How to Wire a Historical Building

Hire a licensed electrician who has experience with historical building preservation. If possible, interview several electricians before signing a contract to find out how they will work around original fixtures and preserve the original look of the building. Tour the building with potential contractors to let them see the space. Ask very specific questions about how and where the electrician will run wiring and what parts of the building's original structure they will disturb in wiring the building.

Use and repair any existing wiring rather than replacing it, if possible. This will help preserve the building's original state. Review the original plans for the building to locate all existing wiring and determine where new wiring can be installed. Conduct an initial survey with your electrician to determine what should be replaced and what can be repaired. If desired, hire an architect who specializes in historical restoration to supervise the survey and any work conducted on the house.

Install new wiring within the existing walls by removing as little original material as possible. Conduct the most damaging work of the installation in less-visible areas like cellars and attics. Preserve original stonework and masonry by running wire on the exterior of the walls rather than the interior, or by drilling very small holes into the walls and using fish tape to run the wiring between walls and through the ceiling.

Reuse existing fixtures or commission replicas. When possible, repair and restore existing light fixtures, switches and other electrical objects. Maintain the original look of the building by mimicking the color of the original features and the ratio of artificial light to sunlight.