Recommended Electrical Contractor

Electrical contractors are the people who design and install complex electrical systems for organisations and companies.

This is highly complex work, requiring professional knowledge, years of experience and considerable responsibility – and it is certainly not for everyone. An electrical contractor's work can produce complex, efficient and reliable electrical systems that allow large organisations to operate smoothly and without faults – provided you're dealing with a recommended, professional and reliable electrical contractor.

So how do you choose a recommended electrical contractor, and how do you match the type of contractor to the type of work?

Why it matters to work with a recommended electrical contractor

A recommended electrical contractor is one of the first professionals to arrive on a construction site.

Alongside the work of the structural contractor and the plumbing contractor, the electrical contractor also needs to take part in the structural construction process, since the foundations of a building's electrical system are installed even before the foundations of the building itself.

An electrical contractor may be certified in various areas, allowing them to carry out different types of work – but the more senior their professional certification, the wider the range of electrical services they can provide, and at a higher level of professionalism.

When do you need an electrical contractor?

As noted, a certified electrical contractor's work begins even before the building's foundations are poured. This is the stage at which foundation earthing can be installed and sleeves laid for running wiring, communications and more. For that reason, an electrical contractor's work is carried out in coordination with that of the structural contractor.

How do you choose a recommended electrical contractor?

To choose a reliable, professional registered electrical contractor, it is worth following these points:

• A valid, relevant contractor's licence – note the type of licensing and check whether it suits the type of work.
• A portfolio of work – ask to see the contractor's previous work, with an emphasis on complex jobs, where a contractor's ability is measured by their professional capability and their work to standard.
• References – it is always useful to hear previous clients' opinions: what they were happy with and what less so.
• Quotations – it is worth asking several contractors for quotes and deciding which offer is the best value in terms of price. Above all, it is well worth checking that the quotes itemise the work requested, so that the extras don't turn out to be too large and the bill doesn't balloon.

The stages of a professional electrical contractor's work

During the pouring of the structure and roof, an electrical contractor connects the foundation earthing, lays out the conduit and installs the required equipment. All of these are the invisible parts of the electrical system, hidden beneath the floor and inside the walls.

Once the structural work is finished, the contractor carries out installations to fix the conduit and necessary equipment in place, thread the wiring and prepare the infrastructure for the finishing works.

The finishing works, which include connecting the panel and all the fittings, are carried out only after the plumbing, flooring and plastering are complete, in preparation for an inspection by an external electrical engineer.

In summary

As you can see, an electrical contractor's work is skilled and complex, requiring a high level of ability, appropriate training and experience. Working with a recommended electrical contractor can give you a reliable, sound, safe and durable electrical system for the long term – and so it is important to give proper attention to choosing the right electrical contractor. For more information about work that requires an electrical contractor, or about choosing a recommended electrical contractor – talk to us!