It's easy to get caught up in the moment when renovating and go down the DIY path. If you’re questioning whether you need an electrician for your home renovation, the unequvicle answer is YES. During a home renovation, especially when restoring all those beautiful old homes, you will definitely need a licensed electrician. Installing or upgrading light fittings, home automation systems, power outlets or heating and cooling yourself to save a few dollars can become very costly in the longrun.
DIY electrical work is illegal and sadly on the odd occasion, we get to see unfortunate results like broken appliances, fires and even severe or fatal injuries. Trying to save a few dollars by doing it yourself is just not worth the risk. A breach that results in injuries, illnesses or death can lead to penalties of up to $600,000 for individuals, a very good reason why Australian state governments take unlicensed electrical work so very seriously.
So let’s look at the upside.
Depending on the scale of your renovation, minor upgrades may only require changing electrical components. For larger renovations, and restorations, a licensed local electrician is critical to ensure your electrical job is safe and compliant. A qualified electrician must have a gold contractor licence to do any installation work, regardless if the renovation project is small or a full scale renovation.
Renovation requirements.
We all know how exciting it is to plan your renovation, it can cause even the least handy among us to be inspired to have a go. While enthusiasm is certainly a key element for a renovation there is a certain amount of planning and reality checks required in assessing your DIY capabilities when it comes to ensuring your makeover is completed safely and efficiently.
It is just as important for your budget as it is for your safety that the electrical projects in your home are done correctly the first time, and meet compliance and safety standards. The best tip we can offer is to seek advice and review of your electrical works before you begin your big projects.
While there is always the temptation to do as much as possible yourself to keep costs down, there are certain projects that absolutely MUST be done by a qualified certified electrician, in order to meet safety and regulatory standards. Any jobs that require rewiring or your circuit board will need the help of an expert.
1. START PLANNING
If your home is heritage listed or it’s more than 20 years since it was built or remodeled, then you will need a licensed electrician to do extensive rewiring work for you. Large jobs will needto be booked well in advance so it’s best to get us involved during the planning process, to allow us to schedule in your requirements, and advise on work to be done and at each stage of your project.
2. REWIRING
Consider all of your requirements at the start, some areas may meet your needs now but what about 2 to 5 years down the track, you don’t want to be faced with another large project in a couple of years to add things like a man-cave, family room or home theatre. Older homes are wired to meet the needs of families in the time the property was built, but in our modern time technology used by every member of the family means power outlets are often in high demand, and location of those outlets is extremely important.
3. AUTOMATION
In light of the demand for connectivity these days, there may be additional upgrades your electrician can recommend increasing the connectivity of your renovated home.
Smart Wiring is a system that enables the combination of many different types of wires used around the home into a single platform. It allows for the integration of smart home systems and sensors throughout your home, and the capacity to add more at a later date if you choose to. Smart Wiring platform may include wiring for lighting, security, internet communications, security systems and audio-visual or home entertainment systems.
4. PREVENT HAZARDS
In older homes, various types of wiring can be found, in some cases just add on over add ons. One of the more dangerous cables previously used in home building early in the century is VIR cable (Vulcanised Indian Rubber). These cables were rampantly used in Australia between 1910 to late 1950s. A typical VIR cable consists of a tinned conductor that features a rubber coating. The age of these cables and the way it was made can cause them to become VERY dangerous. Always have your local electrical expert check old homes before you make any changes. Any works relating to your circuit board will need to have a specialist electrician do the work, so always check before you tackle wiring, especially when tucked into the corners of the attic, roofs or under floors.
We’re here to help, we communicate well and are professionals at what we do. So don’t hesitate to call to discuss your renovation project.
Luke McKenzie
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