Basement kitchen, need to remove cabinet/drywall/more. What next?

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

Recently moved into a 1960s-era 4br in the Chicago suburbs with an older finished basement with a kitchen (permitted in our town). We're first-time homeowners and new to all this stuff. The home has 100 amp electrical service with a Pushmatic electric panel that's original to the house. Electric panel is attached to original unfinished basement wall and past owners built the kitchen around it. Panel is in a non-code location and is currently only accessible by opening kitchen cabinet and reaching back six inches to the original wall.

Although the panel works well with no issues, we want to replace it due to the age of the panel and the inaccessibility. Home inspector recommended replacing it and because it's Pushmatic, buying new breakers and finding parts is expensive. We also want to get a 200 amp-compatible panel so we can upgrade in the next few years to 200 amp service. We want to move the panel to the utility room that is on the wall directly perpendicular to the current panel.

In order to do this, we have to remove the cabinet for panel access and electrician said we possibly may have to remove countertop/sink as well. Relocating the panel will run about $4000 and we would only have a budget of $2000 or so for any basement repairs after patching up the drywall.

We don't use the basement kitchen besides the refrigerator outside the picture (inventory in our area was limited and it was more of an interesting quirk than a plus for us when we moved in) but are worried about removing an amenity that already exists in the house.

So what's the best way to tackle this?

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Comments (5)

wdccruise
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
"because it's Pushmatic, buying new breakers and finding parts is expensive."

The breakers are readily available at Lowes, Amazon, and even on ebay where you can find new ones for $20-$30.

"We also want to get a 200 amp-compatible panel so we can upgrade in the next few years to 200 amp service."

"So you do not need to upgrade the service now, correct?" I would think that moving the panel and upgrading the service in one project would be far less expensive than doing it as two projects. I'd set aside some $$$ each month for the project until the service upgrade is needed and do it then. If some demolition of the kitchen were required, you could incorporate upgrades to the kitchen into the project.

Just a thought...
Seabornman
2 years ago
Upper cabinets are usually attached to wall at the top rail with long screws and can be attached through the sides to wall or adjacent cabinets. You could leave the existing panel as a large junction box and place the new panel elsewhere, back feeding any circuits needed through that box. A junction box doesn't have the same requirements for access as a panel.
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kudzu9
2 years ago
The main issue is simply moving the panel. Maybe there is something non-obvious from your picture and description, but it's not clear there would be any need to mess with the countertop and sink; a competent electrician should be able to accomplish this relocation task without such extra work. Ask why he thinks that would be necessary, and then report back here if you don't get a clear and detailed explanation.
ShadyWillowFarm
2 years ago
I would not tackle this project now. Live in the house another year or two, and see how your use of the space evolves. As others have said, incorporating the panel upgrade into a larger project makes more sense rather than moving it just to move it.
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Lomo
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Those are old built in place cabinets with no backs. The wall is the back. Remove one thing in the whole base, and you might as well remove the whole. So just remove them all for ALL the electrical work to happen, and plan to replace with Ikea down the road.