Building a new house is exciting but theres heaps to think about. Electrical work is one of the most important parts cause everything runs on electricity these days. Getting it right from the start means your new home will be safe, efficient, and setup properly for how you actually wanna live.
We specialize in new build electrical work across Christchurch and Canterbury. Done hundreds of new homes from basic three bedroom places to fancy architect designed houses with all the bells and whistles. Know what works, what dosnt, and how to do it properly.
Why New Builds Need Specialist Electricians
New build electrical work is different from repairs or renovations. Your starting from scratch which means you can do things right instead of working around existing problems.
Planning is way more important with new builds. Gotta figure out where everything goes before walls are up. Once gyprock is on fixing mistakes gets expensive cause you gotta rip stuff apart.
Coordination with other trades matters heaps. Electrician needs to work around plumber, builder, plasterer. Everyone affects everyone else so timing and communication are crucial.
Building consent and inspections are required for new builds. Council comes and checks electrical work at specific stages. If its not done right they wont sign off and build gets held up.
Modern requirements are stricter than old houses. New builds need RCD protection on all circuits, proper earthing systems, smoke alarms hardwired, energy efficiency compliance. All this stuff is mandatory not optional.
Did new build in Rolleston last year. Big five bedroom house with garage workshop. Owner wanted everything future proofed. We designed electrical system that could handle electric car charging, solar panels, battery storage - even though they wernt installing those things yet. Cost bit more upfront but way cheaper than trying to add capacity later.
Planning Your New Home Electrical
Good electrical starts with good planning. This happens before any wiring goes in.
We sit down with you and go through house plans. Talk about how your gonna use each room. Where furniture will probly go. What appliances you need. All this affects where power points and lights should be.
Power point placement matters way more than people think. Put them where your actually gonna use them not just wherever looks neat on plans. Think about furniture layout, how you use rooms, what gets plugged in.
Lighting design should consider natural light, room use, ambience. Kitchen needs bright task lighting. Living room wants dimmable lights. Bedrooms need lights that dont wake up partners. All different requirements.
Data cabling for internet and TV needs planning too. Where are TVs going? Do you want ethernet in office? What about outdoor wifi coverage? Run cables while walls are open cause retrofitting sucks.
Switchboard location and size matters. Gotta be accessible but not in the way. Needs enough capacity for current loads plus future expansion. We typically install bigger boards than minimum required cause people always add stuff later.
Customer in Halswell was building four bedroom house. They had two kids and one on the way. We talked about future needs - teenagers wanting their own TVs, computers, gaming setups. Ran extra circuits to bedrooms even though not needed yet. Five years later theyre really glad we did cause kids are teenagers now with all that gear.
Common Planning Mistakes To Avoid
Seen heaps of planning mistakes over the years. These are ones that come up again and again.
Not enough power points is number one complaint. People underestimate how much stuff theyll plug in. We usually do minimum double points everywhere and triples in living areas.
Forgetting outdoor power is common. Garage power for tools, carport for car washing, deck for bbq area, garden for mower. All need proper weatherproof outlets.
No allowance for future smart home stuff. Even if your not doing automation now leave conduit runs so cables can be added later without ripping walls apart.
Inadequate lighting in key areas like pantries, wardrobes, laundries. These spaces get used daily but often get forgotten in planning.
Switchboard in terrible location. Seen them in wardrobes, behind furniture, places you cant actually get to. Needs to be accessible cause you will need to access it.
The New Build Electrical Process
New build electrical happens in stages coordinated with rest of construction. Heres how it typically goes.
Pre-wire stage is first. This happens after framing is up before insulation and gyprock. We run all cables, install boxes for switches and outlets, set up temporary power for other trades. Takes few days to week depending on house size.
Council inspection happens after pre-wire. Inspector checks cable runs, earthing, compliance with plans. If everythings good they sign off and build can proceed. If not we gotta fix issues before continuing.
Second fix happens after gyprock and painting. We install switches, outlets, lights, switchboard. Connect everything up. Get power connected from network company. This stage is quicker than pre-wire usually couple days.
Testing and commissioning comes next. We test every circuit, verify RCDs work, check earthing, make sure everything is safe and compliant. Document all test results.
Final council inspection is last step. Inspector verifies installation meets code, all works been tested, proper certification provided. Once this is signed off electrical work is officially complete.
