top of page

Renovating in Remuera: The Electrical Planning Guide

  • Aug 7
  • 3 min read

Electrical work typically runs 3–5% of a renovation budget — but in Remuera's character homes it decides more than that share of the result. Lighting, heating, EV charging and the switchboard all get locked in while the walls are open, and changing them later costs multiples. Here is how to plan the electrical side of a Remuera renovation properly, from a team based in the suburb.

Planning a renovation? Call 021 889 770 — we'll walk the plans with you before pre-wire. We're based in Remuera.

Why Remuera renovations are an electrical special case

Remuera's housing stock — 1920s–40s brick-and-tile, weatherboard villas, and substantial mid-century homes — usually carries three electrical realities into a renovation: original or partially replaced wiring hiding behind beautiful plaster, a switchboard sized for a different era, and owners who want a high-spec result. That combination means the electrical scope is bigger than the plan shows, and the cheapest time to deal with all of it is during the renovation, not after.

The sequence: when electrical decisions actually happen

  • Design stage — lighting design, switchboard capacity, and any rewiring scope belong on the drawings, not decided on site.

  • Pre-wire walkthrough — after framing, before insulation and linings. Walk every room, stand where furniture goes, move power points on the spot. This is the single highest-value hour of the project.

  • Rough-in — cables, back boxes and circuits go in while walls are open.

  • Fit-off — fittings, switches and testing after paint. Certificate of Compliance issued at completion.

Decisions to lock in early

  • Switchboard — if the board is old or full, upgrade it as part of the renovation ($1,500–$4,000 + GST). New circuits for kitchens, bathrooms and heat pumps usually force the question anyway.

  • Partial rewiring — if original rubber or cloth-insulated cable is found, rewire the affected areas while access exists. Doing it during the renovation can halve the standalone cost.

  • Lighting design — character rooms need layered lighting, not a grid of downlights. Dimmable zones, wall lights and warm colour temperatures suit older architecture.

  • EV charging — run the cable or conduit to the garage now, even if the EV is two years away.

  • Outdoor — garden lighting conduit under new paths and decks costs almost nothing during the build and is disruptive to add later.

What does renovation electrical cost?

As rough 2026 guides: a kitchen renovation's electrical package commonly runs $3,000–$8,000 + GST; a bathroom $2,000–$5,000; a whole-home renovation's electrical 3–5% of the build cost. Character-home factors — tight ceiling access, brittle old cable, plaster to protect — push toward the top of ranges. A fixed itemised quote from the drawings is the honest way to price it.

Frequently asked questions

Can we live in the house during the electrical work?

Usually yes — work is sequenced room by room and power is restored each evening. Full rewires add a day or two of disruption per zone.

Does renovation electrical work need certification?

Yes — most installation work is prescribed electrical work: it must be done by a licensed electrical worker and comes with a Certificate of Compliance. Keep every CoC with the renovation records; buyers and insurers ask.

We're only renovating one room — is that still worth planning?

Yes. One open room is an opportunity: extra circuits, better lighting and future-proofing cost a fraction of what they will once the gib is back on.

Renovating in Remuera?

ECD is based in Remuera and wires the suburb's renovations every week — villas, brick-and-tile and full rebuilds.

EWRB-registered electricians · Certificate of Compliance on every eligible job · Based in Remuera, working Auckland-wide

bottom of page