Start with how you will use the room
Walk through the room as if it were finished. Where will you stand to cook, or get ready in the morning? What sits on the bench all the time, and what comes out once a week? Where do phones charge, where does the vacuum get plugged in, and where will the TV go?
Those answers decide where power points belong. Most people find they want more than they first thought, and in places they didn't expect: inside a pantry for a microwave, at the end of an island bench, beside the bed on both sides. Mark them on a floor plan or a sketch, even a rough one.
Lights
Think about lighting in layers rather than a single light in the middle of the ceiling:
- General lighting for the whole room, usually downlights or a main fitting
- Task lighting where you work, such as strip lights under kitchen cabinets
- Feature lights, like pendants over an island or a dining table
- Outdoor lights near doors, paths and the patio
Then think about switches. Where do you walk in? A hallway or a room with two doors may want a switch at each end. If you want dimmers, check the lights you choose are made to work with one, and tell us when we quote.
Fans
Ceiling fans need a spot clear of pendant lights and high cupboard doors, and a decision on whether the fan has its own light. Fans are usually controlled from a wall plate with a speed controller, so decide where that plate goes too.
Appliances
Ovens, cooktops and rangehoods are often hardwired, which means they are connected by an electrician rather than plugged in. Choose them early and keep the model numbers or the specification sheets. The electrical needs come from the appliance, so we need that detail to quote the connection properly.
The same goes for a new electric hot water system. P4 handles the electrical side of hot water replacements.
The switchboard
A renovation often adds circuits, and the board needs room for them. Some older boards have no spare space, still run on fuses, or have no safety switches. The Electrical Safety Office suggests safety switches on all circuits and testing them every three months (ESO frequently asked questions).
A clear photo of the closed switchboard, taken from the front, helps us see whether the board can take the new work or whether a switchboard upgrade should be part of the plan.
Thinking ahead
A renovation is a good time to deal with things you might want in a few years. If an EV is a possibility, know where you park and raise it at the quote. A hardwired, wall-mounted EV charger must be installed by a licensed electrician. See EV chargers for what P4 does.
Outdoor power points and lights are easier to add while other work is going on, too.
How the work fits around other trades
Electrical work in a renovation usually happens in two visits. The first, the rough-in, runs the cables while walls and ceilings are open, before the plasterboard goes on. The second, the fit-off, comes after the plastering, painting and tiling, when the power points, switches, lights and appliances go in.
Changes after the rough-in are possible but harder. That is why the planning above matters. If a builder is running the job, make sure we know the schedule. The dates need booking in with P4 directly, on weekdays between 7am and 5pm.
What P4 doesn't do
P4 doesn't install air-conditioning, so if that's part of your renovation it needs a separate trade. Jamie is happy to talk through solar and batteries, and he can do home automation if it's in your plan.
Getting a quote
Every job is quoted, and there is no price list on this site. For a renovation, the quote is easier and more accurate if you can share:
- A floor plan or sketch with power points, lights, switches and fans marked
- The make and model of any hardwired appliances
- A photo of the closed switchboard
- The builder's schedule, if there is one
Electrical work in Queensland must be done by a licensed electrician, and DIY electrical work is illegal. That includes moving a power point while the wall happens to be open. See renovations for more on the work P4 does.
