ᐅ Removing Prefabricated House Wall and Ceiling Panels for Electrical Installation
Created on: 20 Jan 2025 22:05
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AACherokee
Hello,
I am building a house with a prefab manufacturer and the house will be delivered in the summer. I had the painting work removed from the construction contract in order to have the opportunity to run some cables in the ceiling myself. Apparently, this is possible with some effort and planning without removing the ceiling panels, as there are many cavities and with the right cable installation tools you can apparently get over the rafters.
I also have the following question:
Can I also run some cables myself in the side walls and add additional outlets, or how are these walls constructed? The panels seem to be stapled in place – since the screed on the floor has already been poured and the tiles laid, I assume I cannot remove the entire panel. Is there any reason not to partially cut through the panel (essentially a narrow channel from the ceiling to the planned outlet), remove that section, run cables to the outlet behind it, and then reattach the panel section? Offhand, I would say I just need to make sure to plan the substructure properly so the cut-out panel section can be securely screwed back in place – and of course, to fill and finish everything neatly afterwards.
Thanks and best regards
I am building a house with a prefab manufacturer and the house will be delivered in the summer. I had the painting work removed from the construction contract in order to have the opportunity to run some cables in the ceiling myself. Apparently, this is possible with some effort and planning without removing the ceiling panels, as there are many cavities and with the right cable installation tools you can apparently get over the rafters.
I also have the following question:
Can I also run some cables myself in the side walls and add additional outlets, or how are these walls constructed? The panels seem to be stapled in place – since the screed on the floor has already been poured and the tiles laid, I assume I cannot remove the entire panel. Is there any reason not to partially cut through the panel (essentially a narrow channel from the ceiling to the planned outlet), remove that section, run cables to the outlet behind it, and then reattach the panel section? Offhand, I would say I just need to make sure to plan the substructure properly so the cut-out panel section can be securely screwed back in place – and of course, to fill and finish everything neatly afterwards.
Thanks and best regards
A
AACherokee21 Jan 2025 17:5611ant schrieb:
To me, this sounds like the naive idea of trying to apply the logic of wooden house construction to the process of chasing out channels (for wiring). Cladding a structural ceiling is hardly comparable to installing decorative ceiling panels. Moreover, I (and probably some other readers) wonder why, in such cases, one doesn’t simply order a shell house level. "Incomplete plus" is always easier to handle than "complete minus and then add back in."The answer is quite simple – firstly, to save some money, but even more importantly, to get it exactly how I want it, which the builder either cannot provide or only at an exorbitant cost. And of course, simply because I can. Both the wiring and connecting various smart home devices are no problem for me – but I don’t see why I should pay the builder a five-figure sum for this simple work when there seems to be a more affordable way.
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AACherokee21 Jan 2025 17:58wiltshire schrieb:
Your plan is at least unusual. That raises some questions:
Do you already have a plan showing where each cable will go and what it’s for?
Do you want or need to have this wiring protected by separate circuit breakers?
How much space will you have in the distribution board?
How will you access it?
What effect will your intervention in the electrical system have on the warranty of the entire installation?- Pretty much, yes – reality will show if a few studs or joists get in the way in detail
- 24V – protecting the power supply is sufficient
- Enough
- I will have the builder install one cable to each room, then I will handle the distribution myself
- None, since I am electrically skilled enough
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wiltshire21 Jan 2025 18:19AACherokee schrieb:
- I have the builder install a cable in every room, then I handle the distribution myselfYour approach is straightforward, and having pre-installed cables makes it easier to work with. Using ultra-flat cables will reduce the effort needed to conceal them. If you plan to remove and reattach panels, they should be designed for that purpose. I wouldn’t recommend this with drywall (plasterboard) or fiber cement boards like Fermacell. Besides installing standard NYM cables within walls and ceilings, there is the option of surface-mounted wiring as a design feature, for example with cables from GI Gambarelli.
The “crate of beer” suggestion actually seems the most cost-effective. If you are on-site during installation day, you could have the cables run directly to the desired locations or even install them yourself while everything is still open. Mark the spot clearly, and you can bring the cables out later through a precisely made hole after the completion.
wiltshire schrieb:
Your project is at least unusual. The special request is as common as it is not accounted for in the planning of the previous contract package; we live in an era of non-flashers.
wiltshire schrieb:
This raises questions:
Do you already have a plan showing where and for what purpose each cable will go?
Do you want or need to protect this wiring separately with circuit breakers?
How much space will you have in the breaker panel?
How will you access it?
What impact will your intervention in the electrical system have on the warranty of the entire electrical installation? At least "interfaces" for the "on-site" installation extension should be included in the general contractor’s planning, and even if these rarely require dedicated circuits, they should at least be considered among the loads to be protected. Ideally, a clear interface or network termination between the warranty areas of the general contractor and the customer electrician will be established.
AACherokee schrieb:
- Almost certainly, yes – reality will show if a few studs or beams get in the way in detail
- 24V – protecting the power supply is sufficient
- Enough space
- I have the builder run a cable to every room, and I distribute it myself
- None, since I am sufficiently skilled electrically That is a rather weak answer (not towards us, but the builder should have a more precise one for themselves). Where do the 24V lines connect to 220V AC (alternating current)?
(Even) regarding warranty matters, some tasks should only be done by those who are both capable and authorized.
AACherokee schrieb:
I just don’t see why I should pay the builder a five-figure amount for such a simple task, when it seems possible to do it differently. Well, as long as after factoring in the coordination and scope delineation efforts there remains a substantial four-figure difference (and you are only a connoisseur in one, or very few trades, but hold claims in line with the construction specifications in all others).
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