Your Ultimate Guide to Electrical Kitchen Renovations (2021)

What you need to consider when renovating your kitchen

Your kitchen is where you come together after a long day to reconnect, prepare meals and share stories. It is the heart of your home, and at one point or another, you will have to renovate or upgrade the area. Kitchen renovations tend to be costly, but are one of the most popular ways to add value to your house and improve your liveability.

When it comes to renovating, I would first strongly recommend getting in touch with a licensed electrician. It may be tempting to DIY new wiring and add new sockets, but there are reasons why the law requires this type of work to be done by a professional electrician.

Modern kitchens require more electricity and using an electrician can help pre-plan your renovation. By doing this the first time around, you can avoid mistakes and problems that will add up to costly repairs later on. Using an electrician will result in a functional and safe kitchen while having the correct ventilation and lighting required.

Choose Your Appliances First

Choosing your appliances makes the whole renovation process so much easier as you can build around your appliances. If you do this at the end, you may find yourself being restricted by what appliances you can fit in your spaces.

If you are going for a modern look, be sure to match the finishes of your appliances. Having the same colours throughout your kitchen make your kitchen seem bigger. 

Modern appliances such as microwaves, ovens and stovetops require may require more amperage. This is where a professional electrician will help make sure your power system can handle your upgrades. It is recommended that kitchens have at least two circuits with the additional power required in modern homes.

Add more Lighting

More lighting is best when it comes to kitchen lighting. Lighting can make a huge difference, especially in frequently used spaces such as near the stove or walkways.

You can simply add recessed downlights and create a sense of warmth and openness. You can also add lights to your stove and countertops for a modern and fresh appearance. Lighting is a simple and affordable way to brighten your kitchen renovation, and it never hurts to have more lights.

Add USB Ports

It is more than likely that the device you are using to read this has a way of using a USB connection to charge. And this is the point of adding USB ports to your kitchen. USB ports are quickly becoming more common than traditional plugs, and it’s no wonder why adding these ports are trending. USB ports over the next few years will become a new standard in modern kitchen designs.

Dimmers

Although you wouldn’t think dimmers would be used in a kitchen, they can still be quite handy. Whether you are planning a romantic dinner or just have had a long day, you will have the option to dim your lights.

Add more outlets

Kitchens has now become home to many types of electrical appliances, from sandwich makers to kitchen aids. There is a need for more outlets, and what better way to add them than through an electrical kitchen renovation.

It’s best to step back and take a long look at your kitchen and plan where you want to install new outlets. Also, higher amperage plugs may be needed for appliances like microwaves, ovens and stovetops to run.

This planning will make sure that your appliance power cords can reach and keep power cords hidden for larger appliances. 

Also, make sure that the new powerpoints in the kitchen are RCD protected. These are special powerpoints with an RCD built into them which can be used in place of a standard powerpoint. This type of RCD provides protection only to the person in contact with equipment.

What is an RCD? An RCD, or residual current device, is a life-saving device that is designed to prevent you from getting a fatal electric shock if you touch something live, such as a bare wire. It can also provide some protection against electrical fires.

Those devices shut off power when it detects an electrical hazard. And all this is built into your power outlet, meaning that you are safer from electrocution or other risks. By updating your powerpoints, you improve the safety of your home and your loved ones.

Conclusion

In conclusion, be sure to involve a licensed electrician in your kitchen renovations. A professional could save you time and effort and offers peace of mind that all work is up to Australian Standards.

CMC Electrical and Communications effectively provide a wide range of electrical services to suit your needs. We offer services from electrical Kitchen renovations to emergency electrical. Get in touch with us for all your electrical needs.