What lies behind the walls

Fresh cabinetry, new flooring and carefully chosen lighting may be the most visible parts of a renovation, but some of the most important work happens out of sight, and these are costs homeowners can easily overlook when setting a renovation budget.

According to Joel Hogan of Coast Power, opening the walls of an older kitchen or living area can reveal electrical problems that were impossible to identify during the early planning stages.

“One of the most common issues we find is old wiring that is no longer safe or suitable to reuse,” Hogan says.

In older homes, wiring may not meet current safety requirements or have sufficient capacity for the number of appliances and electrical devices now used by an average household. He says they often replace older metal flush boxes for safer plastic versions that provide more room for today’s cabling requirements.

Hogan says involving an electrician at the beginning of a renovation can help homeowners understand what may be required before walls are removed and building work begins.

Early electrical planning also gives homeowners an opportunity to consider the best placement of power points, lighting, switches and fixed appliances. In kitchens, this includes ovens, induction cooktops, rangehoods and other appliances that may need their own electrical circuits.

Leaving those decisions until construction is underway can result in additional costs, delays or compromises in the finished design.

A renovation may also be the right time to consider upgrading the home’s switchboard, he says, as modern switchboards can accommodate safety devices such as residual current circuit breakers with overcurrent protection, commonly known as RCBOs. These are designed to protect individual circuits against electrical faults, overloading and electric shock.

Additional electrical capacity may also be needed when homeowners install high-demand appliances or technology, such as EV chargers. 

“Rewiring may be necessary if the existing wiring is outdated or unable to safely support new loads.”

Hogan says thoughtful electrical planning is not simply about adding more lights and power points. It should also consider how the household will use each room and how those needs could change in the future.

Features such as motion sensors, timer-controlled lighting, smart controls, efficient heating and cooling systems, well-positioned charging stations, heat pump dryers, and energy-efficient hot water systems can make a home more comfortable, convenient, and cost-effective to run. Thinking ahead about how each space will function often delivers the greatest long-term value from a renovation.