ud83dudcda Living Room Renovation Series u2014 15 of 20
u2190 Living Room Renovation Vol.14: Door Adjustment Pt.2 u00b7 Series Index u00b7 Living Room Renovation Vol.16: Video Intercom Installation u2192
u270fufe0f Originally published: December 18, 2016 / ud83dudd04 Updated: May 8, 2026
2026 Note from DIY Dad: Looking Back on the Living Room Finishing Work
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Cordless Drill & Driver Kit
The single most-used tool across 15 years of rental property repairs.
This is the second half of the living room series u2014 door adjustments, switch restoration, video intercom replacement, ceiling fan, and air conditioner installation. A stretch of electrical work all in a row. As a mechanical engineer I kept telling myself “once you understand how electricity works, there’s nothing to fear” u2014 but every first-time job still made me nervous. ud83dude04
Key Points for Video Intercom Replacement
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Complete Home Repair Tool Set
A complete kit beats buying individual tools every time u2014 cheaper and always ready.
When replacing a video intercom, think of it as a three-piece set: indoor monitor, outdoor camera unit, and power adapter. If you plan to reuse the existing wiring, check the wire count and type u2014 2-wire or 4-wire u2014 before purchasing a new unit.
Important Notes on Ceiling Fan Installation
Ceiling fans are heavy u2014 typically 10 to 15 kg u2014 so ceiling reinforcement is essential. Installing one without reinforcement creates a real fall risk years down the road. DIY Dad chose a ceiling-rose type and installed it himself.
What I Felt When the Living Room Was Finally Done
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Adhesives & Sealants
Keep a stock of these u2014 you’ll use them on every single repair job.
The sense of accomplishment when the living room was complete was unlike anything else. Starting from leak repairs all the way through wallpaper, flooring, ceiling fan, and air conditioner u2014 I did every bit of it myself. As a landlord, the happiest moment was when the tenant said, “This living room is so bright and comfortable.”
Hello u2014 It’s DIY Dad! ud83dudc4b
This is a continuation of the 1F living room renovation series. Now that the door is back in working order, the next step is installing the switch and outlet panels. Tools and materials used: switch panels, outlet panels, an impact driver, and a screwdriver.
Throughout this renovation I chose Panasonic’s Cosmo Series Wide 21 “Hotaru” glow switches for every switch panel in the house. Standard narrow switch plates still feel dated u2014 but switching to wide panels alone makes a room look like a modern home. It really is remarkable what a difference that makes.
Let’s get the switch panel installed. Here it is before installation.
u2191 Front face.
u2191 Back side.
Connect the wiring.
u2191 Wiring complete.
Tighten the top and bottom screws on the base plate to secure it to the wall.
u2191 Base plate secured.
Screw the bottom trim piece of the panel into place.
u2191 Bottom trim secured.
Snap the rocker buttons into place u2014 they click right in.
u2191 Buttons installed.
Snap the outer frame on u2014 click u2014 and it’s done!
u2191 Finished. There’s something deeply satisfying about a brand-new fitting.
The Hotaru glow switch illuminates a small indicator light when the lights are off u2014 so even in a dim room late at night, you can find the switch instantly. Incredibly handy.
u2191 The Hotaru glow indicator in a dark room. That’s all for today u2014 see you next time! ud83dudc4b
ud83dudcda Living Room Renovation Series u2014 15 of 20
u2190 Living Room Renovation Vol.14: Door Adjustment Pt.2 u00b7 Series Index u00b7 Living Room Renovation Vol.16: Video Intercom Installation u2192
DIY Renovation Quote Review Manual
How to read, compare, and negotiate contractor quotes. This manual saved me u00a5800,000 on a single renovation project.
ud83cudfe0 More from DIY Father
15 years of landlord experience u00b7 3 apartment buildings u00b7 DIY renovations that saved millions of yen. Browse all articles at diytosan.com
