Wall Repairs....

mdshunk

Another thread got me thinking...

I almost exclusively did "old work" for years and years, with at least 1,000 service upgrades and 100's of complete rewires to my credit. Very darned seldom did I ever have to cut open a wall. There are tricks and techniques to everything. I will admit, however, that sometimes (very rarely, however) it is necessary if there is no unfinished space above or below the area being rewired.

I never, ever did a wall repair. How many of you guys do wall repairs??? I could do this, if I had to, but I'd be a darned expensive plaster fixer guy. I can tell pretty much when I look at a job the area or areas that I might have to cut a square out. I inform the homeowner/landlord/investor of this ahead of time, basically saying, "you'll have to get your handyman to fix here, here, and here in all likelihood". Since I'm more or less "ordering" them to do so up front, the customer always agrees and I'm never expected to fix holes.

I have seen some guys version of rewiring a home, done with little regard to maintaining wall and ceiling finishes. I call this "laziness", particularly when I can identify ways that the cable could have been gotten from A to B without damaging the building finish.

What you all think?

Teetorbilt

You've never run into an attic without access and slab floors? I see it all of the time around here. It's part of the goofy 'Tuscan' roof lines and vaulted ceilings that are so popular now. For some reason they really like to put them over kitchens which is also the #1 remod.

We're always punching holes, big and small.

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You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

Speedy Petey

What do I think?
I totally agree. Granted, I'm sure I run into many of the same types of homes and construction (ie: not many slabs, etc) in my area as you do.

I can totally relate to this:I have in the past resorted to Wiremold in extreme cases, or times when the H-O wanted a quick way out. But I have never had to "rip walls out". Some notching maybe.

I will say, I have coerced some GC's to go all the way in certain reno's. It amazes me when some try to "save" 25% of the walls in a room and gut the other 75%

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BIGRED

I do electrical contracting not paster or drywall.

Ken@K&R

We pretty much do it all. If we have to cut into the wall we will but we try not to. We have to cut into slabs more then walls to install things such as kieosks in department stores. Neither one of which I see as a big deal if you have the right tools and equipment. Although I have to admit I hate plaster.

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Ken

Teetorbilt

Speedy, I'm into it right now with an ins. co. who insisted on piecing in walls damaged by Wilma. I TOLD them that it would be cheaper to tear it all out as opposed to trying to feather all of the bits and pieces back together, now they're bitchin' about the price.

To make matters worse, we remodeled it completely. Moved walls, plumbing, updated the electric, the whole shebang and the clients were willing and able to pay the extra. The next one of these includes a 'headache fee'.

__________________
You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

Speedy Petey

Thank you! That's exactly what I mean.

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DaveH

I have never met a wall or ceiling that couldn't be patched and done propoerly no matter what finish is on there. So my electrical buddies you just keep on popin' them holes and I'll keep on getting paid to repair them. The cost involved for Johnny and Suzie Homemaker well...they get new wiring don't they c'mon it's a win-win profit deal

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A buck a foot is not an estimate! It's a crap shoot!

Sparky Joe

I look at it as not whether I can do it with no holes or not, but more as if I'm willing for the money, perhaps I fall into that lazy category, but perhaps it's a save them money/make me money category. My time per hour is much more than a sheetrock fixer.

Luckily though I have a good friend who is an electrician now, but did sheetrock for 10 years prior. Sorry to say I wouldn't call him to help me do electrical, but I can tell him right over the phone how many holes, he'll tell me a price, and I will include it with my bid.

reveivl

It's not so much the plaster patch that is the issue, it's the wall/ceiling repaint after the plaster.

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From where does knowledge come? If you need to know what is in a box, you could ask someone (not reliable), you could pray, (not useful), you can consult with the scripture (not helpful) or you could open the box (science)

DaveH

Paint...Trim...Drywall....Plaster...Pop holes in them all....Someone want's to be paid to fix them

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A buck a foot is not an estimate! It's a crap shoot!

MSSI

We tell the customer where the hole will be cut, and tell them our price includes one rough coat of spackle. No paint or sanding..I usually try to cut the hole with a knife to keep it neat and can do a nice job with a quick coat of spackle. It doesnt kill me to take the time to do that.
On the flip side I refuse to finish a job one of my partner started because he likes to cut his holes with a hammer and is not shy with it....

PlasterMaster

It is extremely easy to fix these kinds of holes. Just need to learn how and the process will save you lots of money where you can add to cover the cost of repairing holes and make a fast buck. Most holes that are needed to be cut in can be fixed very quickly. For example, I had to cut in 14- 1'x1' holes in my ceiling to run wiring for recessed lighting and then the hole in the ceiling/wall edge to fish down to the box below. These patches from start to completion took me approximately 75 minutes with almost no sanding involved the next day except for the edges of the patches. The trick is knowing how to use different materials and how to cover the holes the correct way and tape them. If anyone needs help just PM me and I'll gladly walk you through it. Good luck guys and dont burn down any houses. lol

mdshunk

Does the cutting of 1x1" holes make any of you think that he notched the bottoms of the joists? Another DIY electrician to the rescue, huh?

RobertF

Speaking of DIY, I saw a DIY A/C unit the other day. The condensate drain pipe was fed into a closet where they had two five gallon buckets catching the run off.

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-Robert F

Sparky Joe

I think he actually said 1'x1'(12"x12")

Teetorbilt

I'm wondering why so many BIG holes?

__________________
You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

CE1

I personally am in the range of 90% of getting from point "A" To point "B" with on not cutting holes in walls, ceilings. Like "MD" said there are certain tricks and techniques on doing a clean "He wasn't here" professional job. I just love it when the HO saying "How did you do that?”.
Here's my beef about electrical hacks. In this state there are a group of unlicensed and uninsured hacks that do residential that I cannot compete against because they charge way less than I do. I have a group of them in my area that just do new construction and service upgrades. New construction they can have because everybody and his uncle are doing it and I just cannot compete against this. The reason is that just minimum building permits and no electrical permits are required for single or duplex residential work. When they do service upgrades, that's all they do and they do not want to take on the hard work of rewiring of an old house. These guys really degrade the trade by doing this kind of garbage. At times it seams that up here it is like the old wild west of the electrical industry, where anything goes and there ain’t no sheriff in town.

Carry On!

paintr56

As a painter I would say if you aren't going to fix the hole properly you are not helping anyone by putting on a quick coat of spackle. Many years ago I did a lot of apartment painting. ( do not look at the price for anything but comparison as they are 25 years out of date) I had a price of $50 to put in a dry wall patch. That price went to $100 if the handyman started the job and left the finishing to me.

Jim Bunton