When Should My Electrical Contractor Be On Site?
Whether you’re building a new home, undertaking an electrical remodeling and renovation project or building a commercial structurer that needs commercial electrical installation, at some point, you’re probably going to need to have an electrical contractor on site.
If you have a general contractor handling the construction for you, then they’ll probably be taking care of the scheduling of trades like electrical, but if you’re still wondering when your electrical contractor should be on site (and why timing matters!) read on.
Why Timing Matters
On most projects, an electrical contractor will work as a sub-contractor, with the main or general contractor determining how the construction or remodeling process would progress.
Problems can occur when a general contractor requests that an electrical contractor be on site too early, because there are usually costs involved in having any subcontractor wait on site. If they’re not earning their money, they’re losing it! This is why it’s so important that you work with experienced contractors and sub contractors, so that there is careful planning, and those sorts of additional costs can be avoided.
If there’s a delay in getting your electrical contractor on site during a construction or renovation project, whether residential or commercial, that is a problem too. If there is wiring to be done (and there usually will be) walls and finishes cannot happen until your electrician has been on site.
Critical Timing
Every construction project is different, and there are likely to be different factors involved in determining who needs to be on site when on your new build or renovation project, but there are a few constants. These are times when you will definitely want to see your electrical contractor or their representative on your work site:
- Before quoting, your electrical contractor should do a site visit to make sure they are clear on what they are pricing.
- Shortly after your project starts, there should be a kickoff meeting, and it’s likely that your electrical contractor will be present.
- At weekly or monthly progress meetings, but usually only after their portion of the project has started.
- Once the walls are up, and the wiring and rough ins need to be in place for finishing to continue.
- At the end of your project, for final fixtures, fittings and finishing of the electrical installation.
- Any time there is a planned inspection that might include electrical.
Usually, the timing of these visits to site will be worked out by the general contractor and your electrical contractor, but if you are managing your own renovation or remodel, you might have to be more involved in the process. Make sure that there’s a clear schedule for any project, so you can limit delays.
Working Together
Good electrical contractors will be on site when you need them on site, and they’ll work together with you and your team (including construction professionals and general contractors) to get work done on an efficient time scale.
Make sure that you choose an electrical contractor that has the capacity to meet your deadlines, because in construction, like life, time often really is money, and timing can be very important to construction success. Keep communicating, and ensure that everyone is on the same page as far as scheduling, and things will go a lot smoother.
Read MoreGizmos and Gadgets: How Smart Home Trends Are Changing Electrical Installations
At one time, if you did residential electrical in South Florida, you knew exactly what to expect. New construction electrical was pretty much the same, with a few variations in size and quantity of outlets, perhaps a bigger panel, and a few other minor differences. Those days are rapidly becoming a thing of the past, and the demand for smart home electrical systems to support a wide range of technologies is becoming much more common.
So far, there are a few contractors who have embraced this change, but much of the industry seems divided on whether these changes are good or bad.
Having been working in residential electrical in South Florida for some time, and in commercial and electrical maintenance, we’ve been watching these changes closely, and we’re excited about the possibilities.
What Sort of Changes Are We Seeing?
The term “smart home” really means networked home. Homes where lighting, blinds, music and entertainment systems and more are centrally controlled through an app or interface. On the surface, that all seems to happen as if by magic, but the reality is, there’s a lot more wiring and communications cables going into the walls of our homes. There’s additional power required for the equipment that makes the magic happen, panels typically need to be more complex and larger to accommodate the additional equipment required to run your home.
How Your Residential Electrical South Florida Installation Will Change
Whether your residential electrical South Florida contractor installs smart home equipment for you, or whether there’s another company taking care of that aspect of your new home, there will be changes to the wiring and electrical that will need to be made.
Additional cabling may be necessary, changes to the panel to cope with additional electrical requirements, additional outlets or junction boxes, and even changes to the types of lighting, because not all lighting is suitable for smart home system operation.
Whether your electrical contractor is taking care of the smart home equipment or not, there will be more planning involved too, since all the wiring and equipment will need to be in place before the walls of your home can be finished.
Choosing the Right Contractors
Perhaps the biggest change that smart homes are making in the electrical world is that it has become more important than ever to hire the right contractors for the job. With far more power now required to run your home, and a lot more equipment to safely install, electrical protection and careful planning has become more important than ever.
Integrating the various systems and elements is another factor, and if you are planning to build smart home technology into your new home or a renovation (even a very old home!), you definitely want to work with an experienced company, who can get the job done safely and on time, and who are good at working with any other specialists you bring on board.
The fact is, smart homes are the way of the future, and there are only going to be more gizmos and gadgets behind your walls in years to come. Make sure that the power and wiring that supports those gizmos is up to the job, and you’ll enjoy them all the more.
Read MoreChoosing an Electrical Contractor: Why Age Is a Factor
Ever heard the saying “age is only a number”? We’d like to say that we agree, and that it’s a number that doesn’t matter much, and in most things, that’s true.
Except, of course, when it comes to hiring an electrical contracting firm.
When you’re talking about commercial electrical, or even residential electrical in South Florida, and you’re shortlisting companies that might be able to help you solve your electrical problems on an existing project or a new build, then you almost certainly want to go with a contractor who has been around for a healthy number of years, and here’s why.
Experience Is Critical
Becoming an electrician is a long process, that involves theoretical study and practical apprenticeship, and that’s just to qualify! It takes many more years to accumulate practical, on the job experience that covers most situations you would encounter on a job site.
