The Bathroom Reno Electrical Checklist
7 things to decide before your walls close up
Once the linings go up and the tiles go on, changing your mind about power, heating and lighting gets expensive, fast. Work through this checklist with your builder or designer early, tick off each decision, and your new bathroom comes together first time. No surprises, no chasing cables through freshly tiled walls.
Tap a switch, or a point on the plan, to mark each decision.
Heating
Keep it cosy, dry and mould free
Tip: A towel rail on a timer costs far less to run than one left on 24/7.
Ventilation
Your best defence against mould
Tip: Wellington damp is no joke. The right fan protects your paint, grout and ceilings.
Lighting
More than one light in the middle of the ceiling
Mirror & vanity power
Plan it now, not after the vanity's in
Wet zones
What can go where
Good to know: This is exactly why bathroom electrical is never a DIY job.
Switches & controls
Convenience you'll use every single day
Timing & paperwork
Get the order right and everything else falls into place
Your decisions so far
Bring this list to a free pre-reno walkthrough and Shane will talk through your options.
- Heating
- Ventilation
- Lighting
- Mirror & vanity power
- Wet zones
- Switches & controls
- Timing & paperwork
Put the drill down, mate. Leave the wiring to the pros!
This checklist is a planning guide only. All electrical work must be carried out by a registered electrician and meet current NZ wiring rules.
Where the sparky fits in
(the orange steps are where Shane comes in)
- 1Plan & designUse this checklist
- 2Strip outOld bathroom out
- 3Rough-inCables, boxes, fan ducting
- 4LiningsWaterproofing, walls close up
- 5Tiling & paintThe pretty part
- 6Fit-offLights on, CoC issued
Book your free pre-reno electrical walkthrough
Shane will look over your plans, talk through your options and give you a clear picture of what's needed before a single tile comes off.
No pressure, just good advice from a local registered electrician.
What electrical work can you do for a bathroom renovation?
Ginger Electrics plans and installs the electrical for bathroom renovations, working with homeowners and builders. On top of the checklist above, that includes power points on either side of a double vanity and sensor-activated strip lighting under the vanity.
Planned before the walls are lined, the wiring goes where it needs to be and the finish is cleaner.
Heated towel rails and underfloor heating installation
Ginger Electrics plans and installs both as part of a bathroom renovation. The towel rail's wiring is concealed within the wall, so there's no cable on show.
Do bathroom extractor fans need to meet Healthy Homes Standards?
In a rental, yes. Every rental bathroom needs an extractor fan that vents outside. Fans fitted since 1 July 2019 must be at least 120 mm across, or move 25 litres of air a second. Owner-occupied homes aren't bound by the standard.
Shane can review the existing electrical setup and ventilation as part of the renovation.
Extractor fans and towel-rail timers, in customers' words
70+ five-star Google reviews
Kitchen, bathroom and two-bedroom work — found a clever solution to a tricky problem.
Plug sockets, towel-rail timers and light fittings — completed quickly to a good standard.
Bathroom electrical FAQs
Can you replace an old extractor fan?
Yes, on its own or as part of a renovation. In a rental, an older fan must still work and vent outside, and when it fails it's replaced with one that meets today's size rule.
Can you put a timer on an existing heated towel rail?
Towel-rail timers are regular work for Ginger Electrics. Whether one suits your existing rail depends on how the rail is wired, so Shane checks it first.
Planning a new bathroom?
Bring Ginger Electrics in while the bathroom is still on paper.