Electrical costs for basements

6/15/2012 at 12:07:19 AM

Well only the house owner can pull that permit if he doing the work him self but if u contractor you cant it has to be journeyman electrician to pull the permit.

The permit only cost $150 in sk i think it differnt every where u go.

6/15/2012 at 7:14:01 AM

Hi there Mark,

Permits are required for all electrical work and must be done by an ESA approved electrical contractor to get the permits. Believe me, I understand your concern of rising prices. ESA is not cheap and gas is killing us all (lets not even talk about all the insurance we need!)... Permits should not be taken out by the homeowner and cannot be taken out for another electrical contractor.

Normal rates for GOOD and fully equipped contractors run from $70 to $110. per hour, anything more than that and you are looking at industrial jobs or specialty work, anything less and chances are you get corner cutting, low end workmanship (best check the licenses). 5 years apprenticeship and 10000 hours is a long learning time for any self respecting journeyman to charge under these rates, unless they are union guys that are laid off and working for cash only (but that sensitive topic wont be discussed here!).

A basement of 1000 sq ft would run you from $1000 to $2000 depending on panel location and type, age of structure, quality of end products (some dimmers are $120) and pot lights are becoming very cheap for the ones that turn yellow and paint falls off (don't buy 3" pot lights) and the ones from the local DIY shops are junk (unless you get halo).

If there will be any bedrooms in the basement, special arc fault breakers are required (which cost $130 each and not available to all panel types so a sub panel may be required), GFCI's of course (which are now around $30).

Hope this helps.

Robert (owner/master electrician)

Electrilight Ltd.