Adding a room, finishing a basement, or renovating a section of your Aiken home means extending the electrical system to serve new space. Unlike new construction where you start with a clean slate, addition and renovation wiring requires integrating new circuits with an existing system that may be decades old and built to different standards than today's code.
The challenge is making old and new work together safely and reliably. Your existing panel may not have enough capacity for additional circuits. The wiring in your walls may be aluminum, knob-and-tube, or undersized copper that cannot simply be extended. And current code requires arc-fault and ground-fault protection that the original house was never designed for. Unity Power & Light specializes in addition and renovation electrical work throughout Aiken, SC, solving these integration challenges so your expanded home is safe, functional, and code-compliant.
What We Do
Every addition and renovation has unique electrical requirements depending on the scope of the project and the condition of the existing system.
Circuit Extension
For smaller additions, we extend existing circuits or run new circuits from available panel space to serve the new rooms. We calculate the load to ensure existing circuits are not overloaded and new circuits are properly sized for their intended use.
Subpanel Installation
Larger additions often need their own subpanel. We install a dedicated subpanel in or near the addition, fed from the main panel, providing multiple new circuits without crowding the existing panel. This also simplifies future modifications to the addition.
Matching Existing Wiring
When tying new wiring into an older system, the connections must be done correctly. If your home has aluminum wiring, we use approved aluminum-to-copper connectors. If the existing wiring is older cloth-covered Romex, we identify the transition point and ensure the connection meets current standards.
Panel Upgrades
Many Aiken homes still have 100-amp or 150-amp panels that are already near capacity. Adding rooms, bathrooms, or kitchens to an undersized panel is not safe or practical. We upgrade your panel to 200 amps as part of the addition project, giving you the capacity to power the expanded home.
Kitchen and Bathroom Circuits
Kitchens and bathrooms have specific electrical requirements: dedicated 20-amp circuits for countertop receptacles, GFCI protection, dedicated circuits for appliances like dishwashers and disposals, and exhaust fan wiring. We install all required circuits to code for these high-demand rooms.
Permits and Inspections
Electrical work for home additions in Aiken County requires a permit and inspection. We pull the permit, coordinate the inspection schedule with your general contractor, and ensure all work passes on the first visit so your project stays on timeline.
Our Installation Process
Assess Existing System
We evaluate your current electrical panel, available capacity, wire type and condition, and grounding system. We identify what can be reused, what needs upgrading, and where the new wiring will tie into the existing system. This assessment determines the scope and cost of the electrical portion of your project.
Design and Permit
We create the electrical layout for the addition, specifying circuit counts, outlet and switch locations, lighting positions, and any dedicated circuits for appliances or HVAC equipment. We pull the electrical permit and coordinate the schedule with your builder.
Rough-In and Integration
While the addition framing is open, we run all new wiring, install boxes, and make the critical connections between new and existing systems. If a subpanel is needed, we install it during this phase. We schedule and pass the rough-in inspection before drywall.
Trim-Out and Final Testing
After finishes are complete, we install all devices, fixtures, and cover plates. We test every circuit, verify AFCI and GFCI protection is working, label the panel, and schedule the final inspection. Your addition is ready for use.
Why Professional Wiring Matters for Additions
Addition wiring is more complex than new construction because you must work around and integrate with an existing system that was built under different rules.
Load Calculation Accuracy
Adding rooms to a home increases the electrical load. A bedroom adds lighting and receptacle circuits. A bathroom adds a dedicated 20-amp circuit and exhaust fan. A kitchen addition can add 50 or more amps of demand. We perform a complete load calculation to determine whether your existing service can handle the addition or needs upgrading first.
Old-to-New Wiring Transitions
Connecting modern Romex to older wiring types requires specific methods. Aluminum-to-copper connections must use approved COPALUM or AlumiConn connectors to prevent oxidation and fire risk. Knob-and-tube wiring cannot be spliced directly to Romex. We know the correct methods for every wiring type found in Aiken-area homes.
Code Requirements for Additions
When you add onto a home, the new space must meet current NEC code -- even if the original house was built to older standards. This means arc-fault breakers on bedroom circuits, tamper-resistant receptacles, GFCI protection in wet areas, and proper grounding throughout. We ensure the addition meets all current requirements.
Avoiding Overloaded Circuits
The temptation with additions is to tap into the nearest existing circuit rather than running new dedicated circuits. This leads to overloaded circuits that trip breakers, overheat wiring, and create fire hazards. We run proper new circuits for every room in the addition, sized correctly for the intended loads.
Home Addition Wiring Pricing
Unity Power & Light provides flat-rate pricing for addition and renovation electrical work. Your quote covers all phases from rough-in through trim-out, including materials, permits, and inspections.
The final price depends on the size of the addition, the condition of your existing electrical system, whether a panel upgrade is needed, and the number of circuits required. We provide an exact quote after assessing your specific project.
For guidance on planning the electrical work for your home addition, read our blog post: Electrical Planning for Home Additions in Aiken, SC
Why Choose Unity Power & Light
Need other electrical work done at the same time? We offer a full range of residential electrical services including panel upgrades, dedicated circuits, lighting, and more. Combining projects in a single visit saves you time and money.
Planning a Home Addition or Renovation?
Serving Aiken, SC and surrounding communities including North Augusta, Graniteville, New Ellenton, Jackson, and Clearwater. Get your flat-rate quote today.