Wiring in 200-Year-Old Homes
Old Town rowhouses were built between the 1700s and the 1880s. Many still have knob-and-tube wiring from the early 1900s. That wiring was fine for a few lamps. It was never meant for air conditioning, computers, and modern kitchens.
Knob-and-tube has no ground wire. The insulation gets brittle with age. In a brick rowhouse, that is a real fire risk. We see it most often in attics and behind plaster walls on streets like King, Prince, and Duke.
What a Rewire Looks Like Here
Rewiring an Old Town rowhouse takes planning. Plaster walls, narrow stairwells, and shared party walls with neighbors all matter. We fish new wire through walls and ceilings with as little cutting as possible. Most homes can stay livable while we work, one section at a time.
Old Town is a historic district, so exterior changes need review. Interior electrical work follows the same code as anywhere else in Alexandria. We handle the permits and inspections for you.
What We Find in These Walls
Beyond knob-and-tube, Old Town homes often have generations of layered electrical work. A 1920s update spliced into 1905 wiring. A 1970s kitchen remodel tied into both. By now, a single rowhouse can have four different wiring eras behind its plaster — and nobody labeled any of it.
Our first step is always mapping: we trace every circuit back to the panel and document what is what. Only then do we plan the rewire. That mapping also becomes your permanent record — useful for insurance, future remodels, and resale.
Signs Your Rowhouse Needs It
Two-prong outlets with no ground. Fuses instead of breakers. Lights that dim when the microwave runs. A burning smell near outlets. If your home has any of these, call (301) 679-9193 for an honest look at what is behind your walls.