How do I plan the electrical layout for a home renovation in New Brunswick?

Planning Electrical Layout for a Home Renovation in NB

Electrical planning is one of the most overlooked aspects of home renovations — and one of the most expensive to fix after the fact. Getting the layout right before any walls go up saves thousands in change orders and rework.

Start with a Floor Plan

Before talking to an electrician, draw or obtain a floor plan of the renovated space showing:

• Room dimensions and door/window locations


• Planned furniture placement (this determines outlet locations)


• Kitchen cabinet layout with appliance positions


• Bathroom fixture locations (vanity, shower, tub)


• Any built-in features (bookshelves, entertainment centres, office desks)

This doesn't need to be architect-quality — a hand-drawn plan with measurements is fine.

Room-by-Room Electrical Planning

Kitchen:

• 2 dedicated 20A counter circuits (CEC minimum)


• Dedicated circuits for: dishwasher, refrigerator (recommended), microwave (if over 1,000W), garbage disposal


• Stove/range: 50A, 240V dedicated circuit


• Under-cabinet lighting: separate circuit or shared with general lighting


• Counter outlets: every 900mm along the countertop, no point more than 900mm from an outlet


• Island outlets: at least one duplex outlet, GFCI-protected


• Consider: USB outlets at charging stations, outlet inside pantry for charging devices

Bathroom:

• Dedicated 20A circuit for receptacles (GFCI-protected)


• Exhaust fan (on bathroom circuit or dedicated)


• Lighting (can share a circuit with hallway lighting)


• In-floor heating: dedicated 240V circuit if applicable


• Towel warmer: dedicated outlet or hardwired


• Consider: outlet inside vanity cabinet for electric toothbrush, outlet near mirror for hairdryer at comfortable height

Bedroom:

• Outlets on both sides of the bed location (for lamps and phone charging)


• Outlet for TV if wall-mounted (consider a recessed outlet behind the TV)


• Closet light with door switch or motion sensor


• Overhead light on a dimmer


• All circuits AFCI-protected (CEC requirement for new work)


• Consider: USB outlets at bedside, switched outlet for a lamp if no overhead light

Living room / family room:

• Outlets at all seating areas and along walls per CEC spacing


• TV wall: 2 duplex outlets + coaxial + ethernet behind the TV location


• Fireplace: outlet for electric fireplace insert or mantle lighting


• Recessed floor outlet for centre-of-room furniture if applicable


• Overhead lighting on dimmer(s)


• Consider: outlets at picture-hanging height for art lighting

Home office:

• Dedicated 20A circuit for computer equipment


• Multiple outlets at desk height (3–4 duplex outlets behind desk area)


• Outlet for printer/scanner


• Ethernet drops (2–4) if wired networking desired


• Overhead and task lighting on separate switches


• Consider: USB-C outlet for laptop charging, dedicated circuit for a space heater if the room runs cold

Laundry:

• 20A receptacle circuit (GFCI if near sink)


• 30A, 240V for electric dryer


• Outlet for iron/steamer


• Overhead lighting


• Consider: outlet at counter height for folding station devices

Switch Planning

Switches are often an afterthought — until you're living with the result. Plan for:

• Every room entrance needs a switch — no walking across a dark room to reach a lamp
• Three-way switches for rooms with multiple entrances and all stairways
• Dimmer switches on overhead lights in living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens
• Switch height: Standard is 1,200mm from floor. Consider 900mm if anyone in the household has mobility issues.
• Switch grouping: Multiple switches for one room (overhead light, fan, accent lighting) should be in one multi-gang box at the room entrance, not scattered across different walls

Working with Your Electrician

When to bring them in: As early as possible — ideally during the design phase, before framing starts. The electrician needs to:

• Assess your panel capacity (upgrade may be needed)


• Plan circuit layouts efficiently (minimize wire runs and costs)


• Identify where rough-in inspections are needed


• Coordinate with plumbing and HVAC routes (they share wall and ceiling space)

What to provide them:

Floor plan with furniture and appliance locations

List of any special equipment (EV charger, hot tub, workshop tools, server rack)

Your priorities (what matters most — abundant outlets, smart home features, accent lighting, etc.)

Budget range for the electrical portion

What they'll provide:

A circuit layout plan

An estimate broken down by circuit, fixture, and labour

Permit application and inspection coordination

Timeline aligned with your renovation schedule

Costs for Renovation Electrical in NB

| Renovation Scope | Electrical Cost |
|-----------------|----------------|
| Single room refresh (kitchen or bathroom) | $2,000–$6,000 |
| Main floor renovation (kitchen + living + dining) | $5,000–$15,000 |
| Full home renovation (all rooms, new panel) | $15,000–$35,000 |
| Basement finish (rec room + bedroom + bathroom) | $5,000–$15,000 |
| Addition (new room built onto existing home) | $3,000–$10,000 |

Electrical typically represents 10–15% of a total renovation budget.

The Most Expensive Mistake

The most costly error in renovation electrical is not planning enough outlets and circuits upfront. Adding an outlet after drywall is installed costs 2–3x more than during rough-in (the electrician has to cut drywall, fish wire, patch, and paint). Adding a circuit after the panel is inspected and closed means re-opening the permit.

The rule of thumb: plan for 20% more outlets than you think you need. The incremental cost of one more outlet during rough-in is $30–$80 in materials and 15–30 minutes of labour. After the walls are closed, that same outlet costs $250–$500.

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