Electrical & Lighting

Rewiring a typical South Bay single-family home commonly runs about $12,000 to $30,000. The main drivers are square footage, one or two stories, attic and crawlspace access, whether the walls are plaster or drywall, the number of circuits and devices, and whether the panel or service needs upgrading at the same time. Drywall patching and permits add to the scope. Paragon quotes a fixed price after an on-site visit, when we can trace the existing wiring and see how new runs can be routed with the least wall opening.

Old wiring is not automatically dangerous, but it was never designed for modern loads, it has no ground, and very old insulation becomes brittle, especially where it has been buried under attic insulation or spliced by previous owners. Ungrounded outlets also cannot protect sensitive electronics, and buyers and insurers often ask about the wiring during escrow. A licensed electrician should inspect the actual condition and tell you whether targeted replacement, GFCI protection, or a full rewire makes sense for your home.

Most circuit work, lighting, and device replacement only takes down one circuit at a time. Replacing a panel means the whole house is off for the better part of a day, and a full service upgrade adds a utility step: Southern California Edison has to disconnect at the meter, and power stays off until the city inspects and releases the work and Edison reconnects. That sequence sometimes stretches across two days. Paragon schedules the permit, the inspection, and the Edison coordination in advance, and tells you which day to plan around.

Sometimes. A load calculation tells you whether your existing service can carry a heat pump, heat pump water heater, induction range, and EV charger together. When the numbers are close, options such as a lower-amperage charger, a circuit-sharing device, or a panel that manages loads can avoid a full service upgrade. When they are not close, a larger service is the safer path. Paragon runs the calculation, lays out the options with real costs, and quotes a fixed price after an on-site visit.

The California Electrical Code requires GFCI protection in wet and damp locations, including kitchens, bathrooms, laundry areas, garages, and outdoor receptacles, and AFCI protection on most living-area circuits in new work. When circuits are modified or extended during a remodel, those protections generally have to be added to the affected circuits. Older South Bay homes often have neither. It is one of the least expensive safety improvements available, and Paragon brings the circuits we touch up to current code as part of the job.