ElectricianJeff
Senior Member
- Location
- Southern Illinois
I just completed my first new home rough-in in about 3 years or so. In fact, the first one I've ever done completely on my own. I always worked with and for another guy when I did new homes before. This one was a T&M job and frankly I had no idea how long it would take. My previous boss's SOP on new homes was start at 7:00, skip lunch and be sitting in a bar by 1:00, 2:00 if he wanted to work late. This is the main reason I now work for myself.
The home was 1600 sf on crawl, 2 car garage, all electric wired above code minimum. Extra's included 7 smokes, 8 cable drops, 8 phone drops, 3 can lights, 2 fan/light kits, whirlpool tub, 2 sconces, 2 pendants, no fireplace or under cabinet lighting, 200 amp. underground service with 33 circuits in total utilized. I didn't count the drops but between 120, phone and cable I went through about 80 single gang boxes and probably about a dozen or so 2 and 3 gang boxes.
Not counting material runs I had 58 hours in on the rough which includes pig tailing all the multgang switches and connecting all the neutrals and grounds in the panel. I am sort of a neat freak with my wire with nothing run on the diagonal and everything stapled and supported properly.
I know this is no sort of land/speed record but I really humped when I had the tool belt on and I am curious to know how this compares to guys that rope new homes all or most of the time? Especially anyone whose is a one man show like myself.
As an aside, I know of a couple of companies locally that are doing these homes for between 3.15 - 3.25 per sf. Unless they are a lot faster than me or are stealing the materials I can't see how they are making any money. I know now why I can't compete with these guys, guess I'll just have to stick with service work. However, the owner has already told me hes starting another when this one is done and he expects me to wire it for him. We will see how he feels when he gets my bill.
The home was 1600 sf on crawl, 2 car garage, all electric wired above code minimum. Extra's included 7 smokes, 8 cable drops, 8 phone drops, 3 can lights, 2 fan/light kits, whirlpool tub, 2 sconces, 2 pendants, no fireplace or under cabinet lighting, 200 amp. underground service with 33 circuits in total utilized. I didn't count the drops but between 120, phone and cable I went through about 80 single gang boxes and probably about a dozen or so 2 and 3 gang boxes.
Not counting material runs I had 58 hours in on the rough which includes pig tailing all the multgang switches and connecting all the neutrals and grounds in the panel. I am sort of a neat freak with my wire with nothing run on the diagonal and everything stapled and supported properly.
I know this is no sort of land/speed record but I really humped when I had the tool belt on and I am curious to know how this compares to guys that rope new homes all or most of the time? Especially anyone whose is a one man show like myself.
As an aside, I know of a couple of companies locally that are doing these homes for between 3.15 - 3.25 per sf. Unless they are a lot faster than me or are stealing the materials I can't see how they are making any money. I know now why I can't compete with these guys, guess I'll just have to stick with service work. However, the owner has already told me hes starting another when this one is done and he expects me to wire it for him. We will see how he feels when he gets my bill.