Trying new program on a home build does this seem high

I would like to wire a new development house sometime. Never done one in 25 years doing this. All I have done is custom and remodels. I typically wire them like it was my house (well not quite, but not code minimum). There is lots of time thinking about lighting layouts, going over stuff with the HO, waiting for the specs on the flux capacitor polarizer.... Might be nice for a change, see how fast I can blast through it.
 
electrofelon said:
Might be nice for a change, see how fast I can blast through it.
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It's not something you can blast through if you haven't done it regularly, and you have to have good organizational sense to get it done efficiently.

Back in the '90s and early 2000s, I was wiring a 4,000 sf house to "near minimum" in about 38 hours.

We had one cookie-cutter that was 4,400 square feet and I was shaving time off every time I did one. First one was about 47 hours but I got it down to 41 hours after about 20 or 30 of them.

That's rough-in only. I remember the last one of those I did, it was next door to a co-worker who was doing the exact same floor plan. We started the same day. When I finished mine I got sent next door to help him.

He asked me if I was there to take lunch with him and I said no. I'm here to help you get done. He was shocked. I had mine done in 41 hours. I asked him how long it usually takes him to wire that same house and he says usually 120 hours 🫣
 
What happened if you have the same speed for all three types. I work fast. Hence why Imy remodels are double my hourly rate for profit
 
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Pace or labor units? I meant how fast you physically work lol.
Depends on the remodel. I’ve only been in business 5 years so I am still green at estimating
 
AC\DC said:
Pace or labor units? I meant how fast you physically work lol.
Depends on the remodel. I’ve only been in business 5 years so I am still green at estimating
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Not just pace, but efficiency.

There's a way to do new construction that is just different from remodel work.

New construction is most efficient when done like assembly line work. If it's 85% assembly line and 15% task oriented you have a really efficient job

Remodel work is almost always upwards of 70% task oriented.

If you take a task oriented approach to new construction, it won't matter how hard or fast you work. You'll be beating the air and thinking new construction is a race to the bottom
 
James L said:
It's not something you can blast through if you haven't done it regularly, and you have to have good organizational sense to get it done efficiently.
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I am pretty fast, been doing this over 20 years now and have always had a eye for quickness and efficiency. The toughest thing for me would just be letting go of some of the neatness and care.
 
electrofelon said:
I am pretty fast, been doing this over 20 years now and have always had a eye for quickness and efficiency. The toughest thing for me would just be letting go of some of the neatness and care.
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Not trying to scare you away but if you haven't roughed 100 track houses by the time your 25 you won't be able to bust them out at the efficiency needed for profit. If you're OK not making anything on it do a small subdivision. Roughing in a bunch of houses is my favorite nice summer day job. You have fun it's warm and run around in cargo shorts. Trimming them out is also a different animal. Sit on a 5 gallon bucket and stay to the right hit everything data, recepts, switches. Then do it again with fixtures and smokies with a ladder.
 
electrofelon said:
I am pretty fast, been doing this over 20 years now and have always had a eye for quickness and efficiency. The toughest thing for me would just be letting go of some of the neatness and care.
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You don't have to let go of any neatness. In fact, I think it's faster to do a neat job. Far less hassle and headache. Much more finesse, too. Smarter, not harder.

The biggest time/efficiency difference is in making sure all of one type of work is done before moving to the next (except for a few special items).

For instance, passing out boxes. Pass out all of them and don't miss any. Don't leave anything to have to come back to. Don't start nailing any of them until all the boxes are passed out

Then nailing up. Nail up everything. Don't miss anything. Don't drill even one hole until everything is nailed up. Don't leave anything to have to come back to.

Drilling holes. Drill all of them. Double check. Don't miss any. Don't leave any to have to come back to. Drill your pathways as efficiently as possible. This is a skill in its own, locating your pathways for maximum efficiency when pulling wire. 100% straight/level hole paths. No exceptions. Drilling around corners 100% lined up.

Pulling wire. No touching the whole wire. You only need your hands on the two feet on the end. Never, ever pull slack through a few holes, then pull that slack through more holes. That might be the biggest waste of time I've ever seen, aside from people who think they're saving time by making up as the go.

There are other of those "must do this" stuff that will set you apart in new construction (such as where to set up your wire for easiest pulling).

Believe me, I could put on a class about this, and most guys think I'm being overly anal. But these things will take a 70 hour rough-in and turn it into a 45 hour rough-in.