Code of compliance certificate gets issued after final inspection passes. This is official document saying electrical work meets building code. You need this for council to issue code compliance for whole house.
Power Point And Switch Placement
Where power points and switches go makes huge difference to how usable your house is. Gotta think about actual daily use not just what looks good on plans.
Living room needs points on every wall basically. TVs, lamps, phone chargers, speakers, gaming consoles - all need power. We typically do minimum 8-10 points in average living room.
Kitchen is power point intensive. Every appliance needs outlet. Benchtop points for kettle, toaster, mixer, whatever. Points for fridge, dishwasher, microwave, rangehood. We do heaps of points in kitchens cause people are always buying new gadgets.
Bedrooms need points either side of bed for lamps and phone charging. Points for TV. Points near desk area if theres home office setup. Consider teenage kids will have computers, consoles, all sorts of gear.
Bathrooms need RCD protected outlets for shavers, hair dryers, heated towel rails. These have to be positioned away from shower and bath for safety.
Garages often get neglected but need heaps of power. Workshop area needs multiple points and maybe dedicated circuits for big tools. Car charging point if your considering electric vehicle.
House in Papanui we did garage with 6 double power points plus dedicated 32 amp circuit for welder. Owner was into car restoration. Also ran three phase power cause some tools needed it. Costs more but if your gonna use space for workshop its worth doing properly.
Lighting Design For New Builds
Lighting in new build should be planned not just thrown in wherever. Different rooms need different lighting approaches.
Kitchens need bright even light for food prep plus feature lighting over island or dining table. We typically use LED downlights for general lighting cause theyre bright and efficient.
Living areas want flexible lighting. Ceiling lights for general illumination, wall lights for ambience, ability to dim lights for movie watching. Multiple circuits controlled separately gives most flexibility.
Bedrooms need overhead light plus bedside lighting. Consider reading lights, ambient lighting, maybe feature lighting. Dimmer switches are good for bedrooms.
Bathrooms need good mirror lighting for makeup and shaving plus general ceiling light. Exhaust fans usually have light built in which helps.
Outdoor lighting includes entrance lighting for safety, deck and patio lighting for outdoor living, security lighting for perimeter. All serve different purposes.
LED lighting is pretty much standard now. Way more efficient than old halogens, last longer, better light quality. Initial cost is bit higher but savings on power bills make up for it.
Data And Communication Cabling
Modern houses need proper data cabling not just power. Internet, TV, phone, security systems - all need cables or at least provision for them.
Ethernet cabling to key locations gives reliable internet where wifi might be patchy. Office areas, TV locations, gaming setups - all benefit from hardwired connection.
Coax for TV antenna and satellite goes to wherever TVs will be located. Even with streaming services people still watch broadcast TV specially for sports.
Security system pre-wiring includes cables for cameras, sensors, alarm panel. Even if not installing system immediately running cables while walls open means system can be added easily later.
Structured cabling cabinet is good idea for bigger houses. Central point where all data cables terminate. Makes troubleshooting easier and keeps everything organized.
Conduit for future cables is cheap insurance. Run empty conduit between key locations so cables can be pulled through later without opening walls.
New build in Fendalton had home theatre room. We ran heaps of cables - speaker wires, HDMI, ethernet, power for all the gear. Also ran conduit for future upgrades cause home theatre tech changes constantly. Owner appreciated being able to upgrade equipment without major rewiring.
Smart Home Preparation
Smart home technology is getting more popular. Even if your not doing full automation now worth preparing for it.
Smart lighting needs neutral wire at switch locations. Older houses dont always have this but new builds should. Means smart switches can be installed later without rewiring.
Central hub location needs power and data connection. This is where smart home controller goes. Utility room or media cabinet works well.
Extra cabling to security points lets you add smart cameras, doorbell, sensors later. Way easier than trying to retrofit wireless stuff that needs charging all the time.
Voice control preparation means thinking about speaker locations and power for them. Amazon Echo, Google Home, whatever - they all need power points in strategic spots.
Even basic smart home prep during build costs way less than retrofitting later. Just running extra cables while walls open is cheap but value is huge.
Energy Efficiency In New Builds
New builds have to meet energy efficiency requirements. We design electrical systems that comply and actually save you money.
LED lighting throughout is basically mandatory now. Uses fraction of power compared to old bulbs and produces less heat so aircon doesnt work as hard.
