The next step in the garage build was originally to be concrete, but earlier this year I made the decision to get power done first. That means I won’t have to run things on extension cords from the house.
First thing was to get recommendations for local electricians that were qualified to do the work. We asked a couple of local friends and got a name and number. I called and he came out the next day. Good talk and he said he’d get back in a couple of days. A week+ later, after several texts asking for the quote, I heard back. The price was within my budget but we still needed to wait till spring was well under way. He said he’d bring a print copy of the quote by the house, never did. When it came time to start work, no call backs. After multiple attempts, I left a message and told him to forget it. I’d find someone else.
Next we built a list of recommendations from others in a local Facebook group and sent off emails to four or five contractors. I heard back from one. He came out, we had a good chat, and he came back with a great quote in a couple of days. We set June for the project start and all was hunky-dory…until it wasn’t. He contacted me and said he needed to back out of all projects for the summer due to some personal issues.
I asked if he could recommend someone and he did. That electrician came out the same day, agreed with the price quoted by the last guy (who recommended him), and we are now set for a July start date. Keeping my fingers crossed….
But I did some work based upon the recommendations of the first electrician, things that are required to pass the electrical inspection. I ordered a set of 12 LED light fixtures, similar looking to 4 ft fluorescents. 4 of them can be wired together for 16 feet of light. These are hung from the horizontal brace on the steel trusses. 3 sets for now, additional sets later after all the electrical is completed. I have temporarily rigged them to a power strip in my work area. Now I have some decent light when the sun goes down.
This is my temporary workbench area as well as some storage. I do attempt to keep any current project materials and tools here for ready access. Alas, I still make a few trips back to the garage and wood shop for those items I forgot or didn’t know I needed.
Still keeping my fingers crossed…
I hope you'll stay Tuned!