And it's just not something you can pop in and do. It takes practice. And patience. And determination.
 
James L said:
You don't have to let go of any neatness. In fact, I think it's faster to do a neat job. Far less hassle and headache. Much more finesse, too. Smarter, not harder.

The biggest time/efficiency difference is in making sure all of one type of work is done before moving to the next (except for a few special items).

For instance, passing out boxes. Pass out all of them and don't miss any. Don't leave anything to have to come back to. Don't start nailing any of them until all the boxes are passed out

Then nailing up. Nail up everything. Don't miss anything. Don't drill even one hole until everything is nailed up. Don't leave anything to have to come back to.

Drilling holes. Drill all of them. Double check. Don't miss any. Don't leave any to have to come back to. Drill your pathways as efficiently as possible. This is a skill in its own, locating your pathways for maximum efficiency when pulling wire. 100% straight/level hole paths. No exceptions. Drilling around corners 100% lined up.

Pulling wire. No touching the whole wire. You only need your hands on the two feet on the end. Never, ever pull slack through a few holes, then pull that slack through more holes. That might be the biggest waste of time I've ever seen, aside from people who think they're saving time by making up as the go.

There are other of those "must do this" stuff that will set you apart in new construction (such as where to set up your wire for easiest pulling).

Believe me, I could put on a class about this, and most guys think I'm being overly anal. But these things will take a 70 hour rough-in and turn it into a 45 hour rough-in.

And it's just not something you can pop in and do. It takes practice. And patience. And determination.
Click to expand...
I'd add don't waist a pull. If you have a 4 gang all three ways going to another 4 gang hit power in one and pull 4 3 wires ect... stuff like this saves time.
 
letgomywago said:
if you haven't roughed 100 track houses by the time your 25 you won't be able to bust them out at the efficiency needed for profit
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I was gonna say almost this exact thing.
Starting in new construction and doing it every day for a few years is where it's at.

You learn to turn off your brain and just go.
 
Another is lining out circuits. What you put together will affect how long it takes to wire a house.

Worst thing ever is to get stuck on "this room always goes with the hallway" kind of thinking.

That wasted so much time and wire that it can be ridiculous
 
About 10 years ago, someone asked for tips and tricks for pulling wire faster, and I made a few comments with some of these same suggestions....

Tips and Tricks

What can I do to become a good and fast Romex? Runner?? :huh: Drill holes level and/or straight and big enough. Work off of spools instead of 250' rolls. Pull homeruns first. Know your circuits routes ahead of time. Nail up all boxes before pulling wire. 2 guys will do more than 2x 1guy...
forums.mikeholt.com
 
James L said:
You don't have to let go of any neatness. In fact, I think it's faster to do a neat job. Far less hassle and headache. Much more finesse, too. Smarter, not harder.

The biggest time/efficiency difference is in making sure all of one type of work is done before moving to the next (except for a few special items).

For instance, passing out boxes. Pass out all of them and don't miss any. Don't leave anything to have to come back to. Don't start nailing any of them until all the boxes are passed out

Then nailing up. Nail up everything. Don't miss anything. Don't drill even one hole until everything is nailed up. Don't leave anything to have to come back to.

Drilling holes. Drill all of them. Double check. Don't miss any. Don't leave any to have to come back to. Drill your pathways as efficiently as possible. This is a skill in its own, locating your pathways for maximum efficiency when pulling wire. 100% straight/level hole paths. No exceptions. Drilling around corners 100% lined up.

Pulling wire. No touching the whole wire. You only need your hands on the two feet on the end. Never, ever pull slack through a few holes, then pull that slack through more holes. That might be the biggest waste of time I've ever seen, aside from people who think they're saving time by making up as the go.

There are other of those "must do this" stuff that will set you apart in new construction (such as where to set up your wire for easiest pulling).

Believe me, I could put on a class about this, and most guys think I'm being overly anal. But these things will take a 70 hour rough-in and turn it into a 45 hour rough-in.

And it's just not something you can pop in and do. It takes practice. And patience. And determination.
Click to expand...


Yep, believe me I know how to work efficiently and a million tricks, like I said been doing this a long time.
 
I second that.

I've almost completely lost interest in electrical work. A few times. The best cure was to go wire a whole string of 700 square foot duplexes.

Just leave your brain in the truck and go wire. It's actually really peaceful
 
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