Kitchen Renovation Tips
A kitchen renovation is one of the most rewarding upgrades you can make to your home — and one of the most electrically complex. New cabinets and fresh countertops get all the attention, but the wiring behind the walls is what makes a modern kitchen actually function. Here's what your electrician wants you to know before demo day.
1. Your Kitchen Needs More Circuits Than You Think
Most older kitchens are severely under-powered by today's standards. Modern Canadian electrical code requires a minimum of two dedicated 20-amp small appliance circuits for counter receptacles — and that's just the baseline.
Your fridge, dishwasher, microwave, range hood, and electric range each need their own dedicated circuit too. If your renovation is adding any of these or upgrading to a higher-end appliance, plan for new circuits early. Trying to add them after drywall is up costs significantly more.
2. Island and Peninsula Outlets: Plan Ahead
If your renovation includes a kitchen island or peninsula, outlet placement needs to be part of the conversation early. Where receptacles go isn't just a style decision — there are practical constraints around accessibility, cabinet placement, and how the space will actually be used.
Pop-up outlets and flush-mount island receptacles are popular choices that keep the look clean without sacrificing function. But these only work if they're spec'd before your cabinets are ordered and installed. Trying to sort it out afterward means cutting into finished work — and that gets expensive fast.
3. Under-Cabinet Lighting Isn't as Simple as It Looks
Under-cabinet lighting transforms a kitchen, but it needs to be hardwired to look right. Battery-powered puck lights and plug-in strips are fine for renters, but if you're doing a full renovation, hardwired LED strips give you a cleaner look, dimmer compatibility, and no visible cords.
The time to do this is before the uppers go in. Running wire after cabinets are installed means cutting into finished walls — something nobody wants.
4. Your Hood Fan Needs a Dedicated Circuit (and Proper Venting)
A high-CFM range hood draws significant power and should be on its own dedicated circuit. If you're upgrading from a basic recirculating fan to a proper vented hood, you'll also need to coordinate the electrical rough-in with the duct work — they need to happen together.
Don't assume your existing hood fan wiring is adequate for a new unit. Bring your electrician in before you order the appliance.
5. Talk to Your Electrician Before You Finalize the Layout
The single most common (and expensive) kitchen renovation mistake is finalizing the cabinet and appliance layout before consulting an electrician. Moving an outlet six inches might seem trivial — but if it crosses a stud or lands behind a cabinet, it becomes a significant job.
Bring your electrician in at the design stage, not after your contractor has already framed everything out. A one-hour consultation early on can save you thousands in change orders later.
Planning a kitchen renovation in the Comox Valley? We work closely with homeowners and contractors throughout Courtenay, Comox, Cumberland, and Campbell River to make sure the electrical side of your project is done right from the start.
Ready to get started? Contact Eighty Eight Electric at 250-339-6383.
