Finishing behind another electrician

Status
Not open for further replies.
I have been asked to finish an electrical job. So I am looking at a 5500 square ft house to finish due to a bankruptcy. It has been roughed in. No service equipment is installed other than sub panels. Power company says dig up underground service pipe from house to pole and reinspect. Codes hasn't called me back yet. Anybody have experience in finishing someone elses project and any legal problems along the way. Say we trim out the house get it complete, and it burns down, who's shoulders would that be on...mine or the homeowner. Should I have them sign disclaimers on the rough in wiring? etc... To me the wiring job looks great, but it has been sitting for over a year and I found one sub feed wire cut in half, leading me to believe there may be more unforeseen damage...maybe the last guy sabotaged the work or the job because he didn't get paid...no wiring is missing that I can see, and I looked hard...I don't see the need to rewire it, even though it needs to be updated to 2008 code here. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

AT
 

satcom

Senior Member
I have been asked to finish an electrical job. So I am looking at a 5500 square ft house to finish due to a bankruptcy. It has been roughed in. No service equipment is installed other than sub panels. Power company says dig up underground service pipe from house to pole and reinspect. Codes hasn't called me back yet. Anybody have experience in finishing someone elses project and any legal problems along the way. Say we trim out the house get it complete, and it burns down, who's shoulders would that be on...mine or the homeowner. Should I have them sign disclaimers on the rough in wiring? etc... To me the wiring job looks great, but it has been sitting for over a year and I found one sub feed wire cut in half, leading me to believe there may be more unforeseen damage...maybe the last guy sabotaged the work or the job because he didn't get paid...no wiring is missing that I can see, and I looked hard...I don't see the need to rewire it, even though it needs to be updated to 2008 code here. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

AT

You and only you will be the one they come after, so take care and do whatever it takes to assure it is all safe and complete. Disclaimers in most cases do not hold up in court, your liability policy should offer some protection, if you have high eniough limits, and it is not a cheap year to year policy. Just do a good job and have fun.
 

480sparky

Senior Member
Location
Iowegia
Price it high. Megger everything out. If you don't have a megger, include the cost of one in your price. Figure a day or two to do this.

Make sure your contract states time& material for any repairs you need to make (missing runs, missing circuits, bad make-ups, cut cables, conductors that do not pass megger muster, etc.....) in order to put your 'stamp of approval' on it.
 

growler

Senior Member
Location
Atlanta,GA
I have been asked to finish an electrical job. So I am looking at a 5500 square ft house to finish due to a bankruptcy. It has been roughed in. No service equipment is installed other than sub panels. Power company says dig up underground service pipe from house to pole and reinspect.

Did this job pass a rough inspection a year ago? I don't uderstand digging up an underground service because if it passed inspection it sure didn't move any. You would think that megging the service would be enough.

How far did they make it before the job closed down? Is the sheet rock up yet? Did you check to see which company did the rough in and are they still in business?

I don't see this sort of thing as being much different than a remodel of an older building where you leave lots of existing wiring. Check everything out and make sure it's safe.

Make sure you charge enough for all the extra time it will take because these are a slow go.
 

satcom

Senior Member
Did this job pass a rough inspection a year ago? I don't uderstand digging up an underground service because if it passed inspection it sure didn't move any. You would think that megging the service would be enough.

How far did they make it before the job closed down? Is the sheet rock up yet? Did you check to see which company did the rough in and are they still in business?

I don't see this sort of thing as being much different than a remodel of an older building where you leave lots of existing wiring. Check everything out and make sure it's safe.

Make sure you charge enough for all the extra time it will take because these are a slow go.

Our utility will want it opened if it was not connected for a year, the other thing he has to check is the permit update, have his name put on the permit, and pay any fees for the update.
 

220/221

Senior Member
Location
AZ
Power company says dig up underground service pipe from house to pole and reinspect.


Maybe they'd allow a camera inspection?


Say we trim out the house get it complete, and it burns down, who's shoulders would that be on...mine or the homeowner.


You are the contractor. It will be all you.




Should I have them sign disclaimers on the rough in wiring? etc...

Disclaimers are always good but don't count on them 100%.


To me the wiring job looks great, but it has been sitting for over a year and I found one sub feed wire cut in half, leading me to believe there may be more unforeseen damage...maybe the last guy sabotaged the work or the job because he didn't get paid...


Big red flag especially if it was a stealthy/concealed cut.

no wiring is missing that I can see, and I looked hard...I don't see the need to rewire it,

I'd wire nut all the in/out receps, wire nut the switch wires, install lamps in the cans and hot check everything with temp power or generator.. It would only take a day which is a lot less time than it would take to remove/replace everything.
 

daleuger

Senior Member
Location
earth
I'd wire nut all the in/out receps, wire nut the switch wires, install lamps in the cans and hot check everything with temp power or generator.. It would only take a day which is a lot less time than it would take to remove/replace everything.

That sounds even better than a megger.:grin:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top