Electrical Remodeling

"We want to knock out a wall and open up the kitchen, but our electrician says the panel can't handle it." That's the exact conversation we hear from Kent homeowners at least a few times every week. Electrical remodeling means updating or reconfiguring your home's wiring, circuits, outlets, and panel to match how you actually live today. It's not the same as renovation. Renovation focuses on restoring an existing system to meet current codes. Remodeling changes the layout and capacity entirely, sometimes from the panel out. That said, most Kent homeowners use both terms interchangeably, and that's perfectly fine. We know what you mean either way.

The most common projects we handle include panel upgrades, new dedicated circuits for kitchen remodels or home additions, outlet relocation, and full electrical rewiring for older homes. So what's the single most common reason homeowners across Kent's established neighborhoods pick up the phone? An outdated electrical system, wiring that no longer meets current codes.

Need An Electrician?
(206) 487-7278

Phase NW is a licensed residential electrician, not a general contractor farming your project out to whoever's available. Our team handles every aspect of electrical remodeling directly, from permit to final inspection. Here's what that actually covers.

Panel Upgrades and Replacement. Most remodels on older Kent homes start right here. Still running on a 100-amp panel? There's simply not enough capacity for new circuits serving a modern kitchen, home office, or EV charger. We upgrade to 200-amp service so the rest of your remodel has room to breathe, electrically speaking.

Wiring Installation and Repair. New circuits for kitchens, bathrooms, additions, and garage workshops, the backbone of any remodel. We also handle partial and full electrical rewiring for homes with outdated aluminum wiring, which is still common in Kent neighborhoods like Scenic Hill and the East Hill area. Electrical rewiring is its own distinct service within a remodel, not a quick repair but a planned upgrade that brings your home's wiring up to current Washington State code.

Outlet and Switch Installation. Remodeling a kitchen? Outlets rarely end up where they started. We relocate and add outlets to match your new layout, install dedicated circuits for appliances that need them, and upgrade to GFCI and AFCI protection where code requires it.

Light Fixture and Fan Installation. Pendant lights over a new island. Under-cabinet LEDs. A ceiling fan in a bonus room. We run the circuits and mount the fixtures as part of your remodel, not as an afterthought tacked on at the end.

Ground Wire Installation. Plenty of older Kent homes still have ungrounded two-prong outlets. Grounding those circuits brings them to current code and makes them safe for modern electronics and appliances.

Our own electricians perform every one of these services. One team. One point of contact. Consistent work across your entire project. Customers in Kent often tell us the biggest relief is having a single electrician who understands the full scope of their remodel, rather than juggling multiple trades and hoping the wiring gets coordinated properly.

Starting to scope out your remodel and want a straight answer on what the electrical side will involve? Reach out to Phase NW at (206) 487-7278, we're happy to walk through it with you.

Finding the right electrical remodeling contractor starts with understanding what a well-run project actually looks like. Here's exactly what happens when you work with Phase NW, from first call to final sign-off.

Step 1, Consultation. We start with a phone call or on-site visit to talk through what you're trying to accomplish. Kitchen remodel in your East Hill ranch? ADU above the garage? EV charger in the driveway? We want to understand the full picture before writing any scope of work.

Step 2, Walkthrough. A licensed electrician examines your existing panel and identifies your wiring type, copper versus aluminum. Plenty of Kent homes built in the '60s and '70s still have aluminum branch circuits. We check available circuit capacity and flag any code issues that need attention.

Step 3, Written Scope and Quote. No vague time-and-materials estimate that balloons on you. You get a clear, written scope spelling out exactly what work is included, which permits are required, and what the inspection process looks like. Straightforward and detailed.

Step 4, Permitting Through Washington State L&I. This is where homeowners often get confused. Electrical permits and inspections in Kent are issued by Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, not the City of Kent. The city handles building or remodel permits only. We pull the L&I electrical permit as part of your project so you don't have to navigate that system yourself.

Step 5, Electrical Work. Circuits added. Wiring run. Panels upgraded. Outlets relocated. All performed to NEC code and Washington State amendments. Permitted remodel work often triggers current code compliance requirements like AFCI and GFCI protection, even if those upgrades weren't your original goal. An outdated electrical system that passed code in 1985 won't pass a modern inspection. We build that reality into the plan upfront so nothing catches you off guard.

Step 6, L&I Inspection and Sign-Off. A state inspector reviews the completed work, and once signed off, you receive documentation that matters for resale, insurance, and your own peace of mind. Need a separate electrical inspection on existing work before your remodel begins? We handle those too.

You've been thinking about this for a while. The kitchen that needs more circuits. The garage that's ready for a dedicated workshop line. The 1970s panel that makes you nervous every time you flip a breaker. Whatever your remodeling project looks like, our team is ready to talk through it.

Phase NW works with Kent homeowners from the East Hill neighborhoods down to the West Hill corridor and everywhere in between. We know these houses, the panels builders installed in the '80s and '90s, and we know what it takes to bring them up to speed for how families actually live now. Home offices, EV chargers, induction cooktops. All of it.

Getting started is simple. Call us or fill out our online form, and we'll set up a time to walk through your home. We'll look at your existing panel, talk about what you want to change, and give you a straightforward quote. No surprises buried in the fine print. Most residential remodeling projects in the Kent area can be scheduled within a couple of weeks, and we handle all permit coordination so you don't have to chase paperwork yourself.

A single circuit addition or a full-house rewire as part of a larger remodel, it doesn't matter which. We treat every project with the same attention to detail and code compliance. No exceptions.

Give us a call at (206) 487-7278 or [fill out our online form] and we'll give you an honest answer on what the electrical work will take. Phase NW is your neighbor here in Kent, and we're ready to get your project moving.