When you look at your home, it is fairly easy to pick out the things that you may want to renovate, change, or add on. Yes, a new bedroom would be fantastic; or how about redoing the basement? Maybe you'll put some new trees, shrubs, and flowers in next spring and include a brand new greenhouse. Something that most people who are dreaming of home renovations fail to remember, however, is that most of these "add ons" require some brand new wiring and electrical work.
It is important that, when ever you are considering some renovation or adding on to your home, that an electrical subcontractor be contacted so that you know just what the extent of the electrical work will be needed, how much their fees are, and any other questions that may be on your mind.
Think you can do the electrical wiring in your house? Think again. You should hire on an electrical subcontractor because:
- It keeps both you and your family safe from harm (fires, electrocution, etc.)
- A subcontractor is better than a general contractor, since a subcontractor is familiar with all zoning requirements
- A subcontractor is aware of the fact that, changing the wiring in one area of the home can greatly affect the electrical and voltage output to other rooms and appliances within the home
So just how do you find a subcontractor? Asking a general contractor is a good place to start, as they may have one that they work with regularly and high recommend already. Otherwise, consider asking local hardware or handyman shops, run an Internet search, or crack open your old phone book and look up some names. Once you have 2 to 5 names, start calling around. Some questions of importance are:
- Did you go to school for this job? Which school?
- How many years have you been performing this job?
- Are you certified and licensed to be working in this area?
- Are you bonded and have liability insurance?
- How many people are in your crew? Are they trained?
- Do you provide free written estimates for the cost of the project?
- Do you provide written warranties?
- Do you have any referrals and references from professionals?
TIP: As mentioned above, many general contractors hire out their own subcontractors. But this does not mean that you need to use THAT subcontractor for the job. If you find a subcontractor with a lower rate, discuss this with your contractor. He may be able to change subcontractors if he has not established a long term business relationship with the one on site. Otherwise, the contractor may offer you a discount to compensate for the cost of the electrical subcontractor he uses.
Having the wire put in properly requires a whole lot more than flicking off all of the power switches and twisting some copper wiring into the walls. Unless you have been trained for this particular job and are completely confident in what you are doing, hiring on an electrical subcontractor is certainly worth the money. Think of your family, home, and possessions being destroyed because of one faulty wire you installed; an electrical contractor is worth the price.
