a newly installed electrical panel in a home under construction

Are you planning a remodel for your Kalama and Longview home? Getting the electrical work right means your home will be safe, functional, and ready to handle all your modern electrical needs. It’s one of the most important parts of the project.

Mr. Bright Electric has helped homeowners navigate the electrical side of their remodeling projects. We know it can feel overwhelming when you’re not sure what your home needs. That’s why we’re here to help with your kitchen update, basement, new room addition, or any other project you have planned.

What You Need to Consider for Electrical When Doing a Home Remodel

Without the right electrical work, even the most beautiful remodel won’t function the way you need it to. Here are some key things to think about when it comes to home remodel electrical wiring:

The Age of Your Home: If your house was built more than 30 or 40 years ago, there’s a good chance the wiring isn’t up to current safety codes. Older homes often have outdated wiring that can’t handle today’s electrical demands. Think about all the devices and appliances you use now compared to what people used decades ago. Your electrical system needs to keep up with them!
How You Use Each Room: A kitchen remodel, for example, usually requires more circuits and outlets than a bedroom update. Modern kitchens have lots of appliances that need dedicated circuits. If you’re adding new appliances, you’ll likely need electrical upgrades to support them.
Lighting: Good lighting can completely transform a space. During a remodel, it’s the perfect time to add recessed lights, pendant fixtures, or under-cabinet lighting. This is also when you can install dimmer switches and smart lighting controls.
Safety: A remodel is the ideal time to add safety features like GFCI outlets in bathrooms and kitchens or AFCI breakers to protect against electrical fires. These upgrades protect your family and bring your home up to current code requirements.

Whole Home Rewiring vs. Rewiring a Specific Area

If you’re only updating one room (like a bathroom or bedroom), you probably don’t need a whole home rewire. In most cases, we can run new wiring to that specific area and connect it to your existing electrical panel. This is a more affordable option that still gives you safe, modern wiring in your remodeled space.

However, if your entire home has outdated wiring (like knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring), it might make more sense to rewire the whole house while you have the walls open in one area. A whole home rewire is a bigger investment upfront, but it gives you peace of mind knowing your entire electrical system is safe and up to code.

Think about your future plans, too. If you’re planning to remodel other rooms in the coming years, you might want to consider doing a whole home rewire now. This can save you money in the long run because you won’t have to pay for multiple smaller electrical projects.

How Do I Know if My Electrical Wiring Needs to Be Upgraded?

Aluminum Wiring: If your home has aluminum wiring and you’re planning a remodel, we strongly recommend upgrading to modern copper wiring. Aluminum wiring was commonly used in homes built during the 1960s and 1970s. While it was considered safe at the time, we now know that aluminum wiring can be a fire hazard. It’s prone to overheating at connections, which can lead to dangerous situations.
Frequent Circuit Breaker Trips: If your breakers trip often, it usually means your circuits are overloaded. This is common in older homes that weren’t designed for today’s electrical demands. During a remodel, we can add new circuits to distribute the load more safely.
Flickering Lights: This could indicate that your wiring can’t handle the electrical load. It might also mean you have loose connections somewhere in your system. Either way, this is something that should be addressed during your remodel.
Outdated Outlets and/or Electrical Panels: Are your outlets the old two-prong style without a ground? These outdated outlets don’t provide the protection that modern three-prong grounded outlets do. Upgrading your outlets is an important part of electrical services for remodels. Also, if you have an old fuse box instead of a modern breaker panel, or if your panel is small and already full, you’ll likely need a panel upgrade as part of your remodel.
Scorching or Discoloration Around Outlets or Switches: This could indicate that there’s been arcing or overheating in your electrical system. Don’t ignore this. It’s a potential fire hazard that needs immediate attention.

Do I Need Panel or Outlet Upgrades?

If your panel is outdated or too small, it can limit what you can do with your remodel. Many older homes have 100-amp panels, which were enough for homes built decades ago. But today’s homes often need 200-amp panels to handle all our modern devices and appliances. If you’re doing a significant remodel, especially one that adds circuits for new appliances or rooms, you may need a panel upgrade.

Outlet upgrades are another common part of electrical services for remodels. Old two-prong outlets should be replaced with modern three-prong grounded outlets. In kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas near water, an electrician can install GFCI outlets that protect against electrical shock. These outlets have a built-in breaker that trips if they detect a ground fault.

We also recommend adding more outlets during a remodel. Older homes often don’t have enough outlets for modern needs, leading people to use power strips and extension cords. Having plenty of outlets where you need them is safer and more convenient.

DIY Electrical vs. Hiring an Electrician

We understand that many homeowners want to save money by doing some of the work themselves. There are definitely parts of a remodel that are great DIY projects. But when it comes to electrical work, we strongly recommend hiring a professional for these reasons:

Electrical work is dangerous. Working with live wires can result in serious injury or death if you don’t know exactly what you’re doing. Even if you turn off the power, mistakes can create hazards that could cause a fire or shock later on.
Electrical work also needs to meet code requirements. Building codes exist to keep homes safe. Professional electricians know the current codes and make sure all work meets these standards. If electrical work isn’t done to code, it could create problems when you try to sell your home. Inspectors will catch code violations, and you’ll have to pay to have the work redone by a licensed professional anyway.
Permits are usually required for electrical work beyond simple fixture replacements. When you hire us, we handle all the permits and inspections. This takes the hassle off your plate and ensures everything is done right.
There’s also the matter of warranties and insurance. If you do electrical work yourself and something goes wrong, your homeowner’s insurance might not cover the damage. Our work is backed by our expertise and proper licensing, giving you protection and peace of mind.

Why Bringing in a Professional Is Your Best Option for a Home Remodel

When you hire a professional for your home remodel electrical wiring, you’re getting trained experts who do this work every day. They know the right way to do the job.

Electricians have the tools, knowledge, and experience to complete your project safely and efficiently. They also see things that non-professionals might miss: potential problems that we can fix before they become dangerous or expensive.

Mr. Bright Electric is proud to serve homeowners throughout Kalama and Longview with expert home remodel electrician services. We know that inviting someone into your home is a big deal, and we take that responsibility seriously. Our team stays up to date on the latest electrical codes and best practices. And we’re committed to ongoing training because we want to provide the best possible service.

Schedule Your Remodel With Mr. Bright Electric

The electrical work is too important to leave to chance. Let our experienced team help you plan and complete your project safely and professionally.

During a consultation, we’ll look at your current electrical system, talk about your goals for the project, and give you recommendations tailored to your home.

Ready to get started on your home remodel? Contact us today to schedule your consultation.