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| Subject - Finding Covered Boxes and Fixtures | |
| JimmyDee |
This is a repeat of another post that I thought would be good here also. I know a contractor from Grand Rapids, Michigan that not only takes pictures, he takes a movie of all the boxes, wires, runs etc. so if there is a problem, he has an idea of where it might of gone wrong. He talks as he is taking the movie about the job. When the house is finished and a respectable amount of time has passed, he re-records over the old tape. Claims this practice has saved him many times in the past. The other thing I learned from him was, taking a flo orange spray can and putting a spot on the floor by the wall directly under the wall boxes. Also under each can light and light opening. Drywallers sometimes cover a box and this make it clear where the boxes should be and save a ton of time looking for them. This has saved me several times on one job. Jim |
| lctrc789 | Jimmy, I know that in the hospitals and larger jobs we do we take a can of spray paint as you said and color the recpts. blue and the switches orange and then anything else with black. Then we mark the print and if the drywallers do cover something we can look at it this way. Every large job I run I always use my digital camera for use in marking, footers, piping, and anything that may hold us up in the way of the general contractor who has tons of stuff on the floors and we cannot get to them. That way I have proof of what was where and who was responsible for it at the time of our meetings, to prove we couldn't do job because of this.... Even things as simple as the weather can help in many of the situations you can get in to, it can save you time and a great way of documentation on any job. |
| Romex Racer | I don't think the spot of paint trick would work for me, after rough I'm gone, I don't typically see the drywallers and I don't come back until finish. When carpets and other floor coverings have covered the paint spots. It's the GC's job to supervise the drywallers and make sure they don't cover boxes. Another good reason to pigtail, if a box gets buried, the circuit still works. GC's seem to react poorly to extra charges for digging out buried boxes. |
| Electricman | If I encounter a buried box, the 1st thing I do is look along the floor line where I believe the box to be, then look along the wall for a bulge in the drywall. Then locate the stud and drive a nail (with circuit off of course) where I think the box should be , then I will take a small piece of insulated wire and poke in the hole to feel for the conductors inside the box. If you miss the box try the other side of the stud, this way there is only small nail holes to patch. Another thing to do to locate a box is to hold a straight edge of some sort against the wall so you can find the bulge. |
| Mike Delaney | quote:Romex Racer, I don't use the paint either...It is a good idea however...some drywall companies actually do the painting on the floor. I don't pigtail in residential...If you do, and a box gets covered, now you have hot wires behing the wall, and no one cares because all the recepts. work. I don't pigtail only for this reason though...It takes to much time...if your in compatition with 95% of other companies in your area, that don't pigtail, your losing money. Corse that's from an owners perspective. |
| nfsus | i find hidden boxes with a 8 pound sledge j/k i have a wire tracker for de-energized wires that works real good. it is a GB wire tracker. $35.00 at home depot. a good investment |
| CooCooMike | metal boxes are easy with a little magnetic stud finder and a thin scvrewdriver,of course if you knew the wires were safed off you could use a tic tracer |
| Ryan_J | I used to roll a 1/2" emt along the surface of the wall and see if it teeters. Typically a box make the sheetrock bow just enough to make the pipe wiggle when you roll it. |
| electricbill | check where a outlet "should" be if you can't see the bulge it makes in the 'rock...use a straight edge at the proper hieght...find the stud then push a thin screwdriver into the box.then cut carefully around the inside of the box finally cut enough around the outside for the box to fit through the hole ....call the drywaller back to fix the nail pops!! bill |
| electrodude | piece of paper and pen. Do a quick asbuilt with messurements |
| stedder | I like the sledge idea but usually use the straight edge, also if you find it and cut to the outside of the box the rock pulls in and pops the nails or screws thereby leaving a patch thereby reminding the GC to remind the rockers NOT TO BURY ANY BOXES rockers are a dime a dozen and need to be more careful, for that matter tapers can be a PitA too. |
| John A. Peters | I gather that the paint spots on the floor are to put the rockers on notice. |
| JimmyDee | quote: It actually helps them to know when they miss a box but it shows the electrician right where it is if they do miss one. Jim |
| WELLSEROUSKI | This is my pet peeve..Granted the rockers aren't rocket scientists like us but it seens as they get closer to the end of the job they seem not to notice recessed lights or or switches or outlets. Iv'e advised my builder to hold back some pay until I verify that all has been done correctly because I'm tired of him calling me to check if all is well and I'm the one cutting out boxes and lights HOW HARD IS IT!!! Now very few mistakes ... Money talks as always. |