upgrades to my house (sink, bathroom, kitchen, shower) - remodeling, decorating, construction, energy use, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, building, rooms - City-Data Forum

citydweller · 10-21-2008, 08:24 AM

So, I bought a newly renovated home built in 1969 a few months ago. I am really enjoying the home except for a few things. First, I have no lighting in the backyard and there are no outlets in the back (outside) of the house. Secondly, there is no exhaust fan in the bathroom. Right now I am using a small fan to keep it dry after showering. And lastly, there is no light over the kitchen sink. There is some small pot lights over the bar area with the light switch near the sink. I was wondering if another light could also be wired to this same switch for the sink. My question is are these hard or easy fixes ? possibly expensive ones? I am not the handiest person and this work will probably be contracted out. Any help much appreciated.

Cosmic · 10-21-2008, 08:39 AM

Not a big deal on any of them. Yeah, you can probably take another light off that switch if it is an easy fish to to snake the wires up there.

All the rest of it is pretty mundane stuff. Should not be expensive, find some good handyman type person instead of paying top dollar. And I do not want to hear it about professional whatever and rules and regs. Use some common sense, a good handyman will probably do a better job anyway.

Mom2TwoBoys · 10-21-2008, 08:58 AM

I don't think those are big projects for an experienced electrician.
I would hire someone who is knowledgeable of local codes and make sure the updates are to code.

M3 Mitch · 10-21-2008, 01:56 PM

Get 2 or 3 bids, check around on which electricians are good with these small projects. Depends on where you are if you have to get a journeyman sparky or if an unlicensed handyman can do this.

Probably this will be cheaper overall if you do it all at once.

Depending on what you plan to run from your outside outlets, they may be better on their own circuit, personally I'd go with 12-gauge wire and make them 20-amp rather than the cheaper 15 amp 110 outlets, I'd spring for the spring-loaded covers on them as well. Sometimes this sort of stuff works better done in conduit rather than fishing the wire through the wall.