Upgrade Plumbing and Electrical During Renovation

Upgrading the plumbing and electrical is always recommended when renovating a kitchen or bathroom. Why? Because it’s one of the few times pipes, conduit, and other plumbing and electrical elements are going to be fully exposed.

Like anything else in your home, plumbing and electrical lines don’t last forever. They need to be maintained and ultimately replaced at a certain point in time. The best time to do this is when drywall and wallboard have already been removed during pre-renovation demolition, offering free and unfettered access to these areas that otherwise would be behind solid walls.

Outlets and Lighting

Replacing electrical outlets, switches, and even lighting fixtures is also a good idea and for the same reason. The time between when demolition ends and renovation begins also is a good time to upgrade and make changes to things like how many outlets and light switches you have, where lighting is placed within the kitchen or bathroom, and the amount of power that is supplied to the electrical in the room.

Trying to make these changes in a room that isn’t being torn apart for renovation can be expensive, time-consuming, and inconvenient. But during the renovation that space is already open and electricians and plumbers have direct access to the areas where they need to work, eliminating the need for poking holes in walls or sawing away portions of tile.

Smart and Cost-Effective

Before you even begin your project, it’s a good idea to sit down with your general contractor and talk about what kinds of upgrades you can make to the plumbing and electrical while the room is down to the bare studs. It’s the optimal time to access these areas and replace older or worn pipes or electrical elements.

Even if the plumbing and electrical in your home aren’t that old, it’s a good idea to replace them when they are accessible to tradesmen.