New Home Wiring from Rough-In to Trim, for Builders

A new house has a lot of wire in it, and most of it goes in once. Behind the drywall are the circuits that power the kitchen, the cables that feed the TV wall, the camera lines for the exterior and the prep for satellite and internet. If something gets missed during framing, fixing it later means opening walls. This is how the process runs when Columbia Basin Satellite & Electric handles new-construction electrical, and why builders and owner-builders like having one crew do it.

Start with the plans and the bid

The work begins with the plans. The company can bid off the floor plans you provide, or it can create its own electrical plans. If you're an owner-builder without a full electrical layout, that second option matters. It means you don't have to arrive with every outlet location decided on paper.

Whichever way the plan is made, the point is the same: everyone agrees on what's being built before wire is pulled. Things to settle at this stage include where the panel goes, kitchen and bath lighting, outlet locations on every wall, exterior and landscape lighting, and where TVs, cameras and speakers will go.

Rough-in: work to the agreed plan

Once the plan is agreed, the crew gets to work based on it. Rough-in is the stage where wire is run through the framing, boxes are set and the panel location is prepared, all before insulation and drywall. It's the stage where changes are cheap, because everything is still open.

When rough-in is complete, the company does a walk-through with the builder and the customer, if the customer is involved. The purpose is to confirm that everything was completed as promised. This is the moment to stand in each room and look at where boxes sit. It's far easier to move an outlet now than after drywall.

One crew for electrical, low-voltage and satellite prep

The company's scope for new homes covers more than power wiring. It includes pulling TV, camera and other low-voltage wiring for devices such as surround sound, and preparing for satellite and internet under the eaves. Here is the full scope on a new home:

• Rough-in and trim for electrical
• Pulling TV, camera and other low-voltage wiring for devices like surround sound
• Preparation for satellite and internet under the eaves
• Temporary power setup

The benefit is coordination. When the electrician, the low-voltage installer and the satellite or internet installer are three different companies, someone has to schedule each one, make sure they know where the others are working and sort out who is responsible when something isn't where it should be. One crew that handles all of it removes those handoffs. As the company puts it, you no longer have to coordinate with multiple contractors for different electrical needs.

That's not an accident of the business. Columbia Basin Satellite & Electric started in 1984 installing satellite dishes, and over the years its crews found that moving or altering wiring was a daily part of television and internet installs. Offering a full line of electrical services grew out of that.

Temporary power, trim and final

Temporary power is the first thing a job site needs and the thing that is easy to forget until the day tools have nothing to plug into. The company sets it up as part of its new-construction work, so power is there when the other trades need it.

Trim comes after drywall and paint. That's when devices go in: outlets, switches, fixtures and cover plates. When the crew goes back for trim, they do another walk-through and discuss any changes that need to be made or additional items you may want to add. A customer who has lived in the house on paper for months often sees it differently once the walls are painted, and this walk-through is built for that.

Communication and where the crew works

Builders care about two things beyond the wire itself: being told what's happening, and not being surprised by an inspection. The company says communication is a top priority. That includes confirming appointments and discussing any necessary changes before they're made. It also includes sharing inspection results with the builder promptly. Your electrician will tell you which inspections apply to your project and when they happen.

For new construction and major remodeling electrical projects, the company travels anywhere east of the Cascades within the state of Washington. That covers the Tri-Cities and a good deal of the territory around them.

If you're framing a house or planning a major remodel, call Columbia Basin Satellite & Electric at (509) 783-7283 or email solutions@callcbse.com to talk through your plans. The office in Kennewick is open Monday through Friday, 8 to 5, and Mike and Alison Silvernail own the business.