Heat pump ready circuits mean you can install efficient heating cooling later. Right cable size and circuit protection from the start.
Solar panel preparation includes conduit runs from roof to switchboard location and space in board for solar inverter. Even if not installing panels yet makes future installation way easier.
EV charger ready garage has heavy cable and dedicated circuit to charge electric cars. Might not need it today but likely will in few years.
Efficient hot water heating with heat pump cylinder or solar needs right electrical setup. We design systems that work with these technologies.
House in Halswell we installed everything for solar panels except panels themselves. Owner couldnt afford panels at build time but got all electrical work done. Two years later when they had budget they just bolted panels on roof and plugged them in. Saved thousands versus trying to add solar prep after house was finished.
Compliance And Certification
New builds have strict compliance requirements. Everything gotta be done to code and properly certified.
Building consent electrical plans get submitted to council before work starts. These show what electrical work will be done and how it meets code.
Council inspections happen at two stages - rough in after cables installed and final after everythings connected. Inspector checks work complies with approved plans and meets code.
Testing documentation includes all test results for circuits, earthing, RCDs, everything. This proves installation is safe and compliant.
Code of compliance certificate is final document saying electrical work meets building code. Required before council issues code compliance for whole house.
Record drawings show as built installation. Sometimes things change from original plans during construction. Record drawings document actual installation.
All this paperwork matters cause when you sell house buyers lawyer will ask for electrical certificates. Missing documentation can hold up sales or cost you money.
Working With Builders And Other Trades
New build electrical requires coordination with everyone else on site. Good communication prevents problems.
Builder is main coordinator. We work to their schedule and let them know when we need access to do our work.
Plumber affects our work cause pipes and cables sometimes need same spaces. We coordinate routes so nothing clashes.
Insulation installer needs electrical done before they start. Cables gotta be in place before batts go in.
Gyprock fixers need to know where cables are so they dont screw through them. We mark cable locations before they start.
Painter needs switches and outlets off til painting done. We coordinate timing so electrical finish happens after painting.
Good electricians communicate with other trades and work cooperatively. Bad ones just do their bit and dont care about anyone else. We try to be helpful and make whole project run smoother.
Timing And Project Duration
How long does electrical take in new build? Depends on house size and complexity but heres rough guide.
Small house like two three bedrooms might be 3-5 days pre-wire and 1-2 days second fix. Total maybe week of electrical work spread over few months of build.
Medium house four bedrooms with decent features might be week pre-wire and 2-3 days second fix. Bit longer if theres complex lighting or smart home stuff.
Large houses or ones with lots of features can be two weeks pre-wire and week second fix. These have heaps more circuits, automation, outdoor lighting, all sorts.
Our work fits into overall build timeline. Pre-wire happens after framing before gyprock. Second fix happens after painting before flooring or near end of build.
Weather can affect timing cause cant work in rain during pre-wire stage. Build delays affect us too - if other trades are behind schedule electrical gets pushed back.
Cost Of New Build Electrical
What does electrical cost for new build? Like everything in building it depends on size and features.
Basic three bedroom house might be 8000-12000 for complete electrical including switchboard, wiring, lights, power points, compliance.
Standard four bedroom house with normal features might be 12000-18000. This includes decent lighting, good number of power points, RCD protection, proper data cabling.
Larger houses or ones with features like smart home, complex lighting, multiple living areas might be 20000-30000 or more depending on whats included.
Extras that increase cost include fancy light fittings, automation systems, extensive outdoor lighting, workshop power, three phase supply, solar prep, EV charging circuits.
We quote fixed price based on plans so you know costs upfront. Changes during build get quoted separately before doing work.
Why Choose WeDo For New Builds
We specialize in new build electrical work across Christchurch and Canterbury. Done hundreds of new houses and know what works.
We work closely with builders and understand construction process. Know when we need to be on site and how to coordinate with other trades.
Our planning process is thorough. We dont just follow plans blindly - we think about how house will actually be used and make suggestions to improve liveability.
Quality of work is high. We do neat cable runs, solid connections, proper testing. Work passes council inspection first time.
Communication is good. We keep builders and owners updated on progress, flag any issues early, work cooperatively to solve problems.
Pricing is transparent. Fixed quotes based on plans with clear process for variations if scope changes.
If your building new house in Christchurch give us a call. Well help you plan electrical properly and do quality installation that sets up your new home right.