Kitchen Renovation Electrical Checklist
Renovating your kitchen? Don't leave the electrical to the last minute. Here's what needs planning early — circuits, appliances, lighting, and what your sparky needs to know.
Kitchen renovations are the job where electrical gets overlooked until it’s too late. Walls are tiled, cabinetry is in, and someone asks: “Where’s the power point for the dishwasher?”
Don’t be that person. Here’s what to sort before you start.
Before the kitchen comes out:
- Walk through with your electrician and mark what’s staying and what’s moving
- Decide final positions for rangehood, oven/cooktop, dishwasher, fridge, microwave, and any appliances
- Plan power point positions — more is better; minimum two double points per run of bench
- Plan lighting: island pendants, under-cabinet strip lighting, overhead downlights
Circuits to plan for:
- Oven/cooktop: dedicated 20A or 32A circuit depending on the unit
- Rangehood: usually 10A but confirm with the supplier
- Dishwasher: 10A, usually behind the kickboard under the sink
- Fridge: its own socket so it can’t be accidentally switched off
- Bench power: multiple 10A circuits so a coffee machine and toaster aren’t on the same circuit
Lighting: LED downlights positioned over the bench (not just the middle of the room) make a big difference. Under-cabinet lighting is worth adding at first-fix stage — almost impossible to retrofit neatly.
What to tell your sparky:
- Final appliance list with model numbers (oven especially)
- Cabinet drawings showing kick-board heights (affects socket placement)
- Whether you want any USB sockets or smart switches
We work alongside kitchen designers and builders regularly. If you’re starting a kitchen renovation in South Auckland, get us in early.
Full checklist with diagrams coming soon.