Just painted some backboards...

[Denis]

dumpster diving

dumpster diving

I consider going to the re-strore high class dumpster diving

paint $1-5 / gallon
brush or roller $1-5
backboard $1-5
------------------
$3-15 materials


Misc. wire, fittings, fixtures, bulbs, etc...


you may want to consider samsung staron or other similar solid surface countertop material

countertop being of correct width will reduce the number of cuts required.

roller or spray should increase efficiency


usually 2x4 mounted at top and bottom behind panel is good enough

 

[mdshunk]

I could be mistaken but it looks like your wires might be what some consider bundling. Are those Jimmy straps? and are they rated for romex?

Colorado Jim's are checked out for Romex, but they look like Stackers to me in his picture.

 

[tonyou812]

I consider going to the re-strore high class dumpster diving

paint $1-5 / gallon
brush or roller $1-5
backboard $1-5
------------------
$3-15 materials


Misc. wire, fittings, fixtures, bulbs, etc...


you may want to consider samsung staron or other similar solid surface countertop material

countertop being of correct width will reduce the number of cuts required.

roller or spray should increase efficiency


usually 2x4 mounted at top and bottom behind panel is good enough

It may be enough but not very Pretty for $ 2500 and up

 

[mdshunk]

No basements in my area - but why install a back-board at all? :-?

Tradition, mainly. Plus, it's really the only way with stone foundations, which are very prevalent. Probably 75% of service changes involve basements with stone foundations in the northeast.

edit...added 'northeast' qualifier.

 

[e57]

Tradition, mainly. Plus, it's really the only way with stone foundations, which are very prevalent. Probably 75% of service changes involve basements with stone foundations in the northeast.

edit...added 'northeast' qualifier.

Hmmmm... Stone walls - I could see that..... :wink: Uneven surfaces etc....

 

[quogueelectric]

Hmmmm... Stone walls - I could see that..... :wink: Uneven surfaces etc....

Did you ever try to staple to a stone? This is the main reason. Screw a surface mount gfi box to stone? Get it now? :wink: Oh btw you need a certification card to use the hilti bing bang zoom gun too in my area. Welcome to new york.

 

[tonyou812]

Colorado Jim's are checked out for Romex, but they look like Stackers to me in his picture.

oooooohhh yea they are stackers, had to turn up the brightness on my screen a bit. That looks real nice, never though of using them like that. It looks alot neater than stapling them all in a row. nice work

 

[electricmanscott]

Here is my view on this...If you did 200 services a year and paid X $$ for painting backboards .... I would say charge the same price and do not paint the backboards and you just saved X $$ for the company.

I have never painted a backboard and never will. The reality is the new plywood is still nicer than any pther part of the old dingy basement.

I understand the point of trying to sell a nicer product, the problem is that the average customer doesn't.

 

[iwire]

Imagine mounting all this to concrete...

No big deal with the right tools.

But I like a back board for residential panels as well. I have a stone foundation so my back board is actually 4' by 8' x 3/4" mounted horizontally with a few coats of white paint. Room for panels, phone, cable and an EBU.

 

[realolman]

I am thinking if you go cabinet shop forget the paint, offer Cherry or Walnut veneers.

Veneers ?!? I don wan no estinkin veneers:smile:

 

[emahler]

They might not, but I'm already near the high end of the market from a price standpoint. Any other material would justify a higher price, but I'm not certain that it is one the market would bear. I might legitimately have to add in 80 or 100 bucks to the price for a nice painted backboard with nicely routered edges. It was mostly an experiment, is all. If I can figure out a way to get these things cut, routered, and painted for almost nothing, I'll be using them.

I haven't read through the responses yet..but one of our supply houses here in the NE sells painted boards for around $25, ready to go...not routered mind you, but nice and painted...looks good...

 

[emahler]

Here is my view on this...If you did 200 services a year and paid X $$ for painting backboards .... I would say charge the same price and do not paint the backboards and you just saved X $$ for the company.

I have never painted a backboard and never will. The reality is the new plywood is still nicer than any pther part of the old dingy basement.

I understand the point of trying to sell a nicer product, the problem is that the average customer doesn't.

someone will come along with the correct code, but if i'm correct the reason for painting the wood isn't aesthetics, but rather the paint is supposed to be fire retardant...it's to keep the wood from burning...

 

[iwire]

someone will come along with the correct code, but if i'm correct the reason for painting the wood isn't aesthetics, but rather the paint is supposed to be fire retardant...it's to keep the wood from burning...

There is no NEC rule for that and IMO it is just one of those things that many people think is code but it is really just a 'we always do it that way' tradition.

I have seen it in job specs 'shall be painted with fire resistant paint' etc.

 

[emahler]

There is no NEC rule for that and IMO it is just one of those things that many people think is code but it is really just a 'we always do it that way' tradition.

I have seen it in job specs 'shall be painted with fire resistant paint' etc.

that could be what i'm thinking of...could be building code...could be ICC, UCC, who knows...or it could be a fantasy in my head...i don't know....

 

[JohnJ0906]

someone will come along with the correct code, but if i'm correct the reason for painting the wood isn't aesthetics, but rather the paint is supposed to be fire retardant...it's to keep the wood from burning...

Use FR plywood. I doubt the paint most people used is fire resistant. If anything, it would make it easier to burn.

This might be in the building codes, I don't know. I always see FR ply in commercial, but never in residential. :-? And rarely painted.

 

[emahler]

quick search seems to just pull up a lot of job specs that require it...never mind...carry on...

 

[electricmanscott]

We're drifting towards nonsense......:wink:

 

[iwire]

This might be in the building codes, I don't know. I always see FR ply in commercial, but never in residential. :-? And rarely painted.

I agree, I can see a building code requiring FR plywood in some construction types, but not in typical dwelling units.

 

[480sparky]

someone will come along with the correct code, but if i'm correct the reason for painting the wood isn't aesthetics, but rather the paint is supposed to be fire retardant...it's to keep the wood from burning...

Probably someone started doing that because early in their career they did a job where that was spec'ed.
They were told to 'Paint these backer boards with this fire-retardant paint."
"Why?", asks the apprentice.
"Because we're required to." is the foremans' response.

 

[Tiger Electrical]

I've used oak veneer plywood without paint & it looked pretty sharp. I wonder how the cost would compare to upgrade the material & forget the paint.

Dave