When you’ve decided to go ahead with home improvement work to get your property looking its best, it’s natural to focus on the big-picture elements such as kitchen and bathroom design, structural changes, flooring, and so on.
However, if you’re going to do a major renovation this year, it’s necessary to spend time considering smaller details, too, so you truly get a final product you’re happy with. In particular, don’t neglect electrical planning. Here are some tips to help you strategically organize your electrical work and in turn prevent headaches and regrets down the track.
Safety is Paramount
First up, even though you may be trying to save money wherever you can, don’t cut costs by doing electrical work yourself, unless you happen to be suitably qualified and licensed. If you touch live wires or attempt other jobs without the necessary training, you could electrocute not only yourself but also others. Therefore, it is advised to leave all the electrical work to a professional electrician in Sorrento. You will find peace of mind knowing that a highly experienced expert is working on your electrical problems.
Check out electrical safety tips and warnings, such as those found on AHS.com, and you’ll see there are all sorts of potential risk factors in homes to be aware of. Plus, keep in mind that doing work on appliances or other related parts of your home without being licensed could void warranties and insurance covers.
Hire the residential electrician from Brassall who can perfectly handle all your electrical needs. They’ll likely finish the job more quickly than you could, and they will be able to provide you with advice on the best places to position outlets and potentially even help you to cut costs on materials, too.
Plan ASAP
Many homeowners get frustrated with themselves after renovation is complete because they didn’t think through their electrical needs. Avoid this situation by planning out exactly what you’ll need for each room of your home before work begins.
By doing this ASAP, you’ll be able to relay your needs to not only electricians but also other tradespeople who may need to factor this information in, such as plasterers and painters. Consider not just outlets, either, but also whether or not you need to upgrade your switchboard or other panels, or install new wiring if you’re adding extra square footage to your home.
Room by Room Ideas
In bedrooms, you’ll want double power points on either side of the bed to allow for lamps, electric blankets, phone chargers, etc. It pays to situate these on two separate walls in each room so that beds aren’t limited to only one position.
Your master bedroom (and possibly other bedrooms) may also require additional power points for TVs, plus relevant aerial connections. If you want to install a TV up high so you can watch from bed, position outlets accordingly. Other bedroom considerations include points for a desk setup (particularly in children’s bedrooms), fans and other heating and cooling devices, and lighting (wall and ceiling). Downlights might be something you specifically want to be incorporated, too.
In your living areas, downlights are often popular, plus you’ll need power points for other lamps and electronic equipment (think TVs, sound systems, gaming devices, computers, etc.) and for your vacuum cleaner. Again, think about the positioning of your TV screen in this zone of the house, as you’ll likely want to hang a big-screen television on the wall.
Since good lighting is crucial in a bathroom for jobs like applying makeup and shaving, allow for multiple lights in this room. Many people install downlights plus other directed spotlights. Your bathroom will also require electrical work for an exhaust fan and/or a combined light/heat lamp/fan device, and plug points for powered products like hair dryers, electric shavers, and hair straighteners.
If you’re putting a cabinet in your bathroom, consider having a socket installed inside this for your shaver or electric toothbrush, too. You may also need an electrician to help install underfloor heating or to add sockets for heated towel rails or other accessories.
In your kitchen, you’ll need not only standard power points for plug-in appliances and phones and the like but also all the installed devices you will use. For example, think about ovens, hotplates, dishwashers, fridges, and built-in coffee machines. This is another room where you will want plenty of lighting, too. You could fit out your kitchen with downlights, hanging lights over the island bench, plus even potentially recessed lighting amongst cabinets.
Other general considerations include putting in electrical outlets for your vacuum cleaner (including in hallways and landings), and installing sockets with USB ports so you can easily charge smartphones and tablets.
There are many different electrical considerations when renovating a property, so it pays to follow the tips above to avoid missing out on anything important. Create a checklist for yourself and your electrician and builder, and this will help you to stay on track as the work progresses.