A brand new contracting company, set up by a newly qualified electrician, is going to have at least a few years of learning on the job ahead of them before they’re ready to take on complex projects.
Processes Matter
Working as an electrical contractor in any state means complying with local legislation related to permits, inspections, building codes and more. Even if you’re a great electrician, it can take a little time to get used to all the red tape.
Aside from the processes themselves, there are usually key players involved in approvals, inspections and other elements of an electrical project, and while no one can influence the decision making process, it helps to know who to speak to when. This is just another reason why the age of a company and the experience of the contractor makes a difference.
Supplier Relationships
Another reason why it’s better to work with an established electrical contractor, whether it’s for commercial electrical, an electrical maintenance contract or residential installations, is that established contractors will have established supplier relationships. They’ll know where to find the highest quality parts and materials quickly and at the right price, and there will be fewer delays in delivery to your job site.
Financial Stability
Ask any new contractor who is just starting out what their biggest challenges are, and there’s a good chance they’ll tell you it’s capital and cash flow. Every contractor goes through the same thing at first, and while that’s not necessarily a bad thing, it can make it tricky for new contractors to finance bigger projects. It can also lead to delays on projects of all sizes, or to payment issues.
We’ve Stood the Test of Time
There’s a reason why we know so much about the challenges of being and working with new electrical contractors: we’ve been there. Except that we were there in the 1980s, and we’ve got past all the teething problems.
We’ve got experience in all kinds of commercial and residential installations and electrical maintenance contracts. We’ve got the best technical team possible, and we’ve got relationships with all the major suppliers. We’re stable, we have the capacity to handle projects of all sizes, and we know the regulations in Florida like the backs of our hands.
That’s why, when you choose an electrical contractor, it makes sense to choose one who has stood the test of time. So yes, when it comes to choosing an electrical contractor, age does matter!
Read MoreHow to Find a Reputable Commercial Electrical Contractor
If you’re looking for a commercial electrical contractor for a new commercial building or to repair, maintain or retrofit your existing commercial building, then you might be wondering how you find a good one. Word of mouth referrals are a good idea, but what else can you do to find a great company?
Read MoreCommercial vs. Residential Electrical Contractors: What’s the Difference?
In theory, electrical contractors are pretty much all alike, and it is true that given enough time and a good instruction manual, a residential electrical contractor could do a commercial contractor’s job, and vice versa. However, that’s the same as saying that a mechanic who works on compact cars and one who works on semis are the same: while they share a lot of the same traits, there are some noticeable differences. Here’s what you need to know.
Read MoreHow to Choose the Right Electrical Contractor for Your Needs
If you’re looking for an electrical contractor in south Florida, you’ll find a confusing array of companies to choose from. How do you find the right electrical contractor for the job? You could Google “electrician” and hope for the best, but that’s not likely to get great results. A little bit of research and common sense questions will go a long way toward finding the right contractor for your particular electrical project.
Your Project
Figuring out what you need to have done will go a long way toward deciding which electrical contractor is right for you. If you’re looking to add lightning protection to your residential electrical system you’ll need an electrician with different experience and education than one who specializes in adding backup power supplies to large businesses. Your electrical contractor in south Florida will probably have experience in multiple areas, but no one can specialize in every aspect of a job. Narrowing down the scope of your proposed project is the first step in deciding which contractor to hire.
Experience on the Job
Knowledge and experience go hand in hand when it comes to technical jobs. The longer an electrician has been actively working, the more situations he has dealt with and the more types of jobs he’s successfully completed. No job site ever went perfectly smoothly, so having an experienced contractor on the job increases the odds that he’s seen the problems before and know how to deal with them. Experienced electrical contractors also know enough about different jobs to give you advice in the planning stage of your project. Whether you’re looking for energy savings or a simpler way to do a job, a contractor with a proven track record has the knowledge to give you intelligent advice.
Paperwork
Ask any prospective contractor to provide you with copies all pertinent paperwork related to the job. These will include:
- Electrician’s license
- Specialty job certificates such as for State Licensed Gas Contractor
- Insurance paperwork, both for your job and the workers on site
- Certificates of completion from any specialty education he may have
If a contractor refuses to give you copies of any of these when asked, turn and walk away no matter what discounts or deals he offers. A deal isn’t a deal if the work is shoddy, or worse, dangerous.
The Workers
Once you hire an electrical contractor in south Florida, how can you be sure who is working in your house or business? Does the electrician have a crew he works with on a daily basis, or will he be contracting out some of the work. There’s nothing wrong with subcontractors, especially when it comes to specialized jobs, but it’s a good idea to know who will do the job ahead of time. The contractor’s insurance may not cover subcontracted labor, he will most likely not have done background checks on them, and unless it’s a team he works with frequently he won’t be able to vouch for them.
If all the work will be done by the contractor’s employees, ask if he’s done background checks on them, how long he’s been working with each person, and the experience of each worker. You’re going to let these people in your home or business; you have the right to know exactly who you’re letting inside.
References for An Electrical Contractor in South Florida
Any experienced electrical contractor with a history of satisfied customers will be happy to provide you with references. Once you have the list in hand, call or email each person on the list and ask about their experiences with the contractor. Find out about the length of time the job took, whether the contractor did what was promised, and whether they were satisfied with the job. Knowing a contractor has a long string of successful prior jobs is a great indication that he’ll do a good job for you, as well.
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