Renovating a home can be a major investment. Making smart choices, being budget conscious, and getting the finished result you want can be challenging. We get it. After all, we are home owners too. Here's our list of the top 5 budget friendly electrical updates to help keep your budget on track.
Top 5 Electrical Updates
1. Recessed Lighting
Our number one ask from customers is to install recessed lighting. Recessed lighting is a sleek, modern, and low profile way to dramatically increase the lighting in any room. Recessed lights are also colour selectable to match your particular preference, and can even be paired with your phone for remote dimming! Technology these days right?? The installation is quick (one day install) and can often be done with no drywall damage. Also, unlike traditional light fixtures that can cast shadows or create high and low light zones, recessed lights spread lighting more evenly.
Whether you need bright task lighting to get stuff done or warm lighting for a cozy nights at home, recessed lighting is our #1 electrical upgrade recommendation for every home.
Unlike traditional pot lights, modern recessed lights can be installed as a retrofit lighting solution. Most recessed lights are only ½” thick, the same as drywall. The installation is quick (one day install) and can often be done with no drywall damage. The shallow design allows for a better and more strategic lighting design.
And we’d be remiss not to mention that your existing pot lights can be updated as well without running new wiring. Retrofit pot light inserts have all of the same benefits of new recessed lighting: colour selectable, low profile, LED, and dimmable. We simply remove the existing pot light trim and light bulb and screw the retrofit light into the existing light socket. Pairing new recessed lighting with retro-fit pot light inserts for your existing pot lights is the perfect way to update and modernize your space. Contact us today to set up a consultation and get an estimate.
2. Updating Devices
Let’s face it: there are a lot of plugs and switches in your home. The older these devices are, the more likely they fit into one or more of these has-been categories: retro coloured, upside down, cracked, toggle style (for switches), or duplex style (for plugs). Updating your plugs and switches with new, white, trendy devices is an affordable update and can make a big impact on the look and feel of your home.
Here are some considerations when considering updating devices:
Make them match: For consistency, go with all the same colour and style.
Update dimmers: Think about where you want to have specific light control.
Tamper Proof: New devices should be tamper proof for additional safety.
GFCI Receptacles: Are plugs near to the sink, outside, or in the kitchen GFCI protected? GFCI’s are designed to keep you safe.
Aluminum wiring: If your home has aluminum wiring, then changing out devices will require some additional safeguarding.
Remote switch locations: Adding new switch locations without running new wiring is something Valkyrie Electric can do for you.
Contact us today to set up a consultation and get an estimate.
3. Undercabinet Lighting
There's no better way to take your kitchen or bathroom to the next level than with LED undercabinet lighting. Undercabinet lighting is the ultimate accent for new cabinetry, backsplashes and flooring and delivers a WOW factor to any renovation. It's also the perfect lighting solution for cozy late nights or early mornings. Pairing undercabinet lighting with a dimmer allows you to set the mood to your personal preference.
There are two styles of undercabinet lighting: linear LED strip lighting and puck lights. Determining which style is best will require an in home consultation where we can go over the pros and cons of both.
Installing undercabinet lighting is usually done in conjunction with a kitchen renovation or remodel and requires coordination with the cabinet installer. The best time to plan for undercabinet lighting is before a project starts. However, that doesn’t mean undercabinet lighting can’t be installed in a finished kitchen.
Contact us today to set up a consultation and get an estimate.
4. New Light Fixtures
Light fixtures are the feature that ties a whole room together. One of our most popular services is replacing old, outdated light fixtures with new, modern models. Updating a home's light fixtures is the most affordable and effective way to give your home a mini facelift.
An important consideration when you pick a statement piece light fixture is that it is certified for use in Canada. All light fixtures must be CSA, cUL, or cETL certified to be safety installed. If you're picking up your light from a wholesaler or hardware store then you should be good to go. Lights ordered from the internet (from sites like Wayfair, Etsy, or Amazon) should be verified to ensure they are approved for use in Canada. If you're not sure, we can help make sure your lights are safe to install.
We have established relationships with the best lighting and electrical wholesalers in Victoria and can put you in touch with their expansive catalogue of light fixtures to find the one that best suites your needs. Have a light picked out but there isn’t an existing electrical box or switch in the room you have in mind? Or does the existing light or switch location need to be moved? We’ve got you covered.
Contact us today to set up a consultation and get an estimate.
5. Smart Thermostats
Controlling baseboard heaters has gotten a lot ...smarter. In recent years there have been industry advances in smart thermostat control, including Canada’s own Mysa Thermostats. Mysa thermostats for baseboard heaters not only change out your analog rotary control with a digital display, they also allow you to program heating schedules and change your thermostat setting from anywhere using the Mysa app. This can result in significant savings over time and allow you the flexibility and peace of mind to control your home’s heating from anywhere.
There are many other options to update your thermostats to smart devices as well. Contact us today to set up a consultation and get an estimate.