How to Rewire a Drywall Ceiling

Locate the home’s main breaker box and shut off all of the power to the room you are working in. If you are running wires from another room in the home, shut off all of the home’s power to ensure no electrical current is flowing.

Remove any light fixtures and outlets on the drywall ceiling by removing the mounting screws, using a screwdriver. Detach the electrical wires from the fixtures and outlets by turning the plastic wire caps counterclockwise and then untwisting the wire ends. Replace the cap on any wires that you will not use during rewiring.

Locate the position of any new outlets or light fixtures and draw the location on the ceiling with a pencil. The easiest way to accomplish this is to hold the item up to the ceiling and trace around it.

Cut along the pencil lines, using a drywall saw to create the new opening in the ceiling.

Connect the new electrical cable to the desired location in the home. This may either be at the main breaker box, or at the wires for one of the previous fixtures or outlets. Connect the wires at the breaker by screwing them into the appropriate fuse. Connect the wires to the previous wires, using plastic wire caps. Always connect black wires together, white wires together and green or copper wires together.

Pick up a fish tape tool and insert the end wire up through one of the new holes in the ceiling. Unwind the tape to extend it through the ceiling back toward the wall or the other wires. When you see it emerge from the hole, grasp the end and secure the clamp around the electrical wires.

Walk back to the starting location and wind the reel of the fish tape to pull the wires through the ceiling.

Detach the clamp and install the light fixture or outlet by securing the electrical wires together.