Should you expect a contractor to punch holes in the walls during rewiring of your house?

Yes indeedy, if any of your electrical wiring is behind wall/floor/ceiling covering such as dry wall, plaster, tile or wood. The LICENSED electrician needs to see your connections to determine not only what problem u might have, but also to see how to correct it. NOTE: Most local governments (Canada & USA) require a gov't permit before any wiring or re-wiring is done. If your contractor doesn't get one, u can. If the work is done and not covered up, ask for an official inspector. Call your city hall to find out. Hope this helps.