ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Knob and Tube Advice?

I recently put an older home under contract subject to a satisfactory engineer's building inspection. The inspection report notes significant knob and tube wiring and recommends an electrician's evaluation, pointing out that the presence of k & t can lead to problems with insurability. The k & t provides the service to 2nd floor bedroom ceiling fixtures and wall outlets, at least, and may provide more service elsewhere. An electrician looked at the house and told me he wouldn't touch the k & t because it would be such a complicated job, involving opening walls and ceilings. This puzzled me since I believed most of it was in the attic, but now I am thinking it's probably elsewhere as well. I have two concerns: 1) safety and 2) insurability, and then there is the factor of what I can reasonably afford to do. The house has a balloon frame structure which increases my fire hazard concern slightly but had made me think rewiring would be easier than with other types of framing.