If you’re planning on remodeling an older home, there are a number of things you should consider—especially as it relates to your electrical system. We talked in an earlier blog post about things to consider when buying an older home, and now we’re going to talk about things to look out for when remodeling older homes.
One of the first things to consider when remodeling an older home is whether your existing electrical system is equipped to handle the load that new appliances will place on it. You’ll also need to think about the effect of adding square footage and new lighting on your system. You may need a heavy up before you even start your remodel, which can add unexpected costs.
The most cost-effective thing to do before remodeling your home or constructing a new addition is establish an electrical wiring diagram early during the design phase (or better yet, call Kolb Electric and have us do this for you!). An electrical wiring diagram will help you answer a number of important questions, including:
- Where will you place switches, outlets, receptacles, and other similar connections?
- How do you want to control your lighting? From a single spot or from multiple locations?
- Do you plan on installing an intercom or built-in sound system?
- Are you thinking of adding a full home theater?
Whatever you decide to do, make sure all of your plans are part of your design work. It will save you significant costs later on, even if the components for the system will be purchased some time down the road.
But it doesn’t stop there—there are other things to think about as well. For instance, consider what one home office workstation requires:
- Computer
- Printer
- Monitor
- Keyboard
- Desk lamp
- Calculator
- Telephone
- Fax
- Scanner
- Pencil sharpener
- Radio
- TV
- Laptop
There are others that aren’t listed. Make sure your plans have taken into consideration the outlets and power requirements of these devices.
Don’t forget the outside of your home. Since you’re already upgrading your electrical system, now would be a good time to get your home electrical system ready to handle some outside tasks. These include outside perimeter lighting, fire and burglar alarm systems, motion-controlled lighting, and card access systems.
Call Kolb Electric for addition or remodel wiring!
