrial properties.
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Electrical installation and repair for warehouses and distribution centres, from dock and racking power to forklift charging stations.
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Wiring and power for CCTV and PoE security camera systems in homes and businesses, done right the first time.
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Security Alarm Installation in Markham
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Knob-and-Tube Wiring Removal in Other Areas
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(416) 828-6976