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Steps To A Great Renos This Year
January 2, 2014
Tips For Picking Your Interior Paint
January 29, 2014

An often overlooked facet of kitchen remodelling, the electrical, is something that you should consider when it comes time for that kitchen makeover. Although it is necessary to bring any electrical up to code when you crack open a wall, many people forget that while the framing is exposed, adding some key features to how you power your kitchen can add a lot more accessibility and functionality. Here are some reasons why planning and upgrading your electrical in your kitchen make sense.

Your kitchen can’t handle your gadgets

A lot of homes we renovate in Edmonton, St. Albert, and Sherwood Park are older. The kitchens, designed in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, not only fail to meet the needs of a 2014 family, but they often don’t have the necessary plug-ins for all of the gadgets we own. In my home, I have a microwave oven, a toaster, a toaster oven, a Keurig coffee-maker, a cappuccino machine, and a cordless phone base. I also charge my tablet in the kitchen as well. Combine this with the occasional use of a blender or hand mixer and I have a lot of things plugged in the kitchen. A lot of older home just don’t have enough plug-ins to accommodate these things. Or, if they do, you wind up tripping a breaker when you run more than one of them at a time.

Those beautiful new cabinets are hard to see in the dark

I remember going over to my grandma’s house for dinner and cards when I was nine or ten and often thinking that the two light fixtures in the kitchen looked an awful lot like disco balls. Okay, so maybe that was the style for the time, but it still doesn’t excuse the fact that when the sun went down, that kitchen was quite dark. Provisions for under cabinet lighting and brighter more efficient fixtures and bulbs in strategic places in your kitchen mean that you won’t suffer from eye strain every time you cook and eat a meal. This is especially important, here in Edmonton, when, in the winter time, it’s dark long before meal preparation starts to take place for most people.

You can sleep soundly knowing that the electrical is done right

With the increased importance of permits and inspections and the greater use of certified electricians, chances are the electrical work done during your kitchen renovation will be done correctly. Sure, it is possible for some handyman to rewire your home, but by insisting that a permit be taken out for electrical work, you’re guaranteeing that a certified electrician is doing the work. That certified electrician will also make sure that any funny wiring set ups are fixed or removed completely, a common sight in many older homes.

The way we use power or interface with it is changing

New advances in technology are requiring that our homes be updated to accommodate them. Various companies are coming up with lighting and electrical that can be controlled from your phone or tablet via wireless communication. These sometimes require special plug-ins or switches installed for them to work. As well, it’s becoming more and more common to see USB sockets installed for charging e-readers, tablets and phones. With a little thought and planning during your kitchen remodel, you can have some of these nifty features installed and move that kitchen from the 20th to the 21st century.  

If you’re in Edmonton, St. Albert, Sherwood Park, or the surrounding area and are looking for a contractor for you renovation project, visit our website at www.nordalta.com/contact/ to find information on how to contact us. We’d be happy to speak to you about what we can do to get the ball rolling on your next home or office project. You can also leave comments with us at robert@nordalta.com.

Michael Breault is a project coordinator for Nord Alta Construction. You can find the company website at www.nordalta.com. You can also find Michael and Nord Atla Construction on facebook at www.facebook.com/NordAltaConstruction, on twitter at www.twitter.com/Nordalta, and on LinkedIn.

Robert Breault is the president and owner of Nord Alta Construction. You can find the company website at www.nordalta.com. You can also find Robert and Nord Alta Construction on facebook at www.facebook.com/NordAltaContruction and on LinkedIn.