Full Home Rewiring During a Remodel — What Every Homeowner in San Diego Should Know | Cal Renovation

When you remodel your full home, kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, or bedrooms, electrical rewiring becomes one of the most important stages of the project. At Cal Renovation, we perform full rewiring as part of our design-build process across San Diego County, including Del Mar, La Jolla, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad, Poway, Rancho Santa Fe, Escondido, and Point Loma.

Today, we’re going to cover:

• What rewiring a full home really includes

• The difference between a main panel and a subpanel

• Code requirements for interior outlets

• GFCI rules for kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and exteriors

• How our team installs, levels, and prepares the electrical system before inspection

You can add your field photos in the exact sections marked below.

What Is Full-Home Rewiring?

Full rewiring means removing outdated or unsafe electrical wiring and installing a brand-new system that meets California electrical code.

This is especially important during remodels where you add:

• New appliances

• New lighting

• Relocated fixtures

• New kitchen layouts

• New bathrooms or laundry rooms

• Additional circuits for HVAC, tankless water heaters, or EV chargers

A complete rewire typically includes:

• Running new 12/2 and 14/2 copper wiring

• Adding dedicated circuits where required

• Installing new breakers

• Upgrading or relocating the electrical panel

• Replacing all outlets, switches, and boxes

• Bringing GFCI and AFCI protection to code

• Preparing everything for city inspection before insulation

Main Panel vs. Subpanel — What’s the Difference?

Main Electrical Panel (Service Panel)

This is the primary control center for all electricity entering the home.

It includes:

• Main breaker

• Grounding

• All primary circuits

• Connection to the electrical meter

Many older San Diego homes only have 100A or 125A panels, which are not enough for modern remodels. In many cases we upgrade to 200A.

Subpanel

A subpanel is a secondary distribution box installed inside the home.

You use a subpanel when:

• The main panel is full

• The main panel is too far for new circuits

• You want to reorganize the wiring during a remodel

• You want a clean and efficient electrical layout

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New subpanel relocated from the closet into the bedroom wall.

How Outlet Spacing Works — Interior Code Requirements

California electrical code has very clear rules about outlet spacing:

• Outlets must be no more than 6 feet apart along any wall

• Any wall longer than 2 feet must have at least one outlet

• Standard height is typically 12–16 inches to the bottom of the box

• Bedrooms require AFCI protection for safety

• Switches must be mounted at uniform height throughout the house

During rewiring, our team uses laser leveling to guarantee all outlets and switches line up perfectly.

Laser level placed on the studs ensuring all outlets are perfectly aligned for the kitchen area.

GFCI Requirements for Kitchens, Bathrooms, Laundry Rooms & Exteriors

GFCI (Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlets protect against electrical shock in wet or moisture-prone areas.

Code requires GFCI in the following locations:

Bathrooms:

Any outlet inside the bathroom must be GFCI-protected.

Exhaust Fans — A Critical Part of Electrical & Mechanical Code

During a full home remodel, especially in bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens, exhaust fans play an essential role in protecting the home from moisture, mold, odors, and poor air circulation.

California Mechanical Code requires:

• Bathroom exhaust fans must vent to the exterior (not into the attic).

• Minimum airflow of 50–80 CFM, depending on bathroom size.

• Fans must be wired to a dedicated switch or humidity sensor.

• Ducts must be sealed, insulated, and routed correctly to avoid condensation.

• Laundry rooms with high moisture levels also benefit from a properly sized fan.

At Cal Renovation, our team ensures:

• Correct wiring for both fan and light combinations

• Proper ducting through the attic to the outside

• Clean electrical routing before insulation

• Correct placement to avoid noise and vibration

• Compliance with energy and HERS requirements (when applicable)

A correctly installed exhaust fan is not just a “nice-to-have”—it’s required for safety, indoor air quality, and long-term durability of your remodel.

→ Insert your picture here if you have one:

Exhaust fan installation before insulation and drywall.

Kitchen:

Any outlet within 6 ft of a sink, and all countertop outlets must be GFCI.

Laundry Rooms:

Any outlet near the washer, dryer, or utility sink requires GFCI.

Exterior:

All outdoor outlets must have GFCI protection and weather-proof covers.

Cal Renovation ensures correct placement, labeling, and GFCI load/line wiring according to California code.

Our Rewiring Process at Cal Renovation

1. Subpanel Upgrade and Relocation

We relocate outdated panels from unsafe locations (closets, laundry areas) into proper accessible walls.

We install new wiring, breakers, grounding, labeling, and prepare for inspection.

2. Running New Wiring Throughout the Home

We remove the old wires and run new, clean, tight copper wiring through the studs.

We ensure:

• All wires are tensioned properly

• Staples are installed at the correct spacing

• No loose or hanging wires

• Perfect routing before any foam or insulation is applied

This is a crucial stage before a rough electrical inspection.

Wiring attached tightly and secured before spray foam insulation.

3. Laser-Leveling All Outlets and Switches

We run laser lines across the entire stud layout.

This ensures outlets in kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, and hallways all sit on the same horizontal line—clean, professional, and ready for backsplash or final finishes.

4. Preparing for City Inspection

Our electricians follow San Diego County standards, including:

• Correct gauge wires

• Proper breaker sizing

• Tightly stapled cables

• Correct height and spacing on outlets

• Correct number of dedicated circuits for each appliance

• GFCI and AFCI verification

• Smoke detectors / carbon detectors wiring

Once approved, we move to insulation, drywall, and production.

Why Choose Cal Renovation for Electrical Rewiring?

Cal Renovation is a full design-build company with dedicated electricians who focus on clean, code-correct installations.

We provide:

• Full home rewiring

• Panel upgrades

• Subpanel installations

• Kitchen & bathroom electrical layout

• Laundry room rewiring

• Smart lighting + dedicated circuits

• Integration with full home remodels

We proudly serve:

La Jolla, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Rancho Santa Fe, Poway, Escondido, Point Loma, Pacific Beach, and all surrounding San Diego communities.

If you’re planning a full home remodel, rewiring is one of the most important safety investments you can make.

Interested in Remodeling or Rewiring Your Home?

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