When To Hire A Commercial Electrical Remodel Contractor

Essential Electrician Tools

Workers rely on tools for accuracy, resiliency, craftsmanship, comfort, and safety. This includes electricians who keep our homes illuminated, connected, and energy efficient. Below, we review the must-have electrical maintenance tools for the modern electrician’s tool belt.

Basic Electrical Maintenance Tools

Pliers

Pliers—often referred to as cutting pliers or lineman pliers—are a staple on any electrical tools list. They are mainly used for cutting wire, or gripping, twisting, bending or straightening wires. Any prepared electrician stocks an array of pliers in their tool box or truck, including needle nose pliers, side-cutting pliers, and reaming pliers for tightening locknuts, fittings and caps.

Screwdrivers

Electricians use a variety of screwdrivers, another toolbox necessity, for loosening and fastening various pieces of hardware. Many professionals now carry versatile and adaptable screwdrivers with interchangeable bits, so they’re never stuck without the proper electrical maintenance tool

Electrical Contractor Software

The days of hauling a clipboard around and burdening homeowners with crinkled, scribbled-on estimates and invoices are over. With a comprehensive, cloud-based residential and commercial services software solution, electricians arrive armed with the right digital tools to make customer service, estimates, sales, and invoicing simple and easy.

Tape Measure

When working with wiring, it’s essential to know exact measurements when cutting and stripping. A simple retractable tape measure does the trick, but available models with magnetic tips, multi-step locks, and other features make this process easier.

Electric Services

Residential Services

If you are having electrical problems with breakers, fuses, or you are just worried about the electrical safety of your home

Remodeling is one of the best choices you can make for the comfort, functionality and overall value of your home, but it involves a whole lot more than painting walls and choosing new kitchen cabinets. There is also plenty of tricky electrical work that needs to be done in almost any remodel that should always be handled by professionals. Just because it works does not mean it is safe!

Services

Any type of electrical service and 24/7 repairs, including storm damage

Whole-house surge protection

Interior and outdoor ceiling fan and lighting installation

Installation of conduits and appliance circuits

Breakers and fuses

Code compliance, energy efficiency or home resale upgrades

Home improvement projects involving electricity

Room additions or bathroom, kitchen or basement remodels

New construction

Industrial & Commercial Services

are equipped to handle electrical projects of any size and offer competitive pricing. extensive experience in the electrical field and our excellent customer service, combined with cutting-edge, environmentally friendly technology and the highest standards in safety

Services

Electrical Commercial Installations – retail, office, hospitality, healthcare, educational, municipal/government, multi-family, site lighting, lighting upgrades

Electrical Industrial Installations – new or renovations of industrial facilities, maintenance electricians, electrical equipment relocation and power quality analysis, UL508a industrial control panel builder, PLC programmers

Engineering & Design – Do you need development budget electrical plans and budget pricing for a new building or new manufacturing facility? We can handle every step of the process

Emergency Generators & Co-Generation – We can supply you with power backup systems or load sharing to keep you in business; natural gas and/or diesel generator units

15kV systems and below – From certified terminations to aerial feeders our team can meet all your medium-voltage electrical requirements safely and efficiently

Electrical Preventative Maintenance – We can increase the life expectancy of your electrical equipment and reduce the likelihood of power outages with our preventative maintenance programs, which include yearly cleaning, thermal scans of critical switchgear, breaker testing, and helping you meet NFPA-70E and OSHA standards

Metering & Arc Flash Analysis – We can perform feeder capacities and power quality analysis and tell you if your current feeders will be able to handle the loads. We have our own CAD and BIM technicians in-house

Electrical Experts

have extensive experience in all types and sizes of Residential, Retail, Commercial, Solar and KNX Automation electrical projects. specialise in energy efficient lighting and power solutions for your home or commercial building.

provide you with all of your electrical requirements, from minor repairs to major new builds. are extremely thorough to ensure you’re receiving the very best possible service.

Controls & Automation

KNX technology  is the world’s only open STANDARD for all applications in home and building control, ranging from lighting and blind control to systems for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, monitoring, alarming, water control, energy management, metering as well as household appliances, audio – AV and lots more. The technology can be used in new builds, as well as in existing homes and buildings.

Solar Electricity

Solar Smart Energy Ltd was formed in March 2013 as, due to the ever increasing awareness and desire for energy efficient and alternative energy sources. Solar PV Panels reduce or eliminate electricity costs and is the environmentally friendly way to power your home

ELECTRICIANS

AUTOMATION SYSTEM INTEGRATION

Control systems technology is constantly evolving, and at Electric, we have a team dedicated to delivering full-scale automation, integration systems, and support. From project management, design, panel manufacturing, programming, commissioning and service, Automation provides solutions that not only address your immediate requirements but also lay a foundation for future needs. We can help you streamline control and information flow to achieve plant-wide optimization with robust networking capabilities that address your specific needs and enable you to make faster, smarter decisions based on real-time visualization of process and product information. No matter your industry, our experience enables us to deliver unparalleled benefits that translate to better quality, a smarter investment and ultimately higher cost savings.

