Re: Structured (low voltage) wiring installation estimates

["Robert L Bass" <sales@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"Lewis Gardner" <lgardner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:42307e1e$1_1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Robert L Bass wrote:
>>>He is looking at 90 drops. More than a weekend project for DIY.
>>
>>
>> Two people could still do it in a weekend.  The trick is to plan
>> everything out before starting.  Pull multiple runs together wherever
>> possible.  Mark both ends of every cable as you go.  I like to bring a
>> checklist showing every drop for each room and mark them off as I go.
>>
>
> Even with planning it would be a killer weekend. Without planning it would
> be a disaster.

Any job done without planning is a candidate for disaster.

> 90 drops X 20 minutes per drop = 30 hours

30 hours / 2 people / 2 days is 7.5 hours per day -- not so bad.  I figure
more like 30 minutes per drop for first timers.  That's 10-1/2 hours a
day -- still not so bad.

> 20 minutes per drop is quite fast (even for pros) since for each drop you
> need to:
>
> 1. Locate and mount a box or mud ring (for speakers 3 wire end points).

3 speakers are three drops.  No one I know uses mud rings for in-wall or
in-ceiling speakers.  Pre-wire brackets, if they're being used, go up in 2
minutes flat.  Piece of cake.

> 2. Drill holes. At this speed spade bits and consumer
> drills won't cut it. You need auger or self-feed bits, a
> stout drill and heavy duty extension cord.

Each to his own I guess.  For many years I ran a modestly successful
installing dealership.  Ever since they became available I used 18-Volt
battery powered Milwaukee drills and ordinary jobber's bits -- available at
CoastalTool.com for pretty decent prices but also at Home Depot for a few
percent more.

> 3. Pull and label cables.

Unless the home is exceptionally large, pulling cables is simple and easy.
I use a Sharpie brand fine point laundry marker to label both ends of every
cable.  Labels, tags and such often come off during construction.  Sharpie
will be there until Jesus comes back.

> 4. Fasten cable bundles so the won't be damaged by other trades.

That's part of pulling and it's extremely quick and easy if you use drive
rings.

> Not included in the above 30 hours is time to
> set up and get out twice since you can't do all
> the work in one day...

It takes all of ten minutes to exit one's SUV or pickup, grab a drill,
hammer bits and drive rings and a few boxes of cable.

> Getting all the cable and tools in and out will eat
> up at least 1 hour per day...

You're starting to sound like a paid installer.  It just doesn't take that
long to unload cables and the very few tools needed to pull wire.

> So you are looking at two 16 hour days...

Maybe someone peing paid on the clock might take that long.  If one of my
guys took an hour to unload his truck I'd fire him before coffee break.

> My guess is that few DIYs are able to pull off such a feat...

Perhaps that's because you're guessing.  I cater to DIYers and I help them
plan jobs all the time.  It's not as tough as you might think it is.

> I cannot think of any I have met that could do it in
> two 16 hour days.

You've probably been confusing alarm installers with DIYers.  :^)

> I just reviewed a actual time spreadsheet from a job where everything went
> well. There were 55 drops which took 18 hours - 19.6 minutes per drop.
> This was with a crew of three.

Fire your crew.  I'll get you some guys who like to work and save you a
fortune on wasted labor.

> In construction with open wood trusses the only drilling is to penetrate
> floors. In one of these I used three cable joes (but no helper) and I ran
> 21 drops in 10 hours which is 28.6 minutes per drop. Not bad...

Not bad???  I'd call that terrible.

> > Mark both ends of every cable as you go.
>
> You really don't need to mark BOTH ends if you
> have as list or drawing identifying the non wiring
> closet endpoints.  If you mark the wiring closet
> ends that is sufficient to maintain order.

Yes you do need to mark both ends.  Lists, drawings and legends have a way
of getting lost every now and then.  It takes only seconds to write the
cable number and its function at each end.  In the event of a mishap you'll
save a lot of time toning out your runs.  Also, with cables marked at both
ends two people can do the punch down simultaneously once the home is
finished.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

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