Whole-house rewiring, knob-and-tube removal, panel upgrades, and smart lighting for Piedmont's historic homes.
Piedmont is a historic enclave in the Oakland hills — a square mile of Mediterranean villas, Tudors, Craftsman bungalows, and Spanish Revivals built mostly between 1910 and 1935. The city has held its character remarkably well, which is wonderful for the streetscape and challenging for anyone who owns one of these homes. Original knob-and-tube is still the norm in a lot of basements.
We specialize in bringing these homes to current code while respecting what makes them special. K&T removal without destroying plaster. Whole-house rewires planned around period millwork and built-ins. Panel upgrades for induction ranges, EV chargers, and AC — without cluttering the architecture with surface conduit. Smart lighting that works with original sconces you want to keep.
Piedmont is right next door to our Oakland base — there in minutes. We pull permits through the City of Piedmont Building Division, coordinate PG&E for service upgrades, and handle every inspection. New Piedmont owner inheriting a 95-year-old electrical system? That's our favorite call to get.
Four issues on almost every Piedmont walkthrough. Pre-war enclave homes need an electrician who respects the architecture.
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Why us in Piedmont
Piedmont's pre-war homes have millwork + ornamental plaster that can't be rebuilt if damaged. We fish through cavities, use low-impact access, and plan routes carefully.
Behind the plaster runs original knob-and-tube — still working, still uninsured. We pull it out cleanly and rewire to modern code without demolition.
Service masts, meter pans, exterior conduit all sit on homes that matter to the streetscape. We plan exterior placement before we quote.
Original sconces + push-button switches stay. We ground the runs behind them to modern code, so you keep the character and pass the inspection.
Yes. Piedmont is right next to our Oakland base — we work throughout the city from Crocker Highlands over to Piedmont Avenue and the hillside homes above Oakland Avenue. We're there regularly.
Yes. Most pre-1940s Piedmont homes still have original knob-and-tube, often behind plaster walls. We remove it carefully using minimally invasive techniques, rewire to modern code, and work with your insurance company so you can get the K&T exclusion lifted.
Absolutely. Piedmont's Mediterranean, Tudor, and Craftsman homes from the 1910s–1930s often need full rewires when they change hands. We respect the original architectural details — plaster, millwork, built-ins — and plan the rewire around preserving them.
Yes. We work with Lutron, Leviton, and other smart systems that integrate with historic fixtures. Scene controllers, dimmable retrofits for original sconces, whole-home automation — we handle it end-to-end, and we're careful about where and how we run new wire in a home with plaster walls.
Yes. The City of Piedmont Building Division handles all electrical permits separately from Oakland. We pull permits, schedule inspections, and coordinate with PG&E for meter and service upgrades. You never deal with the permit office directly.
Call or text us at (510) 221-8384. We'll ask a few questions about your home and schedule a walkthrough. Most calls are returned the same day.
Panel, EV, rewire, or lights — send us a few sentences. Most calls returned the same business day.
Rewiring, outlets, switches, and dedicated circuits.
100A to 200A upgrades, Federal Pacific replacement.
Level 2 charger installs for Tesla, Rivian, and all EVs.
Recessed, under-cabinet, landscape, and smart lighting.
Our home base — serving every Oakland neighborhood.
Craftsman and brown shingle rewiring specialists.
Loft conversions, live/work wiring, and EV charger installs.
Victorian island homes and aging electrical systems.