There are a few important things to think about regarding electrical and plumbing considerations before you build or renovate your kitchen. The most important thing to understand is that it’s easier to add plumbing or electrical fixtures before the walls, ceilings, and floors are finished, than it is after. It’s not only easier, but it’s cheaper and faster.
Here are some examples of how this can affect your kitchen design.
Plumbing
Be very sure what you want before walls and floors are finished and cabinets are installed. For example, do you want a little prep sink in your island or on one end of a long kitchen counter? If so, decide that when the plumbing is being finalized. Time will be wasted, and you will run into cost overruns if you decide that after the counters are installed.
Do you want a spigot near the cooktop for filling large pots with water right on the stove? Then that’s something else to decide at an early stage. You don’t want to have to bring back subtrades to work on something when they were finished with the roughing in weeks before.
Electrical
Do you want lighting inside, below, or above your cabinets? You’ll need enough outlets and circuits and wiring to make that happen. This is something that should be discussed and decided long before any cabinets are installed.
Have you considered how you will be using your counters and how many electrical outlets you need? Have you stopped and counted which appliances will remain plugged in all the time?
It’s not uncommon for owners to wish they had more outlets. Remember, for many, the toaster and coffee pot are plugged in all the time. If you use a mixer, food processor, and lots of other new gadgets, then those things all need outlets.
You will save time and money if you plan for all these little details before the work starts. A good kitchen contractor will consolidate visits from subtrades as much as possible.
If you are planning a new kitchen, we can help with that. Don’t hesitate to contact us.
Elite Kitchens and Bathrooms, based in Langley, BC, is your source for everything custom cabinetry related. As the 2019 winner of the Vancouver Consumer Choice Award, they pride themselves on stellar customer service to match the quality of their cabinets.
If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us about cabinets, we encourage you to contact us at [email protected].
