Kenmore, and why it matters for the wiring
Built in a post-war wave
Modern Kenmore began in the early 1950s, roads were upgraded in 1960, the village shopping centre went in during the 1960s and Kenmore State High School opened in 1972.
Almost all houses
At the 2021 Census, 92.2% of homes were separate houses, averaging 3.7 bedrooms. Only 17.0% were rented, and 45.6% were owned with a mortgage.
River and creeks
Kenmore sits on the Brisbane River between Cubberla Creek and Moggill Creek, and parts of it were affected by the 2010 to 2011 floods.
Brisbane City Council, Energex power
Report outages to Energex on 13 62 62. Across the 2010 to 2011 floods and Cyclone Yasi, Energex restored power to 250,000 homes and businesses.
Renovating? Don't cut into an old switchboard backing
Black or dark brown backing boards made before 1987 can contain asbestos, and a house from Kenmore's building boom may still have one. Don't drill, sand or cut near it. Tell the electrician and builder before work starts, so they can work out whether a licensed asbestos removalist is needed.
What a Kenmore renovation usually involves electrically
A switchboard that can take it. A board from the 1960s or 70s often has no spare room, and a new kitchen with an induction cooktop, a ducted system or a pool pump can be more than it was built for.
New circuits while the walls are open. Extra power points, downlights, fans and data cabling are far easier to run before the plaster goes back. A pre-purchase or general inspection shows what you're working with.
The certificate at the end. In Queensland it's a certificate of testing and compliance, given by the licensed contractor once the work's connected. Keep it with the building approval paperwork.
If it were our Kenmore renovation
We'd get the electrician in at the design stage, before the builder's quote is final. Ask about the board, the backing behind it and the circuits the new rooms need, then let the builder price around that.
Want a specialist to sort it?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match the licence-checked local electrician who does this kind of work, and they call you. No ring-around, and your number goes to them alone.