Electrical (cont., p. 3)

 

What Your Electrical Contractor Will Do

 

● Establish if your electrician will pull the heavy gauge wire needed for the heat & air conditioning system.  Some electricians will do it, but charge extra.  Others leave it for the heat & air contractor to pull their own wire to the breaker panels.

 

His entire job should be completed in two phases.

First is the rough-in, begun shortly after framing is completed.

During rough-in, he pulls all wire, installs breaker boxes, and installs boxes for all plugs and switches.

Anything electrical that will be hidden in a wall cavity must be done at this time.

He will then call for inspection, which must pass before installation of wall-board.

You shouldn’t need him again until the house is near completion.  His final phase will include installation of all plugs and switches, light fixtures, smoke alarms, and appliances.  He should now do everything needed to complete the job and have it ready for final inspection, which he must request from the building inspector’s office.


Things You Need To Do

• Hire an experienced, licensed, insured electrical contractor with good references ─ whom you actually called.  Hire him well in advance of when he’ll be needed.
  
  
• Meet with electrician prior to rough-in to review the electrical plan.  This is the time to make changes and make sure that he is aware of everything you want.
  
  Also determine at this time if he will handle trenching and conduit for underground service, and if he or the HVAC contractor will pull the heavy gauge wire needed for heat & air.
  
  The trench and conduit must be in place, have passed inspection, and be covered with dirt before any concrete driveways or sidewalks are poured.  Check to make certain about the timing of this requirement with Building Inspector’s office.
  
  
• Select light fixtures and appliances well in advance of final installation.  Order and have them on site when he will be ready for them.
  
  
• Follow up to see that his inspection has been requested and passed after his rough-in and final phase.

 

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