Planning the electrical system for a remodel or home addition should happen at the design stage — before walls are framed and well before drywall goes up. The most expensive electrical mistakes in remodels are not wiring errors; they are planning omissions discovered after the work is nearly finished. Working with a licensed electrician during the design phase ensures your new space is wired for how you actually intend to use it, meets current Colorado electrical code, and won’t require expensive rework when you want to add a circuit later.

Start With a Panel Assessment

Before planning any new circuits, a licensed electrician needs to evaluate your existing electrical panel. Adding a room addition or finishing a basement introduces new circuits for outlets, lighting, dedicated appliance circuits, and possibly HVAC equipment. If your panel is already at or near capacity — or if it’s an older panel with known issues (Federal Pacific Stab-Lok and Zinsco panels have documented safety histories that warrant replacement) — adding circuits on top of a marginal panel is not a safe approach.

Many Denver-area homes built in the 1960s through 1980s were originally designed for far less electrical load than modern households demand. EV chargers, home offices with multiple high-draw devices, induction ranges, heat pumps, and smart home systems all add to the load. A panel upgrade from 100-amp to 200-amp (or larger) service may be the right foundation for any significant remodel — and it’s far easier and less expensive to do it as part of a planned project than to return later.

Map Out Your Circuits Before Walls Are Closed

  • Kitchen remodels: Current code requires at least two 20-amp small-appliance circuits for countertop receptacles, a dedicated circuit for the refrigerator, and separate dedicated circuits for dishwashers, microwaves, and any built-in appliances. Plan for more than you think you need — you can’t add countertop circuits later without opening walls.
  • Bathroom additions: GFCI protection is required for all outlets within six feet of a water source. A dedicated 20-amp circuit for the bathroom is required by code; if you’re adding a bathroom with high-draw features (heated floor, steam shower, infrared sauna), those will need their own circuits.
  • Home offices: Consider dedicated circuits for workstations, monitors, and networking equipment — shared circuits that trip during heavy use disrupt work and can corrupt data. Cat6 or fiber conduit while walls are open is far cheaper than fishing wire later.
  • Outdoor additions or detached structures: A new garage, workshop, or ADU needs its own subpanel fed from the main panel with the right wire gauge for the anticipated load and a properly rated disconnect.

Lighting: Plan for Flexibility

Lighting plans often get less thought than outlet locations, and they’re harder to change after the fact. Think through: Where will you want dimmers? (LED-compatible dimmer switches are required for LED fixtures — not all dimmers work with all LEDs.) Do you want under-cabinet lighting in the kitchen, which requires low-voltage wiring or dedicated circuits? Are recessed cans positioned to avoid HVAC ducts and structural members? A lighting layout done at the planning stage avoids cut-and-patch work after drywall.

Code Requirements That Often Surprise Remodelers

Colorado follows the National Electrical Code (NEC) with amendments adopted by the state and local jurisdictions. A few requirements that frequently catch homeowners off guard: AFCI (arc-fault circuit interrupter) protection is now required for nearly all circuits in living areas and bedrooms in new construction and additions; smoke and CO detectors must be added or relocated to cover the new space; and any kitchen or bathroom remodel that touches the electrical typically triggers a full code update on those circuits, not just the section being worked on. An electrician familiar with Denver-area permit requirements will flag these before work starts.

Permits and Inspections: Why They Protect You

All electrical work in a remodel or addition requires a permit and inspection in Colorado. This is not bureaucratic inconvenience — it is the mechanism that ensures the work is safe and that your homeowner’s insurance remains valid. Unpermitted electrical work can void insurance coverage on fire claims and creates disclosure obligations when you sell the home. A licensed electrician pulls the permit, schedules the inspection, and ensures the work passes. Do not hire anyone who suggests skipping the permit to save money.

Done’s licensed electricians work with homeowners through the entire process — from initial panel assessment and circuit planning through permit, installation, and inspection. Learn more about our electrical installation and remodel services, explore panel upgrade options, or contact us to schedule a planning consultation through our contact page.