When it comes to electrical work, don’t scrimp. Employ a skilled electrician who is knowledgeable with the work you require.
Wiring that is faulty is a fire waiting to happen. That alone is reason enough to engage a professional electrician, but it isn’t the only one. Although wiring appears to be a black-and-white situation in which the light turns on or off, it is actually a massive interdependent network.
Because they transmit the improper amperage, circuits that are otherwise safe but poorly constructed can destroy appliance motors and electronic devices. When an appliance is turned on, lights on even partially overloaded circuits may flicker, or the breaker or fuse may trip, completely shutting off the circuit. You can avoid these issues by hiring a skilled electrician.
Qualifications for Electricians
A qualified electrician is easier to locate than a qualified carpenter or plumber. You can presume a certain amount of skill when an electrician presents you his state licence, but there are two levels of professionalism to consider.
- A Master Electrician has passed a nationally recognised test and has at least two years of experience. He is familiar with the National Electrical Code and any changes made by your state. He is qualified to plan, design, install, and maintain your project’s electrical system.
- Journeyman electrician: hasn’t met the requirements for a master’s licence, but he is state-licensed. (In some places, journeymen electricians must work with master electricians.) He is not allowed to design systems by law, but he can install wiring and equipment.
The safety net has still another layer. The majority of electrical work necessitates a permit from your local building department. Before the building inspector can sign off on the work, he or she must inspect it for code compliance.
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Choosing the Best Electrician
Specialization is common among electricians. Some exclusively do new construction, some only do commercial work, while yet others just do service calls to fix broken outlets or fixtures.
Remodelers have developed techniques for wiring existing homes and extensions, such as snaking wires through finished walls, assessing the capacity of existing circuits, and determining whether an additional service panel (where the circuit breakers are) is needed to accommodate increased power demands.
Most general contractors have a short list of trustworthy electricians, but if yours doesn’t, contact the local homebuilders’ association or an electrical supply business in the region for a referral. Tell them what kind of work you’re performing so they can choose the right pro for the project.
Request a copy of an electrician’s state licence as well as evidence of insurance during your interview. Make sure they’re both up to date. For himself and his crew, an electrician working on a typical residential remodelling job should have a minimum of €500,000 in liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage. Check references and look through a past task if everything appears to be in order.
Choosing the Best Work
Though it takes a skilled eye to notice an electrician’s flaws, the neatness of their work can help you eliminate certain names from your list. A work that isn’t neat is almost always unsafe.
If you have access to a site, look for a location where several wires meet, which is frequently near the service panel. Romex, the flat, white plastic-sheathed wire used in most residential wiring, should be run neatly and orderly to the service panel. The electrician is not operating methodically or with the care required to safely wire a home if cables are crossed and tangled up, or droop from joist to joist.
This is not a nitpicking exercise. When cables are organised at the service panel, it is easier for the electrician to link the cable to the appropriate circuit breaker.
Cover plates on switches and outlets in the living space should be plumb and square to the wall and lie level on the face of the wall. If they don’t, it’s because the electrician didn’t take the effort to align the utility box (the box behind the wall that houses the outlets and switches) with the studs and set it back the right distance. If the work appears to be sloppy, hire an electrician who pays more attention to detail.
In my location, homeowners pay a master who works alone a minimum of €30 per hour, and a master and journeyman working together a minimum of €55 per hour. These costs vary by region.
Collaboration With An Electrician
Electricians operate with blueprints created by the designer or architect for significant remodelling projects like additions or whole-house renovations. The diagrams indicate the positions of outlets and switches, as well as the types of fixtures, such as fluorescent and incandescent. Because electrical plans are sometimes written out before you’ve had an opportunity to choose your light fixtures, you’ll need to provide this information to your electrician.
Find out when the electrician will require the fittings to avoid any complications. Then go shopping for the items you want, but don’t buy anything. Make a list of your options, including the names of the manufacturers, product model numbers, and where you saw the fixtures. Give the electrician the list and let him make the purchases.
Because electricians, like other contractors, add a markup of 10 to 20% over what they pay, you’re unlikely to save any money. However, because they acquire products and supplies at a professional discount, the ultimate cost will be similar to what you would have paid if you made the purchases yourself.
The benefit is that the electrician takes care of warranty concerns, breakage, defective items, and missing parts. (For example, you could avoid paying a journeyman to go to the store for a missing set screw.) Also, while you’re shopping, the electrician may assess the overall quality of the items you’re considering and direct you away from low-quality or potentially hazardous items.
When it comes to fixture costs, you’ll be shopping with a lighting allowance. This is the financial amount you set aside during planning for all of your lighting requirements. If you go over your budget while shopping, your contractor will charge you for the difference (the overage). If you stay under the allowance, the money will be credited to your account.
It’s your money, so save or spend it whatever you want, but while selecting fittings, keep track of costs and try to stay within your budget. Make sure to factor in the cost of speciality lightbulbs, which are becoming increasingly costly. You’ll prevent any unpleasant surprises when it’s time to pay the final amount this way.
