Looking back on how I used to handle panel placement in old houses

For years, I'd just slap the main panel right inside the front door if the customer didn't have a better spot. It was fast and easy. Then I did a job in a 1920s craftsman in Pasadena where the homeowner, an older lady, pointed out how the ugly grey box ruined her entryway. She was right, it looked terrible. That got me thinking. Now, I always walk the house with the owner first. I look for a closet, a laundry room, or even the garage. I explain that hiding the panel doesn't hurt the system and keeps their home looking nice. It adds maybe 20 minutes to the job, but people really notice. When did you all start making panel placement a bigger part of your planning?

2 comments

2 Comments

anthonygarcia2mo ago

Oh man, that's so true. I had the same wake up call on a kitchen remodel. The panel was just staring at you from the breakfast nook. Now I always check for a pantry wall or even tuck it behind the fridge. People really do care about that stuff.

anthonygarcia2mo ago

Read an article a while back about this exact thing. It was in one of those home renovation magazines at the dentist. They called it "the visual footprint" of utilities. Basically, just because something is functional doesn't mean it has to be front and center. That phrase really stuck with me. It's not just about hiding the panel, it's about respecting the whole feel of the house. Makes a huge difference in older homes where people care about the original details.