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Bringing an old, dilapidated building back to life in the Lone Star State can be incredibly satisfying. However, you need to approach the remodeling project with care, particularly when revamping or adding to its electrical structure. These eight tips can help you overcome electrical challenges in historic Texas buildings.
1. Hire an Expert
Most electricians can competently rewire your house or install new appliances in a business like a grocery store. However, you need to hire a licensed electrician when you work on the electrical system in a historic structure like an old hotel building or a decades-old theater.
An electrician with specific experience revamping historic buildings will know how to take care of projects like installing new lights or replacing old outlets. They will also understand the layout and potential obstacles to the building’s electrical wiring.
An electrician with this kind of work experience will also know how to handle the work with minimal disruption to the original structure. They will avoid causing damages you may not be able to repair.
2. Do a Thorough Inspection
An electrician with experience working in historic buildings in Texas will inspect the electrical system thoroughly. This includes a close look at the building’s wiring, which can reveal safety concerns that you or the electrician need to address before any work gets underway. It can also uncover any existing damage to the electrical wiring that requires your immediate attention.
The inspection provides the ideal time to formalize your plans to revamp the building’s electricity and decide what you can and cannot add to it. It can also lay the groundwork for future remodeling you might have in mind. Your electrician can advise you on whether or not those plans are feasible or if you should rethink them.
3. Work Room by Room
As you and your expert electrician undertake the remodeling project, you should take it room by room. You might want to rush ahead and try to revamp several parts of the building at the same time. However, you should keep your eagerness in check and instead focus on finishing one room before you move on to the next one.
This approach makes the job easier and can also improve the project’s efficiency. You can ensure the electrical work in each room is handled correctly and stays on budget. Working room by room can likewise help you plan for any repairs you anticipate having to make.
4. Remove and Replace Old Wiring
Removing and replacing old wiring can help you overcome electrical challenges in historic Texas buildings. Old wiring typically no longer satisfies safety and inspection codes. In some cases, it may also not be grounded, posing a serious hazard to anyone who comes into contact with it.
It can also put the building itself at risk of an electrical fire. To protect yourself, the building, and anyone working in it, you must remove it and replace it with new, code-compliant electrical wiring.
5. Find a Balance Between the Old and Modern
During your remodeling project, you must find the ideal balance between the building’s historic elements and the modern demands you intend to place on it. For example, you may envision installing new appliances and devices in it. However, you need to ensure the historic building can support them.
You should avoid forcing the building beyond its space and realistic electric capabilities. These new electrical additions, such as high-powered appliances or a smart lighting system, can require more utility power than the building can provide. Your electrical contractor’s inspection can tell you what new additions you can install and which ones you should leave out of the remodel. Upgrading the electrical panel might be something your electrician suggests.
6. Protect the Original Appearance and Integrity
You should avoid cutting into the building’s structure when your primary goal involves maintaining its original appearance and integrity. As you work, you should likewise try to avoid damaging the building’s existing electrical structures to ensure they survive the remodel.
A local electrician with experience working on historic buildings will know how to undertake this work without cutting into original materials like plaster and plywood. They will also protect the building’s unique architectural details.
7. Conceal Modern Elements
As you revamp the old building, you should also find ways to conceal the modern elements you add. This effort preserves the structure’s vintage look and protects any theme associated with the historic building.
This priority can be accomplished by installing floor outlets under furniture, for example, or retrofitting existing electrical fixtures to accommodate modern electrical use.
Use period-appropriate fixtures that match the building’s era and maintain its character. You can typically find vintage-looking fixtures like outlet covers, switches, and lights online, as well as at some national big-box retailers and hardware stores.
8. Make Future Remodeling Work and Repairs Accessible
Working on a historic building in Texas should teach you that a structure’s electrical capabilities, demands, and styles can steadily evolve with time. You should learn from the present to plan for the future electrical needs of the building.
As you consult with an experienced electrician, you should plan for what types of repairs or remodeling the building may need. You should also create plans to ensure minimal building structure disruption.
You can utilize fixtures like raceways or conduits to facilitate electrical wiring updates. Using versatile resources like these can spare you or anyone handling future work on the building from having to cut into or damage structures like the building’s ceilings, floors, or walls. You might also consider having us install a generator in an emergency, as a light source for your visitors if the electricity goes out.
Local Dallas Fort Worth Area Electricians
HR Phoenix located in Dallas Fort Worth area, we pride ourselves on being an electrical service company that takes on projects other companies cannot or refuse to handle for customers. Our team has experience dealing with intricate and challenging electrical work in old and historic buildings throughout the area. We can thoroughly inspect your building and provide reliable advice about how to redo its wiring.
You can also rely on us to install modern fixtures like ceiling fans, appliances, and generators in your building. Our electricians can provide insight into what new fixtures you can safely add and what electrical capabilities the building has. We like bringing buildings back to life with our competent electrician services.
Your safety, your employees’ safety, and your building’s safety lie at the heart of what we do. You can rely on us for free estimates. Our team also works on plumbing systems and can install EV charging stations. Everything that we bring to our commercial electrical services can be done for residential customers, too. We even wear shoe covers while we work to avoid tracking in mud and dirt.
At HR Phoenix, we provide safe and practical solutions to overcome electrical challenges in historic Texas buildings. Contact us today to find out more!
