Kitchen Renovation Electrical Checklist

A kitchen reno needs the sparky on site before the linings go up. At first-fix, plan a dedicated circuit for the oven and cooktop, a 10A socket for the dishwasher under the sink, the fridge on its own outlet so it can’t be switched off, multiple 10A bench circuits so a coffee machine and toaster aren’t fighting, and lighting sorted (downlights over the bench plus under-cabinet strips).

The job where electrical gets overlooked until it’s too late is the kitchen. 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.