PROCESS AUTOMATION

deliver medium- and large-scale process intensive automation projects across industries with a specialized background in projects for municipal water, wastewater, and the oil/gas/energy market. have a deep bench of talent that brings years of experience, professionalism, and commitment to quality into every engagement. As a full-service automation group, function as a single source for all electrical phases of a project from start to finish—and after

GLOBAL AUTOMATION FIELD SERVICE

global automation field service team travels worldwide to commission, support and troubleshoot industrial equipment in facilities across industries.

BUILDING AUTOMATION SERVICES

building automation group works across industries in businesses including hospitals, universities, schools, labs, offices and wastewater treatment plants to deploy and integrate advanced building automation and HVAC control systems. As a Honeywell Authorized Control Integrator (ACI),

CONTROL PANEL BUILDING

From small push button panels to mobile MCC’s and everything in between, we can build a solution. Quality and reliability are ensured in all of our custom fabrication products. Every panel is inspected and tested to ensure operability upon installation.

Building Permits and Commercial Remodeling

Imagine the following situation: you’ve made the decision to remodel your commercial building. You’ve identified ways in which your existing structure can be improved, and have developed some clear goals for the remodel. You’ve also met with a commercial remodeler who is now familiar with your vision for the building and is ready to move forward with the project. However, there’s still one thing missing: your building permit. While it may seem like a minor technicality, it is required by law to get a hold of a building permit before starting most building remodels, construction, or other upgrades.

Building Permits Purpose

Building permits are used to enforce the building codes set in place by the municipalities that issue them. Building codes are a way for state and local governments to defend residents against illegitimate contractors and do-it-yourself homeowners that inadvertently compromise the structural integrity of the buildings they work on. When it comes to commercial remodeling, building permits are almost always required. While they may seem like more of a giant hassle than a protective measure, building codes and permits serve an extremely important purpose in keeping us safe from sub-par construction and remodeling work.

How to Get Building Permits

Once you and your contractor have finished planning for your commercial construction project, it will be time to submit your plans for approval and obtain a building permit. If you’ve hired an ethical contractor, he will take it upon himself to get the necessary building permit, a process that’s often called “pulling permits.” An experienced and ethical contractor will take responsibility for pulling permits because they are taking responsibility for the project and the work that’s completed. If your contractor pushes you to pull the permits yourself, it may be a sign that they are not trustworthy. If the building owner or tenant pulls the permits themselves, they will be responsible for the work that is done, including any poor quality work that may result in injuries or degradation of the building. Your commercial remodeling contractor is the expert and is familiar with the process of pulling permits, and should be the one responsible for obtaining them. Building permits may seem like annoying red tape, but they play an important role by keeping you safe and ensuring your commercial remodel is held to high standards by an objective third party. Without them, it would be easy for unethical and low-quality contractors to build shoddy structures. If you’re hiring a reliable commercial remodeler to do your commercial construction project, let them take care of the process for you. After all, they’re pros at going through the process of pulling permits, and will be willing to put themselves on the line for the work they’re doing for you

Installing a Residential Electrical Remodel

Aging Friendly’ Improvements for Most Every Home Remodeling Project

remodeled our home, we added an office above the garage. A few of the features we added were done “just in case” the space ever needed to become an apartment for one of our parents. That option became a reality after my father passed away and my mother moved in, adding us to the nation’s growing ranks of multigenerational households.

The conversion from an office space to my mom’s new residence was certainly easier due to the pre-planning for the original remodel. For instance, I included a full bath with a shower instead of just a half bath that’s normally needed for an office. At the time, the additional cost of the shower was minimal compared with the difficulty and expense involved of adding a shower later.

I had also added a wet bar for coffee and refreshments. But in addition to installing the sink and a small refrigerator, I ran an electrical cable that was sized to accommodate a future kitchen range.

Another consideration was to ensure that we met the building code requirements for a bedroom, which includes having a smoke detector and proper emergency egress. These added features were unnecessary if the room was being exclusively used as an office. Including them in the project added very little to the initial cost. Modifying the space later, though, might have been prohibitively pricey.

The conversion from office to a comfortable and private apartment was completed in about three weeks — but all wasn’t perfect and without regrets. By creating a home within my home for my mother I learned how my thinking ahead worked well, and not well enough.

Electrical Permits

Am electrical permit is required if any owner or authorized agent plans to…

erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical system the installation of which is regulated by the Kentucky Building and Electrical Codes

cause any such work to be done   

Owners or authorized agents should make an applications to the building official and obtain the required permit.

Examples that would require an electrical permit:

Adding a new circuit and/or wiring for appliances such as an air conditioner or sump pump

Installing and/or adding receptacles or light fixtures where one did not exist before

Installing and/or adding a new electrical panel and breakers

Restoring power after it has been interrupted because of a hazardous condition or disconnected longer than one year

Inspections Required

Construction or work for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspection by the building official and such construction or work shall remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes until approved.

Things to remember about Electrical Permits

A homeowner may obtain a permit if he/she is performing the work on their own home, and the home is the owner’s primary residence for the next 12 months. Otherwise a licensed electrician is required for obtaining electrical permits.

It is the permit holders responsibility to insure the site is accessible for inspection. If the inspector cannot gain entry the applicant may be charged an additional inspection fee.

The penalty for starting electrical work prior to obtaining a permit is $1,000 for the first offense and $2,000 for any subsequent offenses.

HOW TO DEVELOP A HOME REMODEL TIMELINE AND BUDGET

By far one of the most important yet tedious parts of planning a major remodel is developing a timeline and a budget. Then comes the really difficult part; actually sticking to either one!

When we first started planning our project, I had no idea where to start. I didn’t have a clue how much anything cost or how long each process would take. I took careful notes throughout the entire home remodeling process so I could share what we learned with all of you!

First, I’ll share with you our general timeline so you can see how long each part of the process took, but be aware that much of this is dependent on the schedule of your sub-contractors and may change if when you encounter any problems.

After we talk about home renovation timelines, I’ll share with you our construction and remodel budget so you can see where all the money went. Yes, this is our REAL budget!

If you’re just joining us, be sure to check out this post on how I inherited this house, and this post on how to begin planning a remodel.

ELECTRICAL REMODELING

Take a minute and think about all of the appliances in your home. While the source of their power is hidden from view, the reality is that they all require large amounts of electricity to function. It’s impossible to tell if your electrical system is sufficient simply by looking at it, but the dangers associated with outdated systems are diverse and far reaching.

As a homeowner, it is up to you to be proactive in ensuring your electrical system is up to the current standards, so if you aren’t sure, or you’ve experienced things consistent with an outdated system

IS YOUR WIRING SAFE? DOES IT NEED A REMODEL?

Your home is your castle, and you should feel confident you and your family are safe. This is accomplished in many ways, including electrical remodeling. It ensures that you can rest easy knowing the wiring of your Miamihome is up to code.

It can be hard to know if the wiring in your home is sufficient, because it is hidden out of sight. Without the trained eye of a skilled electrician, you may never know how outdated your electrical system is. An outdated system is more than just an annoyance—it puts you at risk for constant power outages and even electrical fires. Protect your home and its inhabitants, and have your system remodeled today.

ELECTRICAL SAFETY

Nothing is more heartbreaking than a disaster that could have been avoided, especially those involving serious injuries or deaths. The majority of electrical house fires can be avoided through electrical remodeling where the wiring is properly maintained

OLD HOUSE REWIRING

There’s no part of your home that’s more important than its electrical wiring, and keeping your electrical wiring system in great shape is one of your biggest concerns. If your home has wiring that’s old or outdated, it can cause a variety of serious problems with your home’s electrical system. Not only will it cause frustrating power losses and problems with circuits, but can also be very dangerous, and it might even lead to something as terrible as a house fire. You should contact an electrical contractor experienced in old house rewiring

Removal and Replacement of Outdated Wiring

If you live in an older house and haven’t replaced the wiring, chances are it needs to be done. Homes built even as recently as the 1980s may not be up to today’s modern standards. With so many more devices and appliances being regularly used than ever before, the electrical needs of most homes have grown tremendously even in the last ten years.

Older wiring won’t be able to handle the amount of electricity that is used in modern homes, and it can deteriorate until it becomes a problem. You’ll start notice nuisances like blown fuses, or you may encounter dangerous electrical wiring. Plus, if you’re considering putting your house on the market, older electrical wiring may not pass inspections.

Warning Signs

If you don’t know whether or not you should have the electrical wiring in your home replaced, look out for these warning signs

If circuits break and fuses blow often, then you should have your wiring inspected.

If you don’t have an outlet every six to eight feet in your home, you probably don’t have adequate wiring.

Your wiring appears to be cracked, deteriorated, or falling apart.

Your wiring is black. Newer electrical wiring uses PVC materials and is usually white